an original set at that-- all with date letter "F", S.K. in rectangle, 11 over 12, and city mark. Length 8 3/8 inches, weight 31.1 Troy ounces, all monogrammed "M" (reverse, period script, see third photo) most have some slight tine wear but the pattern is in very good condition. One or two are hard to find, but a set of twelve is rare, and this is not a word which we use lightly!!!

Our only American assay office was located in the city of Baltimore, circa 1814-30...

length 13 1/2 inches, weight 5 oz Troy, no monogram. Concerning condition, the handle is ever so slightly off vertical and there are some very minor dents in bowl (please see fourth photo). Both of these issues are difficult for my eye to detect, so I do not feel that they need to be addressed. The bust looks pretty much the way it did when this item left the factory in Providence some hundred forty odd years ago...

dessert spoons, Paris circa 1780, .950 standard, maker's mark LTA (please see fifth photo), total Troy weight 20.75 ounces, some light wear but fine overall condition, with crest as shown though one spoon also has a period script "S" monogram. The forks measure 20.5 and the spoons 19.5 centimetres.

French silver from this period is quite scarce. Price is for the total of eight pieces.

Louisville circa 1850, height 3 3/4; top diameter 3 1/8; bottom diameter 2 1/2 inches, satisfyingly hefty at 5.94 oz. Troy, a few very minor dings but fine overall condition.

One or two mouse clicks in a Google search window will find you any number of similar examples which are lighter, shorter, fatigued and quite a bit pricier...

Let's stop right there. I don't for a moment believe that this item was made in Boston. Most everything about it: the floral four toed feet, chased foliage with "ring matted" background (see Forbes, plate 41), silversmith's center punch on the top (see fourth photo), the overall heft and construction suggest that it was made in Canton province. Can I prove it? No, not yet at any rate. Diameter, 8.5"; height .75"; weight 14.0 oz...

New York circa 1750, with round upturned end, spatulate midrib, long elliptical bowl and molded drop, length 7 3/4 inches, weight 1.72 oz. Troy.

There is slight tip wear from right handed use, a few minor insults to the bowl (including a scratch, reverse), and significant wear to the monogram "B / E * E". On the whole, however, this spoon presents itself well. To quote Quimby in American Silver at Winterthur, "Stoutenburgh left a small body of high quality work"...

Philadelphia circa 1790, with round downturned end and rounded drop, length 14 1/4 inches, weight 6.0 Troy ounces, monogrammed "RRC" (period script, obverse), with a scratch below these initials as shown and a few minor nicks in bowl but very good overall condition.

In an attempt to distinguish this ladle from its peers, we'll mention that the bowl has a slight boat shape when viewed head on, as you may see in photo number four.

length 7 5/8 inches, monogrammed "F.E. Dean", maker J.B. & Co (possibly Jones Ball & Co, Boston circa 1850). Most of the handles have the usual pinprick dents which one might expect in knives from this period; two have some larger dings which we've shown in photo number five. The blades are in fine condition.

mother of pearl handles, length 7 1/4 inches, monogrammed "JMW" (script, conjoined), one has a bit of tip distress as shown in photo number four, another some minor scratches and a few blades are set in at a slight angle but fine overall condition. Singles are rare enough, but it is quite unusual to find a set of these...

double struck King's pattern with conforming hand chased double thread on blade and eleven lobed shell drop, length 7.5 inches or if you'd prefer 18.75 cm, weight 1.92 oz. Troy, a few minor scratches as shown in third enlargement but excellent overall condition, scarce.

We could only wish that it had a fine old family name but alas there is no engraving and happily no removal.

the blade well engraved with three frolicking fishes, knife 11 7/8, fork 9 3/8 inches, fine condition, monogrammed "Lockwood" (obverse, see third photo), weight 8.2 Troy ounces and not too bad a price either we might add... Is my high school English teacher rolling over in her grave? No may God bless her she's still with us!!

Elizabethtown NJ circa 1826, length 12 7/8 inches, weight 7.44 Troy ounces, excellent condition, monogrammed "MSM" in conjoined period script with flourishes (obverse) and "1801" (reverse), round downturned end with short back midrib, round chamfered shoulders and rounded drop. A fine, massive and well executed piece of silver with an exceptionally wide (4 3/8 inches), deep and capacious bowl. Voss attributes this mark to Darby, though Elias Davis, Jr...