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"...
Wilmington, Delaware circa 1855, the tines and handle all highly engraved in a manner typical of the mid-southern United States, length 10 5/8 inches, weight 3.46 oz. Troy, monogrammed "S", excellent condition.
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.
Rand and Crane, length 11 5/8 inches, weight 3.98 oz. Troy, monogrammed "M" (obverse, old English), excellent condition with button on reverse. The shell appears to be applied rather than die-struck, but little else is remarkable about this spoon aside from the price, which we deem to be quite reasonable.
retailed by Mills, length 2 1/2 inches, weight .26 oz. Troy the pair, monogrammed "M.C.L." (script, obverse), excellent condition. With their chamfered shoulders, round end and rounded drop, these spoons are a faithful reproduction of the 1790 style. Note also the flat portion at leading edge of the bowl, always a sign of high quality. They are of course forged, not stamped. Probably intended as child's toys, this type of item is scarce in American silver and few examples survive, today...
length nine inches, weight 1.53 oz troy, monogrammed "R.A. Newhall" (script, obverse), excellent condition.
Prevear was a silversmith, watchmaker, and inventor. He was born in Northampton (1818) and apprenticed to Samuel Harrington of Amherst, who later became his partner. He married Olive Hanscome in Amherst (1843), and after her death married a second time (1856) to Elizabeth Pranker, an 1853 graduate of Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, now Mt. Holyoke College...
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...
Boston circa 1830, length 4 1/2 inches, weight .64 oz Troy, monogram G.L. (script, reverse) the bowl is a bit etched out by, well, mustard, but overall thickness and quality are both above average.
Hughes, NY circa 1840, length 4 1/8 inches, monogrammed obverse in period script, a nearly imperceptible test mark at leading edge of bowl but otherwise superb condition, weight .51 oz Troy. An exemplary item.
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...
length 4 1/8 inches, upturned handle with front midrib and squared shoulders, as is so often the case with youth items the tines are a bit askew but otherwise in good condition, no monogram, unmarked.
with oak leaves and acorns, height and diameter both approximately 1 3/4 inches, weight 1.8 oz Troy, fine condition, marked only "S 620" but according to a Very knowledgeable fellow, the work of Wood and Hughes.
