Catalog

A late 19th century pattern, Durgin's "Empire" incorporates imagery reflective of majesty, nobility, and imperial realms. This includes a dominant crown. cornucopia, a torch and flame, a wreath, and festoons of ribbons and flowers.

This example is an unusual form server that measures 9 1/2" long and weighs a relatively heavy 2.9 T. oz.

It has a flat blade, with a rounded edge. The upper edge is scalloped and decorated with pattern elements. There is a slightly upraised area at the end...

Some years ago, "The Magazine Antiques" produced an article about Gorham's fabled 1880s "Narragansett" design silver. An opulent line, it featured a variety of sea forms reflecting (and reputedly molded directly from in some instance) sea flora and fauna found in Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay and nearby coastland.

That article spawned (pun intended) an intensified interest in this already enchanted, and immensely costly, pattern. It also prompted the assignment of the label "Narragansett...

This collapsible shaving brush made by Gorham is illustrated in the company catalog of 1906 (see image 2).

It measures 6" long when fully assembled, and 3 1/8" when folded up. Solid sterling, the holder and perforated cap weigh .7 T. oz. combined, while the base and brush together weigh another .7 T. oz.

The body is a high relief floral and leaf repousse design. There is a central reserve which is engraved with an embellished script "TB" monogram.

The natural bristle brush stores i...

An immensely scaled piece, this ice cream knife or slice is about as large an example of such things as can be found. It measures a full 12" long and weighs just over 5.0 T. oz.

It is solid sterling silver, with a flat blade that measures 7 1/2" by 1 3/4". This has a beveled lower edge, and upswept, pointed tip. The upper edge is perfectly straight.

The pattern is "Corona" by Dominick & Haff. This is a double shell design that appears on both sides of the handle. The handle front ha...

Tiffany's earliest pattern issued after the company became its own manufacturer was also the firm's namesake line, i.e. "Tiffany." It was later reissued with very slight design modifications under the name "Beekman," and is more generally recognized as that today.

This example is an early production piece, marked "Tiffany & Co.," "Sterling," "Pat. 1869," and with a lower case "m."

It is a 6 5/8" long salad fork, and, as became a benchmark with Tiffany silver, is heavy, weighing nearly 1...

An extravagant design, Gorham's "Paris" portrays an array of emblematic imagery.

These include figures such as a standing woman with an arc of stars around her head and a banner reading "Genovepha Parisis," and a pair of cherubs flanking the top front of the handle.

City landmarks are represented by a rendering of the full façade of "Notre Dame," while other, more generic, symbols include a wooden ship powered by sail and oars, birds with raised wings, acanthus, ivy, and laurel leaves, ...

While this 4 3/4" long, heavy at 1.4 T. oz., bon bon is akin to parallel items produced by such large manufacturers as Gorham and Whiting, this comes from an unexpected source, namely Roger Williams Silver Company of Providence, Rhode Island.

A successor to Howard Sterling Silver Co. c. 1900 according to Rainwater in her "Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers," it merged in 1903 with Mauser and Hayes & MacFarland to form the Mount Vernon Company, so the Roger Williams moniker was sho...

A grape motif dating from 1905, International's "Cloeta" reflects the abundantly expressive design sensibilities of its Art Nouveau period. It features high relief, intricately detailed grape clusters, leaves, and tendrils.

This group is a matching three piece place setting. It includes a dinner size knife that measures 9 7/8" long, a fork, commonly identified as regular size, that measures 7 1/4", and a 5 7/8" teaspoon.

This is a heavy line and that is the case with these pieces. The ...

Measuring 6 3/8" long and substantial weight at over 1.8 T. oz., this pair of tongs is marked with a crowned harp, Hibernia, and "GN" in an oval. These letters are ascribed to George Nangle of Dublin, whose dates are either side of 1800.

Staunch and clean, these were made to a standard and no doubt intended to serve dutifully while presenting with a quiet nobility.

The elongated cup grips have high shoulders that, which, along with the length of the arms, have beveled edges. The arch i...

At 9" long and weighing a substantial 2.1 T. oz., this large table or serving spoon has Scottish origins.

It is clearly stamped with a castle for Edinburgh, a thistle for sterling, a date letter W for 1828, and a bust duty mark. The maker's initials are "JH," for John Hay whose dates correspond with this.

The handle features a "Kings" pattern on the front, and a plain backside with a thumb drop on the heel of the bowl.

There is a script "G" monogram.

It is in exceptionally fine ...

A large item measuring 10 1/4" long and weighing a robust 4.3 T. oz., this ice cream knife or slice has a hollow handle and a 6 1/8" by 2 1/4", roughly rectangular, solid silver, flat blade.

The pattern is Durgin's 1891 "Watteau," referencing a French painter whose name became identified with a style deriving from the rococo.

Asymmetrically shaped, the handle is decorated with delicate acanthus leaf and floral detailing. The pattern appears on both the front and backsides, with minor var...

Issued in 1901 at the beginning of the Edwardian Period in English history, Frank Smith's "Federal Cotillion" is also known as "Edward VII." It is a relatively high style "Kings" pattern that with only minor differences is identical to Whiting's "King Edward," also introduced in 1901, suggesting that American silver manufacturers were pivoting off the end of the Victorian era in their design offerings.

This group is a matched set of eight oyster or seafood cocktail forks. Each one measures...

A lengthy piece at 9 3/16", and weighing nearly 2.6 T. oz., this spoon has an exceptionally large bowl. Shell form and with a satin gold wash, it is 3 3/4" long by 2 3/4" at the widest, and probably was made as a vegetable or salad server.

The pattern is Wallace's version of "Kings," issued in 1903, and encompasses all the traditional elements of a design derived from English antecedents. The pattern appears on both sides of the slightly upturned handle, with the front having a convex shel...

One of two floral patterns produced by Reed & Barton that became standard bearers for the company as well as early 20th century, Art Nouveau silver design in general, "Les Cinq Fleurs" is exuberantly expressive. The companion pattern is "Les Six Fleurs."

This piece is very large scale at 12" long overall, and for that reason showcases the intricacies of the design to their fullest. The flowers appear to be orchids and show as an open blossom on the end and midpoint of the handle front, and...

This 7 1/2" long, weighty at 2.1 T. oz., ladle is unusual in that the 2 1/4" round bowl has a flat bottom with nearly straight sidewalls, rather than the typical curved or inverted dome interior.

It is marked "J.E. Caldwell" for Philadelphia's carriage trade firm, along with the word "Sterling."

The pattern is a "Kings," "English Kings," in a form that was standard to Caldwell. It conforms to all the conventions of this British inspired design. It has a convex shell on the front and a ...

A "noble" pattern both in theme and presentation, and not so readily found, Alvin's 1899 "Edward VII is nearly without peer in the realm of silver patterns. The design is singular. The only near match is Whiting's "Heraldic," while a weak equivalent is Baker-Manchester's "Spartan."

All three feature a knight's helmet at the handle end, which is also embellished with scrolling acanthus leaves. Alvin's is the most robust of the three iterations, as is evidenced by the scale of this serving ...

An 1880s pattern characterized by irregular forms, hammered surfaces, and classical, as well as sometimes Aesthetic, imagery, "Homeric" aka "Etruscan" is strongly associated with George Shiebler.

This example, a 4 3/8" long, 1.1 T. oz., bon bon is unusual in two aspects.

One, it was produced by Cincinnati's "Duhme & Co." whose name is imprinted on the reverse. This is an unexpected source.

Two, rather than featuring a figure from Greek or Roman mythology as is typical of "Homeric," ...

An early example, this gravy ladle is marked "Tiffany & Co.," "Sterling," "Pat. 1885," and "M," this last mark dating it no later than 1891.

The pattern is "English King," which is typically heavy, as is the case with this item. It measures 7 1/4" long and weighs a massive 3.7 T. oz.

It is in immaculate estate condition and without a monogram or removal of same. Pattern detail remains well-defined. The finish is brilliant. The bowl is without dents, dings, or nicks.