Catalog: Silver: Sterling

W.J. Behan is an elusive name to document, at least as relates to silver.

It is most associated with William J. Behan, who was mayor of New Orleans from 1882 to 1884, but there is no record that he was ever involved in the silver retail trade...

Heller was a classicist much of whose work reflects the Beaux Arts style. This mode is very much evident in Coligni which is a multi-motif line that incorporates draped, romantic figures arrayed amid opulent background imagery.

This example is a very large, 9 5/8" long, 4.6 T...

Decidedly distinct from a standard Tipt design, it incorporates period Greek and/or Egyptian Revival motifs such as palmettes, reeds, and beading, set on a broad, pointed end, handle with a tubular shank.

This example is a 5 5/8" long, .7 T. oz., early pastry or pickle fork...

The handle has straight, tapered sides with a curved end with angular shoulders.

The surface is diamond cut engraved in a brilliant Aesthetic design with an open area at the end that has a satin matte finished surface...

It is marked on the underside with the "hammer over Stone" emblem of Arthur Stone, "Sterling," and "G" for benchman Herman Glendenning, who was with Stone from 1920 to 1936.

Glendenning seems to have been a major presence in the Stone studio. He is referenced numerous times in Elenita Chickering's foundational volume Arthur J...

An expressive pattern from renowned Gorham designer Antoine Heller, Old Medici features a variety of figures and imagery drawn from the Italian Renaissance period.

This example, a 7 1/4" long, 1.54 T. oz. preserve or jelly spoon portrays a matronly looking woman in festooned garb. She is carrying a tray laden with fruit with a basket or other container hanging below this.

Additional details include a gargoyle, a pair of doves with raised wings, and leafy tracery...

The portraiture includes a turtle, along with oyster shells and seaweed on the handle, and the North Point battle monument in the gold washed bowl...

It features a lined handle with a fan, i.e. palmette, end. This in turn is framed by two acanthus leaves at the point where the handle turns tubular.

This example is 5 7/8" long, relatively substantial weight 1.0 T...

Made by Whiting, the pattern is Heraldic, issued in 1880.

Appropriate to the name, the imagery features a medieval helmet prominently set at the top of the handle. The remainder of the design incorporates a dense array of high relief, scrolling acanthus leaves.

There is a flowing script "EAW" monogram engraved in the shield reserve on the ...

One of Gorham's enduring patterns, the design features French scroll margins with a shell detail at the handle end.

This has a shell-shaped bowl that is finished in a bright gold wash on the interior and has decorated shoulders. This latter detail is only found on older pieces; newer items have plain sho...

It is hallmarked for "sterling silver," "London," "1898," and prominent English maker "William Comyns & Sons, Ltd."

Trumpet form, it has tapered sides that lead to a splayed top that measures 4 1/2" in diameter.

The uppermost 1 1/2" of the body, essentially the splayed area, features open leaf and flower (perhaps thistle) cut...

This example of his work is a 7" long, weighty at 1.3 T. oz., place or dessert spoon.

The marks on this, "A.E. Warner" along with the peculiar to Baltimore "11" assay stamp (midway between coin and sterling silver), is one of seven documented in the above reference...

Their offerings included a variety of Florida themed souvenir items and table implements, many of them sourced from Gorham, which is the case with this early 20th century, 8 3/4" long, orange knife.

It has a filled handle in an orange blossom, bud, and leaf design. This is stamped "Sterling" and with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem on the ferrule at the join with t...

This lengthy at 7 1/2" and weighty at 1.3 T. oz., master butter knife is stamped with his "star, lion, D" emblem along with "Sterling" on the blade backside.

The pattern is Ivy, which was one of Westervelt's full line designs. Naturalistic in manner, Ivy faithfully represents this vine which served ...

This ensemble is an ice cream set comprised of a server along with eleven (alas one of the no doubt once twelve has been lost to the group) individual spoons.

These are all part of a rarely found original set, no...

It is marked with the company's "standing lion in a T," "925/1000," "Sterling," and "(Pat. 1895)."

The bowl is essentially round, 1 3/4" in diameter and 1/2" deep. Characteristic of the line, it has a faceted interior and a flanged rim with scalloped shoulders.

In choice estate condition, this is without wear, dents, bends, or scuffs in the bowl, and shows a bright f...

One particular pattern that was widely embraced was the Lily, which is actually a lily of the valley engraved on this 8 3/4" long, 2.6 T. oz., berry or other serving spoon by Whiting.

Introduced in 1882, the naturalistic floral and leaf elements are represented in an Aesthetic manner, set on a rounded end, Antique