Catalog: Silver: Sterling: Flatware

A purveyor of fine quality antique jewelry and decorative artifacts, as well as (hand crafted) reproduction English sterling silver, James Robinson is a prestigious New York City firm with a history dating to 1912.

This 10" long, weighty 2.7 T. oz., meat skewer, sometimes identified as a letter opener, is an item from this highly touted source, stamped for London, Sterling, a letter date of 1982, and a script "JR" for the firm...

A highly regarded iteration of the Medallion genre popular among silver manufacturers of the 1860s, nearly all of John Wendt's product in this line was retailed through New York's "Ball, Black & Co.," whose name, along with "Patent" and "925," appear on the backside of this 5 3/4" long, approximately .8 T. oz., relatively heavy, youth fork...

One of numerous mid 19th century silver manufacturers situated in cities along the Hudson River, John L. Westervelt of Newburgh was a major producer in his 1840s to 1880s period.

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...

Syracuse, New York, was a major silver manufacturing center in the mid to late 19th century. Joseph Seymour, the maker of this 8 1/4" long, 1.9 T. oz., berry spoon, was one of the most prominent names among that city's firms, with a history that began in 1846, terminating in 1905...

Lengthy at 9 5/8" and weighty at 2.9 T. oz., this serving spoon has a large, 4" long by 2 1/2" at the widest by 5/8" deep, bowl with flanged shoulders, a central rib in the base, and a gold washed surface that is bright cut and wriggle work engraved in a blackberry and leaves design.

Dating circa 1880, it is stamped "J.S...

The Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers by Dorothy Rainwater indicates that "The Kalo Shop" was founded in 1900 by Clara Barck Welles and "went on to become the largest and most influential producer of handwrought silverware and jewelry in the midwest."

Rainwater further notes that "Mrs. Welles retired in 1940." Given that this 10 1/8" long, 3.6 T. oz., serving spoon is engraved on the backside, "AS HCM" over "Feb...

An early production piece, this Lily gravy ladle is marked with Whiting's "lion" emblem, "Sterling," an Old English "O," "Pat. 1902" and "R'd 1902," all in fine lettering on the handle back.

An expressive Art Nouveau design, the pattern is expressed in intricate, high relief detail on this large scale, 7 1/4" long with a 2 1/2" by 2 1/4" bowl, very heavy, 3.37 T. oz., solid silver piece...

Weighty at 2.8 T. oz., and lengthy at 8", this cheese scoop is a fully original, i.e. not "made up" or "custom" as some items in this form are, example in Gorham's Newcastle.

Introduced in 1895, the pattern has beaded margins, with progressively larger beads toward the tipt end of the handle.

The scoop itself has a low cut, cupped, heel, with a rounded end with high, beveled, walls.

Never monogrammed, this is without wear or damage and has a bright finish...

Finely crafted, this 8 5/8" long, 1.74 T. oz., serving spoon has an Old English, i.e. rounded end with tipt back, handle.

The plain front typical of earlier Old English design has been embellished on this. It has a feathered edge introduced in the 1770s and bright cut work characteristic of the 1780s.

In addition, the reserve at the handle end is engraved with a very fancy, feathered line script, "RL" monogram that is of a style consistent with these dates...

English in origin, this George III gravy ladle measures 7" long and weighs 1.7 T. oz.

It is fully hallmarked for London, 1793-94, sterling silver, and well-known makers George Smith and William Fearn (GS/WF)...

The first full line flatware pattern produced by Rogers, Lunt, & Bollen, later simply Lunt, Dorothy Q was carried forward from antecedent firm "A.F. Towle & Son Co." which introduced it in 1883.

This example is a 6" long, .77 T. oz., early production sugar spoon, marked with the R L & B three part emblem and the word "Sterling."

The handle is Old English in style with a plain Tipt backside and a front that is extensively and engagingly engraved in a star shaped flower ...

This pair of 6" long tongs that weigh a sturdy near 2.0 T. oz., are consequential on several counts.

The first and most immediate feature is the design. They are a "French Thread" aka "Fiddle Thread" pattern with concave shells at the terminus of each arm. The shell form is repeated on the cupped grips.

The wide arch has a gentle point on either side, where it accommodates an unusual crest, which is the second outstanding aspect of this. The crest shows a helmeted knight's shoulders and he...

As a body, Philadelphia silver manufacturers of the second half of the 19th century exhibited great capacities in engraved design.

The quality of that work is exhibited on this 7 1/4" long, just over 1.0 T. oz., master butter knife stamped "Sterling" and "McCarty & Hurlbert" for the Philadelphia jeweler and manufacturer, 1876 successor to "Butler & McCarty," founded in 1849.

Both the "Old English" with reverse tipt end and the broad, notched, blade are extensively engraved in an Aesthetic ...

Catherine Hollan in Philadelphia Silversmiths offers dates of 1876-87 for the firm of "McCarty & Hurlbert," which is the name that is imprinted on the backside of this 9 1/4" long, 2.4 T. oz., berry spoon. Antecedent firms trace back to c. 1845.

It is also marked "Coin," which is late for this standard, as most manufacturers had converted to sterling by the 1870s.

It has an "Old English" handle with a tipt backside and a bright cut fine flower and leaf theme on the front.

The poi...

An prominent name among contemporary British metal workers, Michael Allen Bolton (1938-2005) produced signature jewelry, flatware, and small items in silver.

There is ample biographical information about him available online, along with illustrations of his products.

One UK source notes these details,

"He exhibited successfully at the Goldsmith's Company 'Loot' exhibitions from 1975 to 1981 and in their 'Contemporary Silver Tableware' exhibition in 1996. In that catalogue it stated 'His...

Little reference material is available about the Boston firm "N.G. Wood & Son" founded in the late 19th century, although based on the inventory of their goods still available, they were a major operation.

This item, a 5 3/4" long, .7 T. oz., circa 1880, sugar spoon, carries their mark along with the word "Sterling."

A high quality piece, it has an Old English Reverse Tipt handle that is bright cut engraved in an Aesthetic style floral, leaf, and grass design set on a satin finish g...

An early production example of the 1810 flatware pattern introduced in 1930, this 8 1/4" long, weighty at 2.3 T. oz., all silver (not partly stainless steel) cold meat fork is marked with the "Native American profile" emblem of the Wilcox & Evertsen division of International Silver, along with "Sterling."

The pattern is colonial in style, featuring a fiddle shaped handle with a tipped backside and distinct flanking shoulders off the bowl.

The serving end has four symmetrical, plain ...

An early production example of Gorham's Strasbourg flatware, this 6" long, .8 T. oz., sugar spoon is marked with the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and "Pat. 1897."

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...