Catalog: Silver: Sterling: Flatware

Lengthy at 8 7/8" and weighing .9 T. oz., this olive spear or pick is solid silver.

The pattern is "Thistle," which is an early 20th century Art Nouveau design made by R. Blackinton & Co.

The high relief thistle flowers and leaves run the full length of both sides of the handle, with the leaves extending onto the shoulders of the twist.

Never monogrammed, this is in flawless condition. It retains clear pattern detail that is free of any polishing wear...

Engraved patterns were immensely popular in the late 19th century and consequently many manufacturers produced them in an array of designs, especially florals.

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...

Very heavy at just over 2.0 T. oz., this 7 3/4" long master butter knife is stamped "Crosy, Morse & Foss," for the 19th century Boston retailer, and "925 in an oval" for sterling silver.

Having a rounded "Antique" handle with a "Tipt" backside, the appeal of the piece lies in its quiet elegance and overall substance.

There is a handsome leaf script monogram engraved on the handle front.

The plain blade has a scalloped upper edge, a beveled lower edge, and an upswept, pointed, tip...

While the pattern on this 5 7/8" long, .9 T. oz., likely 1870s or 1880s, sugar spoon is by an unidentified maker and without a name, the design and execution bespeak a sophisticated American manufacturer, and there are enough various pieces of this that surface to confirm it was issued as a full line.

The pattern is intricate and rather courtly, in a Henry VIII or Elizabeth I manner...

Lengthy at 7 5/8", this weighty, 1.3 T. oz., solid silver master butter knife is slender and graceful in design.

It has a thick, arched, plain handle with a "Tipt" end and a feathered script "B" monogram, along with a scalloped upper edge blade.

Dating circa 1870, it is marked "Sterling" and "Deming & Gundlach" for the Hartford, Connecticut partnership that was the 1859 successor to Walter Pitkin.

In exceptionally fine condition, the piece shows no significant wear or damage...

A salad or large berry serving spoon, this piece measures 9" long, weighs a substantial 2.9 T. oz., and has a generously sized, 3 1/2" by 2 3/4" by 3/4" deep, bowl with a satin matte gold finish on both sides.

The pattern is Charles II by Dominick & Hall whose three part emblem, "Sterling," "Pat-d 94," and the name of the retailer, Brooklyn's "Wm. Wise & Son" appear on the reverse...

Issued in 1891, Dominick & Haff's "Cupid" features a raised relief, winged cherub's face on the handle, with variation in the portraiture from piece to piece.

Rococo in manner, the pattern also incorporates a series of scrolls and leafy elements that are complementary to the main figure.

This example is a 5 13/16" long, .9 T. oz., four tine sardine fork. The heel area is cupped and has raised scroll detailing on the shoulders...

An elaborate figural design ssued in 1891, the central motif of Dominick & Haff's Cupid is a winged cherub. While always a cupid's face and portion of the upper torso, there is variation in the specific portraiture from piece to piece.

Overall, the pattern is rococo in style, featuring a series of scrolls and leafy elements arrayed in an asymmetrical manner.

This example, a 10" long, heavy at 3.9 T...

An American variant upon the English Kings pattern, Dominick & Haff's Charles II features a convex shell on the handle front with a honeysuckle ornament and a heavily beaded border. The backside has a concave shell on the end with the same beaded border as the front, and is otherwise plain.

There is a lined script "R" monogram engraved in the area between the shell and honeysuckle.

This example is a 6 1/8" long, 1.1 T...

A faithful representation of the vine, leaves, and fruit from which the pattern takes its name, Dominick & Haff's "Grape" is a late 19th century design, early in the Art Nouveau period.

The imagery is fully developed on the reticulated bowl of this 4 7/8" long, weighty at approximately 1.2 T. oz., bon bon or nut spoon.

Presented in remarkable detail, the leaves show veined and textured surfaces, the rounded grapes are set in high relief, and the tendrils form an artful grid among the open ...

Readily identifiable from their length and round bowl spoon, chocolate muddlers are designed to reach deep inside tall chocolate pots to stir any settled powder on the bottom.

This example measuring 7 1/2" long and weighing 1.3 T. oz. was made by Dominick & Haff in the "No. 10" pattern.

A dense yet delicate multi-floral design dominated by a single chrysanthemum set at the handle end, "No. 10" was patented in 1896, as marked on backside.

Other marks include the company's three part embl...

A late 19th century pattern, Dominick & Haff's Pointed Antique was issued in a number of variations, with the one on this 7 1/8" long, heavy at 2.1 T. oz., sugar sifter being No. 2.

A strikingly clean design, D&H's interpretation of this classic design has a slightly downturned handle with chamfered edges and a midrib backside. No. 2 adds a diamond cut border to the front, which is a motif common to English Georgian period silver.

The handle front is also...

This master butter knife measures 7 1/4" long and weighs 1.0 T. oz.

Straightforward in design, it has a (Fiddle) Tipt handle set at a right angle to a scalloped edge, pointed end, blade.

Architectural in manner and ruggedly plain, it has flat surfaces throughout. The handle tapers to a square, solid, block where it joins the blade (this strengthens the piece at this natural stress point).

The piece is without adornment, although its clean, serviceable, character and balanced prop...

Marked "Sterling," "925/1000 in a shield," and "Duhme Co.," this 6 1/8" long, approximately 1.0 T. oz. spoon has Cincinnati origins and associations.

It has a Tipt handle with straight sides and rounded shoulders off the bowl. This departs from the pronounced Fiddle shape with angular shoulders typical of 19th century Ohio River Valley silver design.

The shell bowl is also something of its own form, with an undulating edge and a raised central vee extending from the handle ...

The long dominant 19th and 20th century Cincinnati silver and jewelry house, Duhme produced a number of flatware lines of its own design.

In addition, several patterns that are essentially identical to, or strikingly reminiscent of, other makers also appear with Duhme's name on them, and that is the case of this 7 7/8" long, weighty at just over 2.3 T. oz., serving fork that markedly resembles Durgin's 1891 Louis XV .

The two designs incorporate the same densely arrayed rococo eleme...

Stamped with Durgin's early "bird surrounded by a wreath" emblem, and the word "Sterling, this 7 3/8" long, approximately 1.0 T. oz., master butter knife dates circa 1880 and reflects the naturalistic Aesthetic (also Eastlake) design sensibilities of its period.

It has a rounded end handle that gently curves upward from the flat blade. The front is engraved in a dense leaf design.

The blade, which has notched shoulders with a scalloped upper edge, is engraved with thre...

Marked with Durgin's "D" emblem along with "Sterling" and the number "2," this 7 3/4", approximately 1.0 T. oz., long handle olive spoon is not immediately identifiable as a regular line pattern.

The open work at the end of the handle, in company with the design details, evoke the Durgin's rarely found 1887 Alcazar pattern, although this is not an exact match. Other aspects of the pattern resemble Durgin's (French) rococo 1891 Louis XV.

Whether a variant of one of these patte...

Measuring a lengthy 5 3/4" and weighing a robust 1.7 T. oz., this pair of tongs are marked on the inside of each leg, respectively, with Durgin's "D" emblem and "Sterling," and "B.K. & Co.," for Boston's Bigelow, Kennard & Company.

The pattern is "Bead," issued in 1893. It features a "Tipt" end with a beaded margin handle, joined in this instance to heavy, detailed, talon grips.

The plain arch is engraved with an Old English "T" monogram.

In superb condition, these are without wear or d...