Catalog: Silver: Sterling: Flatware

A pattern for which John Polhamus and Henry Hebbard, who worked individually and in a short-lived partnership in New York City in the mid 19th century, held a joint patent, Oriental was a favored design for marketing by Tiffany in its early years.

The dies for the pattern were eventually acquired by George Shiebler, who extended production subsequent to all these antecedent firms.

These four, matching, 6" long, 3.2 T. oz...

A pattern with a history rooted in the Aesthetic movement, Tiffany's original Japanese (to be distinguished from later produced and renamed Audubon) was the first of numerous American flatware patterns to be issued in a multi-motif bird motif, as indicated by William Hood writing in Tiffany Silver Flatware...

Issued in 1870, King's aka King was one of Tiffany's earliest flatware patterns. It is generally identified as Saratoga, which was the name assigned it when it was introduced in 1956.

It was also rebadged Cook and reactivated (having been discontinued in 1904) for a short while c. 1908.

William Hood in Tiffany Silver Flatware surmises, "the name change was to honor Charles T. Cook, who became president of Tiffany & Co...

In his benchmark work, Tiffany Silver Flatware, William Hood illustrates three pieces in a rarely-found motif that he describes as having "block-form hollow handles" with "ornamentation" (chapter eight, "Not-full-line Patterns").

This 6 1/8" long, nearly 1.3 T. oz., sugar sifter is a fourth example of the pattern...

A specialty, limited production, piece, this 6 1/4" long, very heavy at 1.32 T. oz., spoon shows exceptional crafting.

It was made by Towle, whose "T in a standing lion" emblem and the word "Sterling" is imprinted on the handle backside.

Rendered in an Arts & Crafts manner, it has a reticulated handle portraying something of a Chippendale design...

Designed to reach deep into a narrow mouth container, a horseradish scoop or spoon generally has a relatively long and narrow handle and a paddle-like end.

This example made by Towle in its 1893 Canterbury follows that form and is fully original, i.e. not made up or custom as many such pieces currently available are. It measures 6 1/4" long, weighs an unexpectedly heavy .5 T. oz., and has the requisite cupped bowl with a rounded end...

A bright cut floral and leaf design dating circa 1880 rendered in an Aesthetic manner, the pattern on this 8 1/4" long, 1.4 T. oz. serving spoon appears to be Towle's No. 38 Engraved.

The lack of a maker's mark and an ovoid shaped bowl with a flanged rim and central raised vee not typically Towle in form, however, suggests it was made by some other contemporaneous producer...

An early production example of Towle's Old Colonial flatware pattern, this piece is marked with the company's "standing lion in a shield emblem," "925/1000," "Sterling," and "Pat. 1895."

It is a 7 5/8" long, 1.5 T. oz., solid silver jelly knife.

The blade is long, narrow, pointed, and as is characteristic of this line, faceted, with scalloped shoulders and upper edge...

Wallace produced an extensive line of largely floral numbered patterns in the early years of the 20th century.

An example from that series, this 5 7/8" long, .74 T. oz. teaspoon is number "107" as imprinted on the backside, along with Wallace's "R W deer head & S" emblem and the word "Sterling."

An openwork design, the handle obverse features perhaps palm or other leaves on a stem.

The reverse is plain save for a fancy, delicate, feathered script "ENL" monogram...

Wallace produced an extensive line of largely floral numbered patterns in the early years of the 20th century.

An example from that series, this 5 9/16" long, .61 T...

An early 20th century pattern, Wallace's "Violet" is an expressive Art Nouveau floral design.

This example is a 7 1/4" long, 1.3 T. oz., preserve or jelly spoon.

A large blossom occupies the central portion of the handle and is surrounded by additional blossoms, buds, and leaves the full length of the handle and on the backside.

The pattern also extends onto the scalloped edge, rounded end, bowl.

Never monogrammed, this is a fine example, with clear pattern detail. The only signs of ...

The Baltimore Museum of Art volume Baltimore Silver notes that Andrew Ellicott Warner "is the best known of a family of silversmiths which included his father Cuthbert, brother Thomas, and son Andrew Ellicott Warner, Jr."

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...

Measuring 8 3/16" long and weighing approximately 1.3 T. oz., this lettuce fork is more substantial than most examples of this form, which tend in general to be delicately scaled.

The pattern, Altair by Watson, dating from 1904, is broadly rococo in manner. Named for a star, and having Arabic roots meaning "flying eagle," the design possesses a celestial quality to it, resembling perhaps a cosmic cloud.

The tines, two of which are splayed and one barbed, are relatively wide and join...

Measuring 6 7/8" long and weighing approximately 1.0 T. oz., this place, sometimes referred to as a regular, fork was made by Watson whose Mechanics Division pennant emblem and the word "Sterling" appear on the handle backside.

The pattern is Bacchante, issued in 1895. It features a nude female figure holding a bay in one arm and a cluster of grapes, a reference to Bacchus, the God of wine, and the source of the pattern name, in the other arm.

The image is modeled after a statue desi...

A long handled version, this olive spoons measures 7" as against a regular length 5 1/2" or so for this form. It weighs .7 T. oz.

Made by Watson, the pattern is Bridal Flower, introduced in 1910.

Although dating from late in the Art Nouveau period, this follows fully after that style, with a very fluid interpretation of the lily blossoms that form the centerpiece of the design.

The gold finish bowl (front and back sides) is shell form, with scalloped edges and a ribbed and...

Marked with Watson's Mechanics division pennant emblem and the word "Sterling," this teaspoon measures 5 7/8" long and weighs a substantial 1.1 T. oz.

The pattern is a Daisy and appears to be a variant from Watson's Floral Series No. 2 issued in 1903.

As was characteristic of the company's products, the die work is intricately detailed, presented in high relief, and struck with precision.

The finish is a soft, satin gray.

The bowl of this is engraved in script with the ...

No. 1 in Watson's Fruit Series of patterns introduced in 1903, the orange (or grapefruit) portraiture on this is set in detailed, high, relief and reflects the Art Nouveau design sensibilities of the period.

Made in a variety of pieces, the citrus spoon was a popular item, offered in a number of close on sizes and with at least two different bowls, a plain one, and the one found on this lengthy, 6 1/4" long, and weighty at 1.1 T. oz., example.

It has a scalloped...

Watson Newell's "Orchid" is one of numerous floral designs the company produced in the early part of the 20th century that yet stand as exemplary expressions of Art Nouveau design.

This example is a 5" long, .9 T. oz., cream ladle.

The flower is fully three-dimensional, rising out of the end of handle and folding over on itself in a highly expressive manner, with trailing leaves tracing their way up the handle margins, front and back sides.

The scalloped edge bowl has a flange margin an...