Catalog: Silver

Note: while the above image shows six of these forks, this listing is actually for eight identical, all original, pieces.

Made by Frank Whiting, this set of forks is marked with the company's "W in a circle" emblem, "Sterling," and the number "2" on the backsides.

Measuring 5 3/4" long each and weighing 4.0 T. oz. the group, they are oyster, shrimp, or seafood cocktail forks...

George Blanchard, along with sons Porter and Richard, represent a dynasty within the realm of American Arts & Crafts silversmithing.

With family roots in Gardner, Massachusetts, George originally worked with Arthur Stone. Porter went on to establish one of the most well-known silver workshops in California, where the family also founded the California Society of Arts & Crafts.

The "B09 in an oval" that appears on this 6 3/16" long, .87 T...

George Sharp's Ball pattern is arguably the most well known of any number of 1860s designs that incorporated a sphere, cube, orb, or other similar form, usually surmounting a tubular or faceted shank.

It was produced in a wide variety of pieces, from large servers to items as small as a master salt spoon or this, a 5" long, .3 T. oz., nut pick...

English in origin, this soup ladle measures 13" long overall and has a generously proportioned 3 1/2" diameter, 1 1/8" deep, hemispherical bowl.

Solid silver, it weighs 4.0 T. oz.

The pattern is Old English with a rounded, downturned, handle end with a Tipt backside. It has an exposed thumb drop on the join with the bowl.

Plain, this has never been monogrammed or inscribed...

The Baltimore Museum of Art volume Maryland Silver indicates George Webb (1812-90) was a second generation silversmith, although he trained under Hugh Gelston rather than his father, James Webb.

This source also notes that he "conducted his highly successful jewelry and silver shop under the name Webb & Co. on Baltimore and Light Streets with W.H. Sexton as a partner 1877-86."

As this 9" long, 2.2 T...

Tracing to the reign of England's George II, this 8 3/4" long, approximately 1.3 T. oz., piece is fully and clearly hallmarked for sterling, London, 1758, and maker William Turner (script WT).

A Marrow scoop, if follows fully after the form, with two elongated, rounded end, bowls, one wide and one narrow, joined by a solid bar.

The backside heel of the larger bowl is engraved with a block letter "T over L R" monogram...

Measuring 7 3/4" long and weighing 2.0 T. oz., this fork has rounded shoulders and three wide and lengthy tines, the outer two of which are splayed.

The form is uncommon and hence of uncertain function. It may be a spinach or toast/bread fork, or for another purpose yet. The proportions assure it is definitely original and not adapted from another piece as, for example, most potato forks are derived from dinner forks...

A matched pair, each of these master salts measures 2 1/4" in diameter and stands 1 3/8" high, while the pair weigh 3.2 T. oz. combined.

They are English in origin and fully hallmarked for London, 1897-98, sterling, and WG/JL for William Gibson and John Langman (also operating as the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co.).

Traditional in design, they are round, with heavily repoussed bodies, applied hatched rims, and stand on three lion's paw and shell legs...

Measuring 5 1/2" long and weighing just over 1.0 T. oz. (32 grams), this pair of George III English tongs are marked "SG/EW" for London silversmiths Samuel Godbehere and Edward Wigan.

Other marks are a "lion" for sterling, a "bust" duty mark, and date letter "G" for 1802-03.

Very much a period item, the slender, curvilinear, arms are bright cut and wriggle work engraved in a starburst and diamond pattern...

The earliest of four Kings (I, II, III, and King George) patterns produced by Gorham, Kings I, introduced in 1876, is the most individualistic and least imitative of the four of the English counterparts from which this popular American design in many manifestations evolved.

The handle features a rounded, upturned end with a stylized shell, and honeysuckle detailing and two rosettes and a palmette set midway, all replicated on the backside save for the absence of a ...

Issued in 1880, Gorham's "Empress" incorporates a number of design elements, all evident on this 9 3/8" long, just over 3.0 T. oz., serving spoon.

The lower portions of the handle where it joins the bowl suggest an Egyptian Revival influence, while other areas point toward Renaissance Revival inspiration. In addition, the dense floral clusters employ imagery similar to Gorham's "Cluny" pattern that was designed by Antoine Heller, who was highly regarded for his Classical motifs.

Lastly, ...

Bonbonnieres are bonbon spoons set large.

The form was popular in the late 19th century, and no company was more successful in producing impressive examples than Gorham. This example is model number "588" offered by that firm.

It is medium-sized, measuring 6 1/8" long, has a bowl that is roughly 2 3/4" in diameter, and weighs just under 2.0 T. oz.

It is cast rather than die struck, as these forms generally were. Casting allows for the introduction of more intricate detail and great...

Measuring 6" by 3 3/4" and weighing a substantial 2.7 T. oz., this flat-bottomed dresser or pin tray is encircled by a 1" wide, 3/8" high, raised border with an applied rim.

The rim is acid etched in an elegant design of scrolling acanthus leaves with floral compliments.

One side has a shell-like reserve that is engraved with a line script "JNE" monogram.

Measured yet expressive in style and manner, this piece evidences the dignity and proportionality of traditional classic design.

D...

Relatively large at 1 1/2" tall and 1 3/4" wide, and weighing 1.0 T. oz., this napkin ring is stamped with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and model number "2166."

Dating c. 1880, it is bright cut engraved on its otherwise plain walls in an Aesthetic, i.e. Eastlake, style that incorporates fern, leaf, flower, and non-representational detailing and wriggle work.

An open reserve area is inscribed "F.A. Brock." in elegant cursive lettering.

In excellent condition, this is wi...

Gorham's Angelo aka No. 10 flatware pattern forms the core of the fabled (Henry Jewett and Elvira Irwin) "Furber Collection" of silver held at the "Rhode Island School of Design Museum."

Gorham Silver: Designing Brilliance 1850-1970 edited by Elizabeth Williams recounts,

"Sitting down to the Furbers' table, one would have been confronted with a bevy of Gorham flatware--687 pieces in all. The majority of serving and dining utensils are the Angelo pattern, which d...

Measuring 5 3/4" long each, and weighing 4.6 T. oz. the group, these solid silver oyster aka shrimp or seafood cocktail forks are all stamped with Gorham's "anchor, lion, G" emblem and "Sterling."

The pattern is Antique, issued in 1875. Akin to Old English, it has a rounded end with a tipt backside attached to a narrow shank.

There are three tines on each of these pieces, the lower one of which is hooked and wider than the other two.

In choice estate condition and never mo...

This 7 3/8" long, 1.3 T. oz., youth knife (could double as a tea or dessert piece) has a hollow handle and flat, solid silver, blunt end blade.

It was made by Gorham, whose "lion, anchor, G" emblem and the word "Sterling" are imprinted on the blade backside.

An engaging design, the handle portrays pastoral scenes, with a woman and dog tending sheep on one side, and a man on horseback with scurrying chickens on the other.

While unnamed, the internet has embraced the name "Barnyard" for ...

Marked "Patent 1861," "Beaded" is one of Gorham's earliest line patterns. It was produced for a considerable period of time and made in both coin and sterling silver. This example is marked "Coin," so dates no later than 1868, the year Gorham went to sterling.

It is a large, 9 1/4" long, approximately 2.5 T. oz. ice cream server.

It has an oval blade with two ribs in the interior, notched shoulders, a beveled edge, and a gold washed upper surface. This is shallowly concave and more o...