Catalog: Silver: Sterling

One of Gorham's earliest full line patterns, Ivy aka Egyptian Ivy has a rounded front stem with a flat back, and broad, convex handle end with a crossbar.

The upper portion of the handle is shield-shaped and features an intricately rendered portraiture of raised ivy leaves and berries set against a stippled ground, with a leafy margin along the lower edges.

This example is a 7" long, 2.1 T. oz., sugar sifter with a large, 2 1/2" diameter, 3/4" deep, shell-shaped bowl...

Part of a large carving set, this item measures 14 1/4" long.

The handle is hollow filled and comprises 5" of the total length of the piece, and is sterling silver, while the six-sided, pointed tip, sharpener is plated steel.

This is an early production item made by Gorham in its 1895 Chantilly pattern, marked "Sterling" and with the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem imprinted on both sides of the edge of the handle at the place where it meets the guard...

A prominent Syracuse, New York silver manufacturer with a history that spanned the second half of the 19th century and lasted until early into the 20th century, Joseph Seymour produced a number of flatware patterns in coin and sterling silver.

The Square Handled Engraved pattern on these two matching 5 5/8" long, 1.13 T. oz. combined, forks is one that does not have clear design parallels, either with Seymour or other firms...

Tea accessories, mote spoons were popular items in early 19th century England.

Indeed, this 5 1/4" long, .32 (10 grams), sterling silver example traces to London, 1811, George III, according to the hallmarks on the reverse. No maker's stamp is present.

It is characteristic of the form, with a slender, tapered handle that ends in a triangular, pointed, pediment, for cleaning clogs...

An expression of Art Nouveau floral design at its finest, this bowl was made by Wallace, whose "RW deer head &S" emblem, the word "Sterling," model number "1140," and "9 in." for the top diameter are imprinted on the brushed finish underside.

It stands 2 1/4" tall and weighs a substantial 15.34 T. oz., and likely dates from the first decade of the 20th century.

It features six undulating lobes on its 1 1/2" wide rim...

Durgin introduced its Old Standish pattern in 1901 followed by New Standish in 1905. Both designs feature weighty, rounded end handles with multi-lined edges front and back sides.

New Standish adds a raised, rolled leaf detail at the handle end on the obverse.

This example is a 5 3/8" long, 1.06 T. oz., sugar sifter with an essentially hemispherical, 1 7/8" by 1 3/4" diameter by 1/2" deep, bowl.

The bowl has a raised vee on the heel where the handle joins...

Not a standard full line pattern, the Daisy pattern on this pair of 4 1/8" long, .68 T. oz., tongs made by Reed & Barton are from the company's early 20th century Harlequin floral series, which was made in a limited number of pieces.

Toward the Art Nouveau in manner, the design features a single full blossom at the top of each arm, with a bud and abundance of leaves below it...

Stephen Adams I was a well-recognized London silversmith of his period, roughly the full span of the second half of the 18th century.

Grimwade's foundational London Silversmiths notes his parentage is undiscovered, but that he entered his first mark with William Jury c. 1758, with another mark for both 29 October 1759. Although he also registered marks as a buckle maker, Grimwade states "it is clear that he was principally a spoonmaker."

This 8 3/8" long, 1.86 T...

Colonial Williamsburg commissioned Baltimore's Stieff Company (later Kirk-Stieff) to produce the revivalist Queen Anne line of flatware, which was introduced in 1940 and sold through "CW."

Queen Anne is a Hanoverian design with a rounded-end, upturned handle with a midrib and a rattail bowl back.

A companion pattern, Williamsburg Shell was added in 1970...

Generously scaled at 9 1/2" long, and weighing 2.44 T. oz., this serving spoon has a particularly large, 4" long by 2 5/8" at the widest, bowl.

It could have been intended for berries, but the size suggests another use such as vegetables, or in Southern usage, rice.

The handle is a Pointed Antique shape and is convex...

Generously sized at 1 1/2" high and 1 3/4" in diameter, and weighing .74 T., the style of this napkin ring suggests an 1860s to 1880s date of manufacture.

Appealingly simple in design, it features rolled rims adjoining knurled bands top and bottom. These are separated from a central, plain, concave band by raised beading.

The central band is finished in a bright gold wash, as is the entire inside surface, which is an unusual detail for a napkin ring. The name "Jennie" is engr...

Gorham's numbered items were generally made in a limited number of pieces rather than a full line, and were often enhanced in some manner, such as incorporating unusual design and/or a higher degree of finish than regular production items.

This 4 3/8" long, .64 T. oz., pair of tongs are stamped with the number "15" on the inside arch along with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, and "Sterling," and are, consistent with the above statement, an unusual design and particularly well-finished.

...

Measuring 2" wide by 2 1/2" long, 3 1/4" inclduing the loop, and weighing 1.1 T. oz. (35 grams), this all silver pendant was produced in Taxco, Mexico, by the firm of "los Ballesteros," likely in the mid 20th century.

Hollow with a flat back, it is heart-shaped and has a ball set in the top center. This in turn is fitted with a ring with an attached looped band for accommodating a chain.

It is stamped on the backside "Los Ballesteros" along with the company emblem surrounded ...

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.

The design elements include bellflowers, acanthus leaves, rosettes, beading and anthemia set ...

Exceptionally large, this solid silver pie server measures 10 1/4" long, has a blade that is 5" by 2 7/8" at the widest, and weighs 2.9 T. oz.

Marked "Ball, Black," "925" for sterling, and "Patent," the pattern is Arabesque, made by John Wendt, New York City, and issued in 1871. Arabesque is often (mis)identified as Monroe.

A Moorish design, Philadelphia's George Sharp produced a similar unnamed line. Whiting's version of Arabesque was introduced later in the 18...

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. oz. teaspoon is number "219" as imprinted on the backside, along with Wallace's "R W deer head & S" emblem and the word "Sterling."

The handle portrays a robust cluster of chrysanthemum blossoms, buds, and leaves on both the front and back sides.

The handle obverse is engraved "EF" in fancy Old English let...

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.

...

Standing 2" tall, with a top span of 4 3/8" and a base diameter of 3", this solid silver child's (porridge) bowl weighs 3.83 T. oz.

It has a slightly splayed body with a relatively thick rolled top rim, and a set back foot.

It is marked with the "sword & M" symbol of the Matthews Co., later Hickok-Mathews, "Sterling," and the model number "132."

Dating from early in the 20th century, it has acid etched walls that portray five different Kewpie babies along with shrubs and a...