Catalog: Silver

An Indo-Persian pattern, Gorham's Hindostanee was issued in 1878, as indicated by the "Pat. 78" that appears on the handle backside of this 7 3/4" long, 1.77 T. oz., serving spoon.

Other marks include the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and the word "Gorham," which may indicate the piece was sold in the company's New York City store, or it may simply be a redundant mark...

This intact youth set is comprised of a 7 3/8" long, 1.1 T. oz., solid silver flat handle knife, a 6 3/8" long, .9 T. oz., fork, and a 5 7/8" long, .64 T. oz., spoon.

In an Olive pattern, these are all original to one another with each engraved in script lettering, "C.J.A." to "C.A.P."

The commonality of the "C.A." letters prompts speculation about whether two generations shared names.

All pieces are stamped "C.A.W...

The firm of "Kitts & Werne" was a prominent jewelry and silver house in Louisville, Kentucky, known for quality offerings. John Kitts dates to 1838, while sources differ on the year of the founding of his pairing with Joseph Warne, ranging from 1860-64 and lasting until 1878.

This piece, which is marked "Kitts & Werne" is a 7 3/4" long, weighty at 2.0 T. oz., coin silver, sugar sifter...

Matching pieces, each of these four silver teaspoons measures 5 3/4" long, with the set weighing 1.64 T. oz.

The pattern is Fiddle Tipt which is a mid 19th century design. Each one is engraved with a fancy, feathered script, "A. R." monogram set sideways on the handle front.

These are marked "Sterling" when coin would be expected for this style, so whether they are early sterling examples, or later production pieces of an older design is uncertain...

This piece measures 5 7/8" long and weighs a substantial 1.2 T. oz.

It is an original production example of Reed & Barton's Love Disarmed, issued in 1899, and is marked with the company's "eagle, R, lion" emblem, "Sterling," and "Pat. Appl'd For," all in very fine lettering.

All the details are exactly as they should be on an old example save that, significantly, the floral tip on the pattern is missing...

Gorham's St. Cloud features a leaf and anthemion subject, with tight, circular, elements reminiscent of fern fronds, and shows Aesthetic influences, which is in keeping with its 1885 date of introduction.

This example of the pattern is a large, 7 3/4" long, substantial weight at 1.54 T. oz., solid silver master butter knife.

The flat blade is set at an angle to the handle and has a scalloped upper edge and gently rounded end...

Writing in his foundational work Tiffany Silver (1978), Charles Carpenter dates the Tiffany and J.C. Moore relationship that culminated in the incorporation of Tiffany as its own manufacturer (vs. being a retailer) in 1868, as beginning in 1851, with model number items 301-1000 produced 1856-59.

This large, 2 7/8" wide bowl, 3 1/4" maximum span, 1 5/8" tall, 2.19 T. oz...

To a European scale, each of these two, matching, forks measures 8" long. They are very heavy at 5.2 T. oz. the pair.

The pattern is a (Fiddle) Tipt, with beveled edges along the margins of the handles. The ends are slightly upturned, and the tines are long and tapered.

Each piece is fully marked with a "lion" for sterling, a "leopard's face" for London, a date letter "e" for 1834-35, a duty mark, and "WJ" for maker William Johnson...

This group of three pieces comprise a matched set, for either youth or traveling.

Sterling silver, they were made in Birmingham, England in 1833-34 by the firm of Taylor & Perry. The spoon is stamped with five identifying hallmarks, with the fork and knife having confirming partial marks.

The pattern is a robust grape leaf and fruit cluster that appears on the front and backsides of all three pieces. The spoon also has an elaborate, raised shell, motif on the heel reverse.

The solid sil...

An estate piece long held in one family, this chamber stick is a significant example of its form. It is stamped for London, 1801-2, sterling, and Robert Sharp, who is identified in Jackson's Hallmarks as an "important maker." Grimwade's London's Goldsmiths affords him a lengthy biographical entry.

It is large, with a base that measures 5 1/2" in diameter, 7" to the end of the solid finger grip, and stands 4" tall.

Solid silver, it weighs 9.4 T. oz.

The base has a raised ed...

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...

This George III fork is fully hallmarked for Dublin, Ireland, 1812, and sterling silver. The maker's letters are "TT," which is likely Thomas Townsend or possibly Thomas Tudor, and "Law" for retailer William Law.

A dinner fork, it is a lengthy 8" and is exceptionally heavy at 2.4 T. oz.

Very finely crafted, it is a "Tipt" aka "Fiddle Tipt" pattern, with high, angular shoulders off the gracefully curved heel of the bowl. The four elongated tines are slender and pointed.

The handle backsi...

This lengthy at 11 1/2", 3.4 T. oz., piece is variously identified as a basting, stuffing or platter spoon.

English in origin, it is hallmarked for London, 1805-06, sterling silver, and "TW" for maker Thomas Wallis.

The slender handle is "Old English" style, with a rounded end and tipt backside. There is thumb drop on the bowl reverse.

Never originally monogrammed or inscribed, this was apparently re-presented as a 25th commemorative gift, given the script "1928/L/1953" engraved on the ...

A matched set, this c. 1835, coin silver, 6 5/8" long, likely pickle, fork and 7 1/2" knife, 2.8 T. oz. combined weight, are marked "S. Richard" for the New York City silversmith Stephen Richard.

The handles are filled (which is included in the total weight above), and feature a complex, double-sided, pattern that incorporates leaves, scrolls, flowerets, and two kinds of shells, one that is spiraled and one that appears to be a nautilus.

The pattern may be attributable to Richard's contemp...

Born in 1785 in Albany, New York, sources indicate that Thomas H. Carson was working as a silversmith in that city in 1810 and in partnership there with Green Hall 1814-19.

This lengthy, 8 7/8" long, 1.9 T. oz., serving spoon is stamped with the "C&H" mark indicating that partnership.

The form is consistent with the period. The handle is plain front with a rounded end and a midrib on the backside and a plain drop on the heel of the bowl.

There is a large, double lined, feathered script ...

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 grips are spoon bowl shaped and decorated with a novel wriggle work design on ...

Dating from the reign of George III, this 5 1/2" long, just over 1.0 T. oz. (32 grams) pair of English tongs are fully hallmarked for sterling silver, London, 1802-03, and makers Peter, Ann and William Bateman of the legendary family of silversmiths associated with Hester.

A period piece, this has shaped arms, a broad arch, and cupped, aka acorn, grips.

All the exterior surfaces are bright cut and wriggle work engraved.

The arch has a reserve area that appears never to have been monogra...

These six, matched, coin silver, spoons are marked "Gorham & Webster," for a partnership that traces to 1831-37.

This period demarcated a turning point in the history of Gorham, defining the pivotal time when the company began its ascendency as a premier silver manufacturing firm.

It bears citing Charles Carpenter's passage in Gorham Silver 1831-1981 about this partnership:

Whether or not Jabez Gorham learned spoon making during his apprenticeship is unknown, but when he deci...