Catalog: Silver

A piece attached to the early history of Chicago, this coin silver sauce or small gravy ladle is marked "Speer & Cosper" "Chicago," for a partnership of only two years duration, 1852-53, although Isaac Speer had been in business as a jeweler and watchmaker since 1840, and continued on after the pairing dissolved.

This is an unusually proportioned piece. It measures 7" long, with a handle that is lengthy in comparison to the 2" by 1 1/2" by 1/2" deep oval bowl. It weighs 1.1 T. oz...

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...

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...

An 8 3/8" long, approximately 1.9 T. oz., table serving spoon, this piece is fully hallmarked for London, sterling silver, 1775, and maker Stephen Adams I (S·A).

Having a Hanoverian handle, the end is upturned and tipt, while there is a long drop, evolved from a rattail, on the bowl backside.

The handle reverse is engraved in a period "S + S" monogram...

This solid silver open master salt dish has a bowl that measures 2 1/2" in diameter, is 1 3/8" tall, weighs 1.7 T. oz., and stands on three supporting hoof feet legs.

Georgian in style as befits its 1769 date, it has a round body with an applied beaded top rim with an encircling, line detail inscribed 1/8" below this...

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...

A large, 2 3/8" tall by 2 5/8" base diameter, and heavy 5.8 T. oz. silver content, this mustard pot is fully hallmarked on the side for Sheffield, England, 1914, sterling, and prominent maker Thomas Bradbury & Sons (TB & S in a shield).

The lid is counterstamped on the underside with the maker's mark and a lion passant for sterling...

This 7" long, .9 T. oz., solid silver preserve spoon has a downturned, rounded end, handle with a plain, Tipt, backside. The front is extensively bright cut engraved and engine turned in a manner that is strongly suggestive of mid 19th century Philadelphia design.

Indeed, it is marked "T.C. Garrett," who was an established jeweler and merchant in that city...

Originally associated with Herman Marcus as Starr & Marcus, Theodore B. Starr established his own firm in 1880. His work as a jeweler was renowned and he also produced silver hollowware (see Old Friends item 5551f) as well as some flat ware.

This 6" long, relatively weighty at 1.2 T. oz., sturdy sauce ladle marked "Sterling" and "Theodore B...

An important name among late 18th/early 19th century New York City silversmiths in his own right, Thomas Richards also paired with other significant smiths of his period, beginning with his father-in-law Daniel VanVoorhis, with whom he apprenticed starting in 1790 and partnered with from 1798-1802.

He was also associated at various times with John Sayre, William Pelletreau, and William Morrell prior to his death in 1830.

This pair of 6 1/4" long, 1.45 T. oz., coin silver tongs are stamped ...

This 7" long, very heavy at 2.28 T. oz., fork is notable for several reasons.

Evolving from the immediately preceding 17th century English Trefid style with a three-lobed handle tip, this is a turn of the 18th century Dognose piece with a single, extended, slightly upturned, knobbed end.

Scarce items, Dognose forks are all the more so relative to spoons.

This has an interesting, and telling to anyone versed in such things, crest on the handle backside that portrays ...

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...

Produced in the greatest number between 1780 and 1840, English meat skewers varied little in form (Thomas Waldron, Antique Silver), although as this example illustrates, they ranged in size.

Generally quite lengthy (there are three others offered on Old Friends between 10" and 12" long), this piece measures 7" and weighs approximately .6 T. oz. Its size actually sets it apart.

It is fully hallmarked for London, 1805-6, sterling silver, and maker Thomas Wallis.

The shank is...

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 ...

Florals seem to have been the favorite theme used in American Art Nouveau silver design in the years just before and following 1900, with fruits also popular.

This group of spoons illustrate three patterns representative of the period and include two florals and one fruit.

The are, left to right in the above image, Reed & Barton's Les Cinq Fleurs, International's Cloeta (Grape), and Whiting's Lily.

At 5 7/8" long, 1.06 T. oz., the Cinq Fleurs is a full sized ...

In his comprehensive work Tiffany Silver Flatware, author William Hood discusses a number of "not-full-line patterns without a known name or description."

This 6" long, weighty at 1.2 T. oz., specialty teaspoon falls into this category.

As with several of the pieces Hood illustrates, this is based on "a form related to conventional Antique" with "a chamfered edge around the front of the handle."

Apart from the exceptionally fine overall quality, the distinguishing feature ...

Issued at the turn of the 20th century, Tiffany's Florentine takes its name from the city whose identity is synonymous with the Italian Renaissance, and fittingly the decorative elements of the pattern derive from design characteristic of that period.

This example is a 6 1/4" long, very heavy relative to size at nearly 1.4 T. oz., youth fork with a line script "ALW" monogram engraved in the reserve area of the handle front.

In good condition, this retains clear pattern detail and pr...

A design originated by Henry Hebbard, New York City, and later offered as a line pattern by Whiting, Mask was also retailed by Tiffany under its own name in the 1860s. This 6 1/8" long, .8 T. oz., sugar spoon is a case in point.

It is marked "Tiffany & Co.," "H H Patent 1859" and "Sterling." (Coin was still the general standard in this period, and some Mask shows up in coin, but Tiffany required a sterling standard.)

A gadroon design with leafy detail, the pattern take...