Catalog: Silver

It is firstly a 4 3/4" by 3 1/2" by 13/16" high, hinged, oval box. The hinge is on the short end, with a lip for opening on the opposite end.

It is made of 950 fine, i.e. first standard, silver (slightly higher than sterling) and marked with a "Minerva head" on the lid edge, underside of the cover, and on the lip of the base...

In immaculate condition, appearing never to have been used, it was a presentation piece, engraved "Kathryn" in embellished script lettering on the handle front and "1905" on the reverse...

The iconography includes a pair of upraised (presumably eagle) wings that appear to rise out of a crown, which itself sits over a lion rampant on a shield. Lastly, there is a rearing steed projecting out of a castle turret set below the above images...

A large item, this all silver ice cream knife or slice measures 10 1/4" long and weighs 4.3 T. oz.

It has a hollow (not filled) handle and a 6 1/8" by 2 1/4", roughly rectangular, solid silver, flat blade with a gold finish front and back sides.

This form is sometimes referred to as an ice cream axe or hatchet, referencing the dramatically impressive scale of the blade...

They present with something of a mystery.

Coffee spoons, the pattern matches Whiting's Renaissance Revival Arabesque pattern in every detail, save the backside of the bowls are stamped "800," which represents a German silver standard used prior to 1886 (Arabesque was issued in 1875)...

Measuring 6 1/4" long and 3 1/2" wide, it has a silver handle attached to a dense cluster of soft, natural bristles.

It was made by Gorham, whose "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," model number "C159," and a date symbol for "1898" are imprinted on the lower edge of the handle...

As recounted in Silver in the Golden State, Vanderslice & Co. became "the longest lived of the nineteenth-century San Francisco manufacturing firms."

This piece is a 9 1/4" long, 2.54 T...

The pattern had variants or close parallels, of which this 9 1/8" long, 1.9 T. oz., coin silver table serving spoon is one.

It has a plain, chamfered edge, shank (vs...

Its distinguishing feature is the shell bowl with scalloped edges and a ribbed interior. This is finished in a matte gold on the front except for the heel, which along with the entire backside, has a bright gold surface...

As this does, motes spoons typically have a pierced bowl on one end and a pointed or spear tip on the other.

Most commentary about their purpose indicates mote spoons were originally tea related, used for filtering loose leaves, with the point serving to clear a spout of clogs.

This 8 3/8" example was made by FS Gilbert, North Attlebor...

These four, Krider, Robbins, Clark and Biddle, were all well-known and well-regarded names associated with the manufacturing and marketing of silver, and they had intertwining histories. This particular configuration suggests an 1875-78 da...

The pattern is Whiting's Heraldic, which apropos of the pattern name, features the image of a medieval helmet prominently set at the top of the handle. The remainder of the design incorporates a dense array of high relief, scrolling acanthus leaves.

The bowl on this is the fancier of two that Whiting used for this line. It has a scalloped rim and rai...

One particular pattern that was widely embraced was the Lily, which is actually a lily of the valley engraved on this 8 3/4" long, 2.6 T. oz., berry or other serving spoon by Whiting.

Introduced in 1882, the naturalistic floral and leaf elements are represented in an Aesthetic manner, set on a rounded end, Antique

This ensemble is an ice cream set comprised of a server along with eleven (alas one of the no doubt once twelve has been lost to the group) individual spoons.

These are all part of a rarely found original set, no...

This lengthy at 7 1/2" and weighty at 1.3 T. oz., master butter knife is stamped with his "star, lion, D" emblem along with "Sterling" on the blade backside.

The pattern is Ivy, which was one of Westervelt's full line designs. Naturalistic in manner, Ivy faithfully represents this vine which served ...

It is hallmarked for "sterling silver," "London," "1898," and prominent English maker "William Comyns & Sons, Ltd."

Trumpet form, it has tapered sides that lead to a splayed top that measures 4 1/2" in diameter.

The uppermost 1 1/2" of the body, essentially the splayed area, features open leaf and flower (perhaps thistle) cut...

One of Gorham's enduring patterns, the design features French scroll margins with a shell detail at the handle end.

This has a shell-shaped bowl that is finished in a bright gold wash on the interior and has decorated shoulders. This latter detail is only found on older pieces; newer items have plain sho...