Catalog: Silver

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Items originating from various members of the renowned Bateman family of English silversmiths appear with individual maker's marks and in combination with one another.

This pair of 5 1/2" long, .9 T. oz., tongs is stamped "PB/WB" for Peter and William Bateman. Other marks include a "lion passant" for sterling, a date letter for 1809-10, and a "bust" duty mark.

A fully period piece, this has slender, tapered, arms with a broad arch and cupped grips and is extensively bright cut in a leaf an...

A large table or serving spoon, this piece measures 9" long and weighs 1.8 T. oz.

Coin silver, it is stamped "J. Guthre" for James Guthre, who worked in Wilmington, Delaware in the second quarter of the 19th century. References record him in partnership with Emmor Jefferis c. 1840.

Well-crafted, this has an exceptionally wide, flat with a slight downward arc, front with a subtle Tipt back, Fiddle handle.

This is engraved with a feathered, line script, "CP" monogram on the ...

This coin silver teaspoon measures 5 7/8" long and weighs just under .5 T. oz. (14 grams).

It is marked "Benedict & Scudder" over "New York," a partnership dating 1828-36, with Andrew Comstock Benedict, who also worked independently, the more prominent and lasting name in silversmithing of the two.

The end of the handle features a raised Basket of Flowers. This, along with the Sheaf of Wheat motif, were two popular embellishments on the otherwise largely plain designs on silv...

This wine funnel is a two piece item consisting of a 3 1/2" diameter, 1 3/8" high, strainer basket, and the actual fitted funnel that is 3 1/2" long. The two pieces together weigh 3.3 T. oz.

The bowl is fully hallmarked with a "lion," "leopard," date letter "C" for 1818-19, duty "bust," and "W.B" in a double rounded cartouche for William Bateman, whom Jackson's Hallmarks identifies as "very good (best of the Batemans)."

The funnel is counter stamped with a "lion," "bust" and corresp...

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, where he worked as a silversmith in the 1820s, and apparently with a short-lived presence on Nantucket Island, Masschusetts, William P. Stanton established himself in business in 1829 with his brother, Henry, in Rochester, New York.

This pair of 5 3/4" long, .9 T. oz., coin silver tongs are marked "W.P. & H. Perry" for that partnership.

Their plain, angular, fiddle shaped arms date them from early in the partnership, c. 1830. Perhaps they were an old style...

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 Reverse Tipt teaspoon measures 5 1/2" long and weighs .74 T. oz.

It is clearly stamped with pseudo hallmarks that include a "lion passant," a "leopard face," "YS," and a "bust."

Intentionally mirroring late Georgian English style and period hallmarks, this is an example of Chinese Export silver, produced in this instance in Canton by the maker Yatshing aka Yat Shing.

As export silver, it would likely have been made to a sterling standard and is well crafted.

As documented by Flynt & Fales in The Heritage Foundation Collection of Silver, Eleazer Wyer, born in Boston in 1786, learned goldsmithing from his father (of the same name), and his sister married silversmith Timothy Keith, so the trade was clearly a family tradition.

Eleazer relocated to Portland, Maine about 1806, and from 1814-18 was in partnership there with Charles Farley.

Four of these six, essentially matched, coffee or tea spoons are marked "Wyer & Farley" along with an "ea...

The Baltimore Museum of Art volume Baltimore Silver notes that Andrew Ellicott Warner "is the best known of a family of silversmiths which included his father Cuthbert, brother Thomas, and son Andrew Ellicott Warner, Jr."

This example of his work is a 7" long, weighty at 1.3 T. oz., place or dessert spoon.

The marks on this, "A.E. Warner" along with the peculiar to Baltimore "11" assay stamp (midway between coin and sterling silver), is one of seven documented in the above reference...