Catalog

Solid silver, this gravy ladle is large scale, measuring 6 1/2" long overall, with a 2 1/2" by 2" by 3/4" deep bowl, and weighs just under 2.6 T. oz.

It is marked "Sterling" and "Shreve & Co.," for the San Francisco firm known for its Arts & Crafts style silver, which the "Norman" pattern on this exemplifies.

Introduced in 1909, "Norman" is reminiscent of Shreve's "XIVth Century," and was offered in a plain version and with a hammered surface, as on this.

The upturned handle front is en...

Marked "Tiffany & Co.," "Makers," "Sterling," "22479," and with a lower case "m," this piece dates between 1937 when this model number was introduced, and 1947 when the directorship of John C. Moore II, represented by the "m," ended and the letter style changed.

It is a 2 3/4" by 2 1/4 by 1/2" tall, 1.23 T. oz., solid silver shell form nut dish.

It rests on two ball feet and the heel of the shell.

An estate piece, it has never been monogrammed or inscribed. It remains in choice conditio...

At 5 5/8" long and .8 T. oz., this piece is a size smaller than a full length 6" tea and is identified as a 5 o'clock spoon.

This 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. The baby's face is rounded and fully delineated. The chest, neck, and arm surfaces of the fe...

Introduced in 1889, Towle's "Shell" is a stylized representation of a scallop shell set on a rounded end, upturned, "Antique" handle.

This piece is a 7 1/4" long, just over 1.1 T. oz., solid silver master butter knife.

It has a broad, 1" wide, flat, blade with an upswept, pointed tip, and notched edges.

There is a line script "MLJ" or "MLT" monogram engraved sideways on the handle.

In very fine condition, this is without any evident wear and has a bright, even, finish.

Marks are T...

The name "Jacob Harley," which appears along with the word "Coin" on the backside of this 6 3/4" long, just under 1.0 T. oz., sugar sifter is best known by virtue of his 1852-61 Philadelphia retail jewelry partnership with Isaac Stauffer.

This item dates from the ten year period when Harley operated on his own after the dissolution of the partnership.

The style is characteristic of its place and time, with a rounded end, engraved, "Antique Tipt" handle.

There is a block letter "JFS" rep...

A pattern that originated with John Polhamus, New York City, in the third quarter of the 19th century, it was continued in production by George Shiebler, as confirmed by his "winged S" emblem imprinted on this, along with "Sterling," "Pat.," and the name of the retailer, "James Mix," Albany.

The Greek Revival die struck pattern features an anthemion end with flanking rosettes and palmettes, joined to a tubular stem.

This example is 6 1/4" long, just over .8 T. oz., youth fork.

In excell...

In his benchmark reference work Tiffany Silver Flatware, William Hood writes extensively about both the history of the designer, John T. Curran, and the nomenclature of the "Broom-Corn" pattern first issued in 1890 (note:the hyphen is Tiffany's identification, although it is omitted in common usage). He describes the pattern type as a "forerunner to Art Nouveau."

Among other details of Curran's story, Hood notes that he was "a product of the Tiffany School" and "went on to become Tiffa...

With a history that traces to Shepherd & Boyd located in Albany, New York, in the early part of the 19th century, Mulford, Wendell & Co. was established under that name in 1843.

The "Grape" pattern on these six, 6 1/16" long, 4.4 T. oz. the group, teaspoons is a pattern that, while marked for this company, is attributed to Whiting and was in fact patented by Michael Gibney in 1855, with this date imprinted on the backsides of these.

A charming design that features two clusters of grapes on...

Measuring 4 1/4" long each and weighing just over 1.0 T. oz. combined, these two demitasse aka coffee spoons are old production examples of Reed & Barton's "Francis I" flatware.

They are marked on the reverses with the company's "eagle, R in a shield, lion" emblem, "Sterling," and "Pat June 25 07.," all in very fine lettering as would be expected of early pieces.

Each item is also engraved in an artfully lettered, delicate, "H E A" monogram on the reverse.

In immaculate condition, thes...

A legendary flatware line produced by Gorham that was based on classical mythological imagery, a Skinner's auction catalogue entry notes of it, "Mythologique may be [designer Antoine] Heller’s most celebrated pattern, and featured not only single characters, but entire figural scenes."

The same entry further adds, "The Luxembourg Museum in Paris acquired their own Mythologique service for their collection in 1896."

Elizbeth Williams, Curator of Decorative Arts at the Rhode Island Scho...

Designed to reach deep into a narrow mouth jar, a horseradish scoop or spoon generally has a relatively long and narrow handle and a paddle-like end.

This example made by Frank Smith in the "Newport Shell" aka "Puritan" pattern evidences these characteristics. It is 5 3/4" long, weighs .6 T. oz., and features the requisite 1 3/4" long, 5/8" wide, scoop end.

It is fully original, meaning it is not made up or adapted from another item as some pieces in the marketplace are, has never been mon...

As noted in a catalogue listing for a spoon held by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, "Horace E. Potter, a native of Cleveland, was one of the city’s most accomplished and long-lived artists of the Arts and Crafts era.""

He produced jewelry and flat and hollow ware. In addition to the piece noted above, the Rhode Island School of Design Museum has a leaf form spoon of his that is listed on its online catalogue.

Working from 1897 onward, he established the partnership of Potte...

Made by Joseph Mayer (Mayer Brothers) of Seattle, whose "triangle" emblem and "Sterling" appear on the backside of the handle, this spoon measures 5 1/4" long and weighs approximately .7 T. oz.

A souvenir spoon, it is artfully crafted.

The shank portrays a branch embellished with grape leaves and fruit as well as poppies. This is surmounted with a prospector's mining pan with a cluster of nuggets inside. A pick and shovel lie behind this and a rope handle bucket above it.

An especially ...

The largest of the round bowl soup spoons, gumbos are larger yet than cream soups, which in turn are a size up from bouillons.

This 6 5/8" long, weighty at 1.5 T. oz., example was made by Gorham in its "Buttercup" pattern.

It is an early production piece marked with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," "Patent 1900," and the name of the retailer, Boston's "Smith, Patterson Co."

This retains a portion of an original pale gold wash on both sides of the bowl, although it is minim...

References assign an 1880 introduction date for Whiting's "Antique Tip" aka "Antique Tipt" pattern made in sterling, but this fork is an example of an earlier, 1860s, version made to a coin standard.

Measuring 7 1/8" long and weighing approximately 1.2 T. oz., this is a lunch, or simply a regular or place, piece.

It is characterized by a narrow shank that broadens widely, comes to a point at an unturned end which has a raised scroll and diamond drop that looks something like a fleur-de-lis...

Issued at the turn of the twentieth century, "Jonquil" aka daffodil aka narcissus is one of several, albeit one of the less common, Art Nouveau patterns Durgin produced that are similar in design to its flagship and commanding "New Art" line.

This example is 5 1/2" long, .8 T. oz., sugar spoon.

It has a shell bowl with a swirled interior and piecrust edge.

The handle front features a single, full, bloom at the tip, with two buds lower down from this.

The backside portrays a cascade o...

Introduced in 1942, International's "Spring Glory" pattern clearly evidences the ongoing influence of the Danish Modern and Art Deco design styles that originated in earlier decades of the 20th century.

It features a leaf and blossom motif with the leaves in this instance wrapping around the middle tier of the 4 1/8" diameter bases of these two, matching, 10" tall, baluster form, candlesticks.

These are marked on the undersides "Spring Glory," "International," with the Simpson, Hall...

One of the enduring patterns produced by Gorham's remarkable 19th century designer Antoine Heller, "St. Cloud" portrays a dense leaf, shell, and scroll motif offered in an Aesthetic manner.

This example is a large size, 5 1/8" long, weighty at approximately 1.5 T. oz., pair of sugar tongs.

The upper end of one arm is engraved in a fancy, feathered script, monogram that appears to be "HOS," while the other arm is inscribed "1902."

Given the pattern was introduced in 1885, and since the s...