Catalog

Issued in 1909, Norman Hammered by San Franciso's renowned Shreve & Company follows in that firm's Arts & Crafts tradition of silversmithing.

It much resembles the company's flagship line, Fourteenth Century, having a hammered surface set on robust, i.e. thick and blocky, stock, that bespeaks a medieval origin.

This example is a 4 3/4" long, just over 1.0 T. oz., pair of sugar, olive, or even bonbon tongs.

They show angular, squared off, arms with heavy hammering on all si...

This 8 1/4" long, 1.35 T. oz., solid silver serving fork has two potential uses.

Slender and long, with a three tine serving end, the dimensions and overall form suggest a lettuce fork.

The tine configuration, however, points to a beef fork, and this could be a long-handled version of that piece.

Whatever the precise function, it is an exceptionally well-crafted item.

Philadelphia in origin, it is marked "W. Faber & Sons" along with "Sterling," and dates circa 1880.

It has a round...

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 ...

A prominent Syracuse, New York silver manufacturer with a history that spanned the second half of the 19th century and lasted until early into the 20th century, Joseph Seymour produced a number of flatware patterns in coin and sterling silver.

The Square Handled Engraved pattern on this 7 5/8" long, 1.2 T. oz., jelly knife in sterling is one that does not have a lot of design parallels, either with Seymour or other producers.

The handle is flat, and as the name implies, has straight...

Born in 1802, Albert Comstock Benedict was a prominent New York City silversmith during the first half of the 19th century and beyond. He worked in partnership with Egbert Scudder from 1828-36.

His mark, which appears on all four of these lengthy, 6 1/4", 2.3 T. oz. the group, matching teaspoons is distinct. It reads, "A.C. Benedict" over "28 Bowery, N.Y."

The handles are Fiddle shaped with Tipt backsides. There are high, rounded, fins off the bowls, and plain drops on the ba...

Hanau encompasses a broad category of silver produced in the late 19th to early 20 centuries in and around the German city of this name.

Stylistically it often mirrors silver from other countries, particularly France, and from earlier periods.

Marking is idiosyncratic, often even obscure, employing pseudo hallmarks that are generally challenging to identify.

This example is a 6" long, 1.1 T. oz. piece known as a "monkey spoon," which characteristically has a handle with a hooked...

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. Sarr New York" dates from the early 20th century, and, although marked for Starr, may actually have been made by Marshall Field who produced a wel...

Lengthy at 8 7/8" and weighing .9 T. oz., this olive spear or pick is solid silver.

The pattern is "Thistle," which is an early 20th century Art Nouveau design made by R. Blackinton & Co.

The high relief thistle flowers and leaves run the full length of both sides of the handle, with the leaves extending onto the shoulders of the twist.

Never monogrammed, this is in flawless condition. It retains clear pattern detail that is free of any polishing wear. There are no bends or burrs, and t...

Very heavy at just over 2.0 T. oz., this 7 3/4" long master butter knife is stamped "Crosy, Morse & Foss," for the 19th century Boston retailer, and "925 in an oval" for sterling silver.

Having a rounded "Antique" handle with a "Tipt" backside, the appeal of the piece lies in its quiet elegance and overall substance.

There is a handsome leaf script monogram engraved on the handle front.

The plain blade has a scalloped upper edge, a beveled lower edge, and an upswept, pointed, tip.

An...

A multi-motif line, George Shiebler's 1902 Fiorito portrays a variety of flowers interpreted in an Art Nouveau manner.

This example is a 5 3/4" long, .5 T. oz., bon bon representing a clematis.

A fully open blossom appears on the handle end, while the portraiture is repeated in the entirety of the 2" by 1 3/4", nearly round, reticulated and undulating, bowl that has a pale gold wash finish front and back sides.

Never monogrammed or inscribed, this is in flawless condition,...

The name Gorham immediately evokes Jabez Gorham of Providence, Rhode Island, and the legendary firm he founded.

The same surname, however, appears in the history of 18th and 19th century silversmithing in New Haven, Connecticut.

This minor dynasty included Miles Gorham, his son by the same name, and his nephew John, whose "J. Gorham" mark is imprinted on this lengthy, 8 7/8", 1.5 T. oz. coin silver spoon.

Born in 1789, Flynt & Fales Heritage Foundation Collection of Silver notes ...

Alvin's Raphael is one of the most impressive of the myriad early 20th century Art Nouveau figural flatware designs offered by American manufacturers near the turn of the 20th century.

A multi-motif pattern, it features a full-sized woman in various poses, differing from piece to piece, along with floral detailing that also varies from piece to piece.

The flower on the handle of this 6" long, just over 1.0 T. oz. (32 grams), teaspoon is an orchid or iris and it repeats...

A prominent Syracuse, New York silver manufacturer with a history that spanned the second half of the 19th century and lasted until early into the 20th century, Joseph Seymour produced a number of flatware patterns in coin and sterling silver.

The Square Handled Engraved pattern on these two matching 5 5/8" long, 1.13 T. oz. combined, forks is one that does not have clear design parallels, either with Seymour or other firms.

The handle is flat, and as the name implies, has straight ...

A worker who apprenticed in the shop of renowned Arts & Crafts silversmith Arthur Stone, George Erickson founded his own studio in Gardner, Massachusetts, the same city as Stone, in 1932. The business continues today under the ownership of his grandson Peter.

This 6 1/2" long, approximately 1.2 T. oz., serving spoon is an early production piece, original to George, marked "Erickson Sterling".

A serving spoon with an ovoid bowl, the pattern is "Chino," which is a rounded end fiddle design. ...

An early line pattern first issued in 1861 to a coin silver standard, "Cottage" continued in production for many years, through Gorham's transition to sterling in 1868.

This 8 3/4" long, just over 1.8 T. oz., berry or other serving spoon is marked "Sterling," indicating it dates 1868 or later. Other marks include the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Patent 1861," and the rarely found identifier, "Gorham Mfg. Co."

It has a 3 1/2" by 2 1/8", particular to Gorham, stylized shell form bowl...

Relative large, this coin silver master butter knife measures 7 3/4" long and weighs a commensurately heavy 1.3 T. oz.

Elegantly designed, it has a lengthy, slender, handle that has high, double swell, chamfered fins off the blade. The end is fiddle shaped and features a raised shell motif.

The blade is somewhat short at 2 7/8" long and wide at 1 1/8". It has a blunt end and curved upper edge with a notch toward the tip.

It has an implied provenance in that the front of t...

A name of note among 19th century Philadelphia silver manufacturers, William Faber, later joined by his sons, produced items of high quality and lasting appeal.

This substantial sized gravy ladle, 7 1/2" long, 2.0 T. oz., with a 2 5/8" wide, 1" deep, oval bowl is a case in point.

It is distinguished by its extensive bright cut engraving that appears on a rounded end "Antique" handle, and additionally in the bowl with double vee shaped grooves and scalloped shoulders.

Portraying a floral...

Very much a period table piece, this 8 1/4" long, 1.5 T. oz., spoon has a rounded end with a tipt backside, and an exposed drop on the bowl.

The handle front is diamond cut and wriggle work engraved, and has a block letter "E S" monogram, in a manner that bespeaks its age.

The handle reverse is fully hallmarked with a castle assay mark for Exeter, England, 1799-1800 date letter (George III), duty bust, lion for sterling silver, and "RJ" for silversmith Richard Jenkins (d. 1807).

The bow...