Catalog

An expressive, highly detailed and high relief, design with a sculptural quality, Durgin's rarely found 1888 Heraldic incorporates imagery befitting its appellation.

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.

This example is a 6 7/8" lon...

Generously scaled at 9 1/2" long, and weighing 2.44 T. oz., this serving spoon has a particularly large, 4" long by 2 5/8" at the widest, bowl.

It could have been intended for berries, but the size suggests another use such as vegetables, or in Southern usage, rice.

The handle is a Pointed Antique shape and is convex.

It is extensively bright cut engraved on the obverse in a pronounced Aesthetic design that incorporates naturalistic elements such as leaves, florals and ...

A popular motif from the 1880s, engraved versions of "Lily," actually "Lily of the Valley" with Aesthetic detailing, were produced by multiple manufacturers.

This matched set of eight, 5 15/16" long, 4.0 T. oz. the group, oyster, shrimp, or simply seafood, cocktail forks were made by Frank Whiting whose "W in a circle" and "Sterling" are imprinted on the reverses.

The handles are an "Antique" pattern with rounded ends and tipt backsides.

The fronts have satin matte finishes, which sets...

To a European scale, each of these two, matching, forks measures 8" long. They are very heavy at 5.2 T. oz. the pair.

The pattern is a (Fiddle) Tipt, with beveled edges along the margins of the handles. The ends are slightly upturned, and the tines are long and tapered.

Each piece is fully marked with a "lion" for sterling, a "leopard's face" for London, a date letter "e" for 1834-35, a duty mark, and "WJ" for maker William Johnson.

Unadorned save for feathered script "H" mo...

This rendition of "Lily of the Valley" by Gorham is to be distinguished from the die struck pattern of the same circa 1870 date that features this flower and is also known as "No. 88," and certainly it is very far removed from the company's 1950 line called "Lily of the Valley."

An approach to silver flatware construction that was popular in the period, and one which showcases the artfulness of a given manufacturer, such items are assembled from a variety of components.

Made in a limited n...

A Moorish or broadly Renaissance Revival pattern, Gorham's "Hindostanee" was issued in 1878.

This example, an 8 1/2" long, 1.8 T. oz., berry or other serving spoon, is an early example of the line, marked "Pat. Appl. For," along with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem and "Sterling."

The finely rendered design incorporates a series of repetitive scrolls and palmettes on a slightly upturned, rounded end, handle, and includes a shield reserve, which in this instance has never been monogrammed...

A salad or large berry serving spoon, this piece measures 9" long, weighs a substantial 2.9 T. oz., and has a generously sized, 3 1/2" by 2 3/4" by 3/4" deep, bowl with a satin matte gold finish on both sides.

The pattern is Charles II by Dominick & Hall whose three part emblem, "Sterling," "Pat-d 94," and the name of the retailer, Brooklyn's "Wm. Wise & Son" appear on the reverse.

A "Kings" pattern variant, the design employs a prominent shell and honeysuckle motif on a heavily bead...

These twelve, matching, 4" long, 3.9 T. oz. the lot, likely cast rather than die struck, coffee spoons are as singular as they are appealing.

Made by Whiting, the company's "lion" emblem and "Sterling" are stamped on the backside of each piece.

Dating from late 19th century to early 20th centuries, and toward Art Nouveau in manner, this non-line pattern features a stylized, raised grape cluster and leaf motif on the terminal end.

The lower section of the handle has a raised leaf,...

Generously-sized, this tea ball is a 1 3/4" diameter perfect sphere, hung from a 5 3/4" long chain with a ring end.

Solid silver, it weighs just over 1.0 T. oz. and is marked on the inside lip of the top half, "Sterling" and with the three part emblem of the "Howard Sterling Company," Providence, Rhode Island, used 1891-1901.

The interior of both the top and bottom are stamped "24."

It has a pierced dotted pattern top and bottom halves that forms an eight-pointed star.

In addition, t...

Generously scaled, this coin silver server measures 10 1/8" long overall, has a 4 1/2" by 3" at the widest, blade, and weighs 3.3 T. oz.

It is marked "Blynn & Baldwin," for the Columbus, Ohio, pair of jewelers with approximate dates 1850-60.

The handle is in a double-sided "Kings" pattern that almost surely has Philadelphia origins, with kindred patterns illustrated in Catherine Hollan's encyclopedic Philadelphia Silversmiths.

Intended to serve pie or pastry, the blade is a study...

A naturalistic pattern that shows Art Nouveau influences, Royal Oak was patented in 1902, as imprinted on the backside of this lengthy, 8 1/16" long, and weighty at nearly 1.9 T. oz., master butter knife.

Other marks include Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem and the word "Sterling."

The oak and acorn elements that constitute the design are offered in high relief, densely arrayed, and finely detailed, front and backsides of the handle and extending onto the heel of the blade.

The ...

Syracuse, New York, was a major silver manufacturing center in the mid to late 19th century. Joseph Seymour, the maker of this 8 1/4" long, 1.9 T. oz., berry spoon, was one of the most prominent names among that city's firms, with a history that began in 1846, terminating in 1905.

An innovative producer, Dorthy Rainwater in her "Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers" notes that he received a patent for making spoons in 1859, and further that, "the company was one of the first to mak...

Marked "Patent 1861," "Beaded" is one of Gorham's earliest line patterns. It was produced for a considerable period of time and made in both coin and sterling silver. This example is marked "Coin," so dates no later than 1868, the year Gorham went to sterling.

It is a large, 9 1/4" long, approximately 2.5 T. oz. ice cream server.

It has an oval blade with two ribs in the interior, notched shoulders, a beveled edge, and a gold washed upper surface. This is shallowly concave and more o...

Issued in 1880, Gorham's "Empress" incorporates a number of design elements, all evident on this 9 3/8" long, just over 3.0 T. oz., serving spoon.

The lower portions of the handle where it joins the bowl suggest an Egyptian Revival influence, while other areas point toward Renaissance Revival inspiration. In addition, the dense floral clusters employ imagery similar to Gorham's "Cluny" pattern that was designed by Antoine Heller, who was highly regarded for his Classical motifs.

Lastly, ...

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.

The solid sil...

Marked for the prominent Cincinnati firm of "Duhme & Co.," this 6" long fork, 6 3/8" knife, and 6" spoon set has additional provenance as each piece is engraved what appears to read, "Andrew K. Reuss" on the handle front and "Jan. 26th 1872." on the reverse.

Artfully crafted, the hollow handles have rounded ends with a "Thread" design and arum leaf detailing at the join with beaded and engraved banding.

The knife blade, fork, and spoon themselves are all solid silver, and each one is delic...

Taking its name from the novel by Sir Walter Scott, "Kenilworth" originated with Albert Coles in the 1860s and was later continued in production by George Shiebler.

This 7 1/2" long, 1.2 T. oz., tea aka breakfast aka dessert knife is an early solid coin silver example marked with Coles' three part "eagle," "A/C," "bust" emblem.

Classified as a "Medallion" pattern by D. Albert Soeffing in his foundational work on this design genre, he cites a May 8, 1895 article in the Jewlers' Circular ...

An early example of Gorham's Cottage, which was issued in 1861 to a coin silver standard and continued in production for many years through and beyond the company's transition to sterling in 1868, this 9" long, approximately 2.5 T. oz., ice cream spade is marked "Patent 1861," "Coin," and "Shreve Stanwood & Co.," for the Boston firm that eventually became that city's renowned "Shreve, Crump & Low."

A relatively plain pattern, this is embellished on the handle front with a delicately en...