Catalog

Marked with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and "Copyrighted" on the backside heel of the bowl, this is an early production example of the company's 1888 Versailles pattern.

A table, i.e. serving, spoon, it measures 8 1/2" long and weighs an exceptionally heavy 2.44 T. oz.

The pattern is multi-motif and known for its portraiture of scenes from daily life at the palace of Versailles and the court of French King Louis XIV.

The imagery on this features a seated...

Finely crafted, this 8 5/8" long, 1.74 T. oz., serving spoon has an Old English, i.e. rounded end with tipt back, handle.

The plain front typical of earlier Old English design has been embellished on this. It has a feathered edge introduced in the 1770s and bright cut work characteristic of the 1780s.

In addition, the reserve at the handle end is engraved with a very fancy, feathered line script, "RL" monogram that is of a style consistent with these dates.

T...

Designed by Antoine Heller, renowned for his Beaux Arts figural patterns such as Versailles, Fontainebleau and Mythologique, equally commanding St. Cloud is by contrast non-figural.

Its leaf and anthemion subject, with tight, circular, elements reminiscent of fern fronds suggests Aesthetic influences, which is in keeping with its 1885 date of introduction.

This item is a 6" long, just under 1.0 T. oz. (30 grams), ice cream spoon.

The bowl is len...

A 7 5/8" long, 1.7 T. oz., item, this piece is marked "W.J. Behan," along with "925 Sterling."

W.J. Behan is an elusive name to document, at least as relates to silver.

It is most associated with William J. Behan, who was mayor of New Orleans from 1882 to 1884, but there is no record that he was ever involved in the silver retail trade.

There is also a reference in an 1898 edition of the Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review to a person of this name representing the "Newark ...

A prominent, arguably the dominant, name among mid 19th century New York City retailers (before Tiffany's ascendency), "Ball, Black & Co." marketed a variety of work from important regional makers.

This coin silver piece is a large, 8 3/4" long, 1.9 T. oz., berry or other serving spoon, marked for BB & Co. but is without a maker's identification, and the pattern, a double-lined border with acanthus leaf detailing is otherwise without an attribution so the origin of this piece is not ex...

This solid silver open master salt dish has a bowl that measures 2 1/2" in diameter, is 1 3/8" tall, weighs 1.7 T. oz., and stands on three supporting hoof feet legs.

Georgian in style as befits its 1769 date, it has a round body with an applied beaded top rim with an encircling, line detail inscribed 1/8" below this.

Otherwise the bowl is plain, noting that the underside is engraved with a block letter "E * B" monogram, along with full hallmarks including a "leopard h...

An Indo-Persian pattern, Gorham's Hindostanee was issued in 1878, as indicated by the "Pat. 78" that appears on the handle backside of this 7 3/4" long, 1.77 T. oz., serving spoon.

Other marks include the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and the word "Gorham," which may indicate the piece was sold in the company's New York City store, or it may simply be a redundant mark.

Gorham used a number of bowls for this line, and that on this, a small berry or preserve spoon, i...

Measuring 8 1/8" long and weighing 1.8 T. oz., this coin silver item has a generously sized, 2 1/2" diameter, shell-shaped, pierced, bowl and "Reverse Tipt" handle.

Generally identified as a large sugar sifter, there is some argument to be made that pieces this scale from this period were actually early ice spoons.

In either case, it is a fine representation of what it is.

It is stamped "R. Fisher, Jr." and "331 Broad Way, N.Y." on the reverse, for Richard Fisher, working 1846-50, also ...

Measuring 6 7/8" long, and weighty at approximately 1.5 T. oz., this spoon is stamped with Whiting's "winged lion" emblem, "Sterling," "Pat. Appd. For" (indicating it is an early production piece in the line), and with the name of the retailer, Brooklyn's "W(illiam). Wise."

The pattern is Persian, which dates from 1880. It is a Moresque design in the same genre as Tiffany's pattern of the same name, as well as Whiting's own Arabesque and Gorham's Hindostanee among others....

At 7 5/8" long and weighing 1.6 T. oz., this may be a preserve, jelly, or small berry serving spoon.

The pattern is John Wendt's "Florentine," which is a Renaissance Revival with Moorish influences design introduced in 1870.

There is a shield reserve on the front, which in this instance has never been monogrammed.

This has an elongated, 3" by 2", oval bowl with scalloped edges and fluted sides.

It is in very fine estate condition, free of polishing wear and with a bright finish. The ...

Relatively lengthy at 6", with slender, Fiddle Tipt handles in a style that is particular to Baltimore where they were made, this group of four, matching, teaspoons weigh 2.3 T. oz.

Each one is stamped "S. Kirk & Son" along with the standard mark "10.15," which is roughly equivalent to coin silver. This specific combination of marks was used 1846-61.

Each piece has a feathered script "EVE" monogram engraved on the front and an exposed thumb drop on the bowl reverse.

In very fine ...

An early example of Gorham's pattern inspired by imagery from the palace for which it is named, this 7 1/4" long, 1.6 T. oz., jelly spoon in Versailles is marked with the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and "Copyrighted" on the backside heel of the bowl.

The main figure of the design is a classically presented female figure holding a cluster of grapes in one upraised arm and cradling a bowl of fruit in the other arm.

She is surrounding by an array of complex, Baroque...

Solid silver, this piece measures 7 3/4" long and weighs a substantial 1.83 T. oz.

A master butter knife, the handle and broad blade with a scalloped upper edge are joined at a right angle.

The pattern is Luxembourg made by George Shiebler, whose "winged S" emblem and the word "Sterling" are imprinted on the blade, along with "1885" and "Patented" on the handle.

The handle is splayed and incorporates three raised channels with rounded ends. These are decorated with a varied of ra...

Reed & Barton held a commanding position within the realm of Art Nouveau silver producers at the turn of the 20th century, with designs such as Love Disarmed an unexcelled figural offering and Les Six Fleurs a benchmark among florals.

La Parisenne, the pattern on this 6 3/4" long, weighty at 2.12 T. oz., gravy is another expressive Reed & Barton design from this period.

A multi-motif floral line, the image on this is a water or pond lily (whether by inten...

A matched pair, each of these forks measures 7" long, while the two combined weigh 2.35 T. oz.

They are marked "I. Speer" and "Chicago" on the handle reverses.

Isaac Speer began work as a jeweler and watchmaker in Chicago in 1840, engaged in a partnership with Edward Cosper, 1852-53 (see Old Friends item 5463f for a Speer & Cosper ladle), and continued alone thereafter until 1870.

Coin silver, these date from the 1860s and are in a period pattern similar to Gibney's Tuscan and Po...

Without a formal name, but commonly referred to as "Peony" for the large, single, arched, blossom that appears on the end of the handle, this circa 1885 pattern is also characterized by its twist stem.

The line is number "26," by Whiting, and this number, along with the company "lion" logo and "Sterling," appears on the backsides of this youth set, comprised of a 6 3/8" long fork and 5 7/8" long spoon, with a combined weight of 2.1 T. oz.

Each piece is engraved "Ellen Burdett" in script on...

This lengthy at 7 5/8" and robust at approximately 1.5 T. oz., solid silver master butter knife was made by New York's John Wendt, whose characteristic "Patent 925" (for sterling) and "Bailey & Co.," for the Philadelphia retailer appear on the blade.

The pattern is "Union," and is quite similar to "Gibney," designed by F.H. Gibney, later Whiting, with both it and "Union" issued in 1862.

The handle has a central leaf rosette and leaf tipped, oval end, all elements that are very much of its ...

This 6" long, just over 1.0 T. oz. (32 grams) teaspoon incorporates a cast and applied, high relief, cherub or baby's face set on an Old English handle.

It was made by Gorham whose "lion, anchor, G" emblem, the word "Sterling," "M" for medium weight designation, model number "H 1467," and date symbol for 1899 appear on the backside.

A youth or child's spoon, the name "James" is engraved sideways in script on the handle front.

Apart from a few pinpoint flecks in the base of the bo...