Catalog

The Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers by Dorothy Rainwater indicates that "The Kalo Shop" was founded in 1900 by Clara Barck Welles and "went on to become the largest and most influential producer of handwrought silverware and jewelry in the midwest."

Rainwater further notes that "Mrs. Welles retired in 1940." Given that this 10 1/8" long, 3.6 T. oz., serving spoon is engraved on the backside, "AS HCM" over "Feb. 14, 1939," it traces to the founder's working years, which le...

Large scale, this all silver item measures 7 3/4" long and weighs 3.0 T. oz.

Ice tongs (which could readily be used for salad), they have a 1 1/2" diameter embossed bowl with scalloped edges at the end of one arm, and a cut leaf shaped grip on the other.

The arch is wide, 1" across, and reinforced for strength, and without a monogram or inscription.

The pattern is "Dresden," dating from the late 19th century. It incorporates an array of raised, finely rendered, perhaps forget-me-not or ...

While marked "Pat. Appld. For," along with maker's name "J[ohn]. Cook," New York City, later examples of this unnamed pattern indicate the patent was actually issued in 1869, dating this some time before that.

The piece is a large, 9 7/8" long, 2.4 T. oz., die struck, coin silver server, likely for ice cream.

The "rosette and bellflower" pattern is similar to A. & W. Wood's Clematis and less closely so to an unnamed one by Michael Gibney, both contemporaneous in time and place with ...

Well-regarded in its late 19th/early 20th century period, the Newark, New Jersey firm of William B. Kerr was particularly well-known for its Art Nouveau jewelry as well as children's items, of which this 6 1/4" diameter, 4.2 T. oz., solid sterling silver plate is an example.

It has a rolled edge with a 1 1/4" wide rim that is acid etched with the words Old Mother Hubbard interspersed with a variety of figures evoked by this nursery rhyme.

These include an endearing portraiture of Mo...

A spectacular example of pattern and form preserved in impeccable condition, this solid silver cake saw measures 10 3/4" long and weighs 2.8 T. oz.

Made by Wood & Hughes, the pattern is Viola, issued in 1875. The design incorporates an arch, palmettos, anthemia, and scrolling, drawing together Greek, Egyptian, and Gothic Revival elements in a successful amalgamation of period motifs.

The handle front incorporates an elegant, engraved, Victorian style, "OR" or "RO" monogram.

The f...

This 7" long, very heavy at 2.28 T. oz., fork is notable for several reasons.

Evolving from the immediately preceding 17th century English Trefid style with a three-lobed handle tip, this is a turn of the 18th century Dognose piece with a single, extended, slightly upturned, knobbed end.

Scarce items, Dognose forks are all the more so relative to spoons.

This has an interesting, and telling to anyone versed in such things, crest on the handle backside that portrays ...

This substantially sized, 10" long, weighty at 2.8 T. oz., piece has a double Philadelphia provenance in that it is marked "lion, K, crown" for maker Peter L. Krider, along with the name of retailer "Robbins, Clark, & Biddle." It is also stamped "Sterling."

These four, Krider, Robbins, Clark and Biddle, were all well-known and well-regarded names associated with the manufacturing and marketing of silver, and they had intertwining histories. This particular configuration suggests an 1875-78 da...

A commanding piece in a dramatic pattern, this ice cream server, aka ice cream knife, measures 9 3/4" long and weighs a substantial 4.1 T. oz.

Made by Whiting, the pattern is Heraldic, issued in 1880.

Appropriate to the name, the imagery features a medieval helmet prominently set at the top of the handle. The remainder of the design incorporates a dense array of high relief, scrolling acanthus leaves.

There is a flowing script "EAW" monogram engraved in the shield reserve on the ...

Standing 2" tall, with a top span of 4 3/8" and a base diameter of 3", this solid silver child's (porridge) bowl weighs 3.83 T. oz.

It has a slightly splayed body with a relatively thick rolled top rim, and a set back foot.

It is marked with the "sword & M" symbol of the Matthews Co., later Hickok-Mathews, "Sterling," and the model number "132."

Dating from early in the 20th century, it has acid etched walls that portray five different Kewpie babies along with shrubs and a...

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.

It bears citing Charles Carpenter's passage in Gorham Silver 1831-1981 about this partnership:

Whether or not Jabez Gorham learned spoon making during his apprenticeship is unknown, but when he deci...

Slightly smaller than full sized teaspoons, "5 o'clocks" were used for late afternoon tea.

This group, a hard to find matching set of twelve in Whiting's Art Nouveau Violet, measure a typical 5 3/8" long each and weigh a relatively light 5.8 T. oz. the lot.

Introduced in 1905, these are early issue items marked "Pat. App. For." Other marks include Whiting's "lion and W" logo, "Sterling," and the name of the retailer, "I. Lewkowitz," located in New York City's lower East Side.

An ...

A purveyor of fine quality antique jewelry and decorative artifacts, as well as (hand crafted) reproduction English sterling silver, James Robinson is a prestigious New York City firm with a history dating to 1912.

This 10" long, weighty 2.7 T. oz., meat skewer, sometimes identified as a letter opener, is an item from this highly touted source, stamped for London, Sterling, a letter date of 1982, and a script "JR" for the firm.

In addition, the word "England" is imprinted in script on th...

Note: while the above image shows six of these forks, this listing is actually for eight identical, all original, pieces.

Made by Frank Whiting, this set of forks is marked with the company's "W in a circle" emblem, "Sterling," and the number "2" on the backsides.

Measuring 5 3/4" long each and weighing 4.0 T. oz. the group, they are oyster, shrimp, or seafood cocktail forks.

Each piece has three tines, one of which is hooked, all joined to cupped heels with subtly notched should...

Bonbonnieres are bonbon spoons set large.

The form was popular in the late 19th century, and no company was more successful in producing impressive examples than Gorham. This example is model number "588" offered by that firm.

It is medium-sized, measuring 6 1/8" long, has a bowl that is roughly 2 3/4" in diameter, and weighs just under 2.0 T. oz.

It is cast rather than die struck, as these forms generally were. Casting allows for the introduction of more intricate detail and great...

The pattern on this 9" long, weighty at 2.8 T. oz., pie server is a "Leaf & Scroll" design that is indigenous to Philadelphia.

It is illustrated in a "handle patterns" unit of Catherine Hollan's Philadelphia Silversmiths, where it is attributed to Robert and William Wilson, a partnership that dates from the second quarter of the 19th century, and their "R.&W. Wilson" mark does appear on the backside of this coin silver piece.

The handle is flat and double die struck, meaning the pat...

Standing 6 3/8" tall on a rimmed base that is 2" in diameter, and weighing just over 3.5 T. oz., this shaker is hallmarked for sterling, London, and 1932-33.

The maker's stamp, which appears on the wall of the body and the sleeve of the cap, is some rubbed. It is shield form and appears to end with "LD" or "LtD."

A sugar sifter aka muffineer, it is baluster style, with a tall, attractively pierced, fitted cap that is surmounted by a flame finial.

Never monogrammed or inscribed, it is a ...

Tracing to the reign of England's George II, this 8 3/4" long, approximately 1.3 T. oz., piece is fully and clearly hallmarked for sterling, London, 1758, and maker William Turner (script WT).

A Marrow scoop, if follows fully after the form, with two elongated, rounded end, bowls, one wide and one narrow, joined by a solid bar.

The backside heel of the larger bowl is engraved with a block letter "T over L R" monogram.

In excellent condition, this is without any without damage such as be...

The long dominant 19th and 20th century Cincinnati silver and jewelry house, Duhme produced a number of flatware lines of its own design.

In addition, several patterns that are essentially identical to, or strikingly reminiscent of, other makers also appear with Duhme's name on them, and that is the case of this 7 7/8" long, weighty at just over 2.3 T. oz., serving fork that markedly resembles Durgin's 1891 Louis XV .

The two designs incorporate the same densely arrayed rococo eleme...