Catalog

An original, early production, piece, this regular length, 6 3/8" long, .64 T. oz. olive spoon in the Fairfax pattern is marked with Durgin's "D" emblem, "Sterling," "Pat'd," and "A. Stowell & Co.," a once prominent Boston jeweler.

Introduced in 1910 by Durgin, this colonial revival design proved immensely popular and was continued in production by Gorham after it absorbed Durgin in the early decades of the 20th century.

The slender and relatively deep, pointed end, bowl is especial...

A major name in mid 19th century Boston silver production and retailing, Farrington & Hunnewell was the maker of this 6 7/8" long, .9 T. oz., coin silver preserve spoon marked "< F & H >."

F&H were masters of bright cut and fine engraving, which this piece illustrates. The work on the front of this portrays anthemion and leaf detailing against a fine line background that mimics engine turning.

The handle has a rounded end with a slight "Tipt" backside, and a shield form reserve, whi...

A major mid 19th century silver manufacturer, Boston's Farrington & Hunnewell produced a number of die cut patterns as well as an extensive array of engraved designs.

This 6" long, 1.3 T. oz., shell bowl, sauce or cream ladle, is an especially fine example of the later form.

It has a gracefully arched, broad, "Reverse Tipt" handle that is bright and diamond cut on the front in a floral, leaf, and swag design.

There is a central reserve area that is engraved in a leaf script "W" monogram...

Measuring 7" long and weighing not quite 1.0 T. oz., this preserve or jelly spoon traces to Boston, circa 1860.

It is stamped "· F&H ·" for Farrington & Hunnewell, along with "Pure-Coin," which is a characteristically New England regional term designating the silver content.

The arched handle has an anthemion-shaped end suggestive of its circa 1865 Greek Revival period, which along with the main shank, is finely engraved in an intricate leaf and scroll design.

Boston design...

This 8 3/8" long, 2.0 T. oz., item is a superb example of mid 19th Boston silver work in terms of form, execution, and condition.

An Olive pattern, which was particularly popular in Boston in the period and produced with slight variation by several makers, it is marked "lion, F&H, bust," for manufacturer "Farrington & Hunnewell."

It is a hotcake, aka pancake or waffle, lifter.

Characteristic of the form, it has a 2 5/8" diameter, essentially round in this instance, flat server wi...

Nearly square at 8" x 7 5/8", 1 1/2" deep, and weighing 7.0 T. oz., this solid silver piece is an open vegetable or other serving bowl.

It is marked on the underside with the crossed "stakes" or "swords" of "Fenniman & Co.," which was a short-lived, early 20th century, New York City silver manufacturer.

Other marks include "Sterling" and model number "368."

It has a 1" wide, scalloped and undulating, rim, and fluted walls. The base is slightly convex and is engraved with a lined script ...

A 7 3/8" long, 1.1 T. oz., preserve spoon, this 19th century piece is marked "Sterling" without a manufacturer's identification.

Essentially flat-handled with a shaped margin, raised central oval, and bright cut engraved detailing, the style suggests maker Fessenden of Providence, Rhode Island.

The rounded end, shallow, bowl, has flanged and notched shoulders, a central raised vee, and is wriggle work engraved in a leaf motif set against a matte ground.

The handle front is engraved "E.C...

Founded in Providence, Rhode Island, by William B. Fessenden (who had a prior working history in Boston with various and New York City with Whiting) in 1858, the firm that bore his name was one of numerous silver manufacturers located in the Providence to North Attleboro, Massachusetts corridor, all anchored by Gorham. Given this concentration of industry, there was a body of skilled workers in the area available to Fessenden, which enabled it to produce quality items from its onset.

This exa...

Dating circa 1840, this 6 1/2" long, .7 T. oz., Tipt aka Fiddle Tipt spoon is stamped "F. Franks & Co." and "Dollars."

Lacking a certain attribution, Catherine Hollan in her Philadelphia Silversmiths writes, "The firm is unidentified, probably from New Hampshire or New England where "DOLLAR[S]" is used [although this term, designating a coin silver standard, is not exclusive to New England]."

She further notes, however, that Yale University Art Gallery has spoons [with...

Made by the mid 19th century Boston silver manufacturer Farrington & Hunnedwell, this 5 15/16" long, .77 T. oz., coin silver sugar spoon was retailed by Worcester jeweler Benjamin Goddard, whose name, along with the maker's "F&H" mark, appears on the handle backside.

Very much in the manner of its 1860s period, and engagingly so, it has a twisted stem and a flat, shaped-edge, handle that is bright cut and wriggle work engraved in a period design.

The engraved area includes an open reserve ...

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...

At 6" long and weighing 1.0 T. oz., this example of Gorham's Versailles pattern is an early issue, old style, ice cream spoon, marked "Copyrighted," "lion, anchor, G," and "Sterling" on the backside.

Its distinguishing feature is the shell bowl with scalloped edges and a ribbed interior. This is finished in a matte gold on the front except for the heel, which along with the entire backside, has a bright gold surface.

The figure on this multi-motif line is a cherub hold...

This pair of coin silver tongs are generously sized at 6 1/4" long and weigh 1.2 T. oz.

Each arm is stamped "F. [for Foster] Tinkham," born in Middleboro, Massachusetts, in 1803, and documented working in New York City in 1840, the approximate date of this piece, as a jeweler and watchmaker. He had returned to Massachusetts by 1855.

The arms are Fiddle shaped, which is a style consistent with their period.

The grips are shell form, and the arch is engraved in a very elegant fea...

A liturgical spoon of a form that traces to the earliest centuries of the Christian church, notably the Coptic Orthodox tradition, this near miniature 3 5/8" long, .26 T. oz. (8 grams), silver piece features a long, narrow, faceted handle with a pointed tip.

This is attached to an ovoid bowl with a curved device.

Such replica pieces were inspired by items found in what is identified as the Traprain Hoard of ancient artifacts unearthed in East Lothian, Scotland.

In a description o...

It is unusual to find an intact set of twelve ice spoons along with their original serving knife, aka slice, and even more so to have the set in such pristine condition as this group.

Made by Frank Smith, whose early "S in a circle" mark and "sterling" are imprinted on the backside of all pieces, along with the name of the retailer, "Worcester & Co.," Lowell, Massachusetts.

The server measures 10" long and weighs 2.7 T. oz., while each of the spoons is 5 3/4" long with the twelve weighing ...

Made by Frank Smith, Federal Cotillion, was introduced in 1901 the year the Victorian era ended and the Edwardian one began, which likely explains the original name of the pattern, Edward VII.

A nearly identical design to Whiting's King Edward, also dating from 1901, the pattern is a stately interpretation of a traditional English Kings.

This example is a 5 3/4" long, just over 1.1 T. oz., sugar spoon.

It has a generously proportioned bowl with decorated heel...

French in origin, this piece is stamped with a (miniscule) "boar's head" guarantee mark on the inside (left, with the handle facing up) edge of the bowl, with a corresponding "bigorne" counter stamp on the backside, indicating is to an 800 silver standard (something less than American coin silver).

The maker's mark is on the flanking edge of the bowl and reads "N V in a caret," with a "star" below the V and a "star and crescent" above it.

A tea caddy spoon, this measures 4 7/16" long and w...

A finely crafted piece rendered in neoclassical French Empire style, this item serves a dual function.

It is firstly a 4 3/4" by 3 1/2" by 13/16" high, hinged, oval box. The hinge is on the short end, with a lip for opening on the opposite end.

It is made of 950 fine, i.e. first standard, silver (slightly higher than sterling) and marked with a "Minerva head" on the lid edge, underside of the cover, and on the lip of the base.

It also has a small, hard to discern, "caret" maker's mark i...