Catalog

There were numerous members of the Pitkin family attached to the silver industry in Hartford and East Hartford, Connecticut over a span of many decades in the 19th century.

This 7 1/4" long, 1.1 T. oz., place, aka dessert or oval soup, spoon, is marked "W.L. & H.E. Pitkin," for the partnership between William Leonard and Horace Edward, 1863-94. Given this is also stamped "Coin," it traces to the earliest years of the pairing.

The pattern is undocumented, but is in the manner of a Cottag...

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 popular 1850s design, the leaf form on this 8 5/8" long, 1.9 T. oz., coin silver spoon was made by several makers with slight variation, including William Gale & Son who produced this piece, Gorham whose pattern was named "Josephine," and Henry Hebbard.

The leaf appears on the handle end front and back sides, in elaborated manner on the reverse heel of the bowl, and in smaller stylized form on the front join with the bowl.

There is an anthemion-like detail on both sides of the handle tip...

Singular in form, this place fork measures 7" long and weighs a heavy 1.9 T. oz.

Visually it is divided into two sections. The upper part is flat, thick, and set in a "French Thread" pattern on both sides.

The lower part of the shank is also flat, and has a splayed end where it joins the handle.

The tines are broad and relatively blunt.

It was made by William Gale of New York who operated in numerous partnerships, this one is denoted "WG&S," for William Gale and Son, which spanned th...

A pattern developed by Albert Coles in the mid 19th century, Jenny Lind proved a popular period design that was eventually offered by a number of producers and retailers, and made over time in both coin and sterling silver.

This example is marked "Sterling" and "Wm. Gale & Son," who was a major New York City manufacturer, with this particular mark dating 1862-66 according to Dorothy Rainwater in Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers.

A massive piece, it measures 9 1/2...

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...

This wine funnel is a two piece item consisting of a 3 1/2" diameter, 1 3/8" high, strainer basket, and the actual fitted funnel that is 3 1/2" long. The two pieces together weigh 3.3 T. oz.

The bowl is fully hallmarked with a "lion," "leopard," date letter "C" for 1818-19, duty "bust," and "W.B" in a double rounded cartouche for William Bateman, whom Jackson's Hallmarks identifies as "very good (best of the Batemans)."

The funnel is counter stamped with a "lion," "bust" and corresp...

Measuring 5 5/8" long and weighing 1.6 T. oz., this serving, aka table, spoon is an early example of Whiting's 1905 "Violet" pattern, marked with the company "lion" logo, "Sterling," "Pat. App. For," an Old English "O," and an "M," which might be a weight designation (medium).

An Art Nouveau design, this features violet blossoms on the end and midpoint of the handle, along with trailing, sinuous, stems the full length of the handle, ending with a leaf detail at the join with the bowl.

Ther...

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 ...

Unusual for Whiting in regard to the pattern which is a "Twist" handle with a faceted, four-sided, solid end, and the bowl form which is an elongated, gold washed, shell with a cupped heel with flange shoulders, this 6 1/8" long, .7 T. oz., item is likely a sugar spoon.

Dating from late in the 19th century, it is marked with the Whiting "lion with W" logo, "Sterling," and the number "30" on the heel backside.

Never monogrammed, it remains in outstanding condition, with the only wear being ...

A matching group in a Tipt aka Fiddle Tipt pattern, three of these four (two shown) teaspoons measure 5 1/2" long and one measures 5 3/4". The three collectively weigh 1.6 T. oz., and the single one .6 T. oz.

They are of archival interest for both the maker and the retailer.

Stamped with Whiting's "winged lion and W" emblem and "Coin," they are very early examples of a major 19th century silver manufacturer's modest origins.

Well-crafted and precisely-formed items with bri...

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....

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...

An early production piece in Whiting's commanding King Edward pattern, this grandly-scaled, 9 3/4" long, weighty at 4.0 T. oz., berry or other (rice, entree, or vegetable, for example) serving spoon is marked with the company's "lion and W" logo, "Sterling," and "Pat. Ap. 23, 1901," as well as the retailer's name, "Shaw & Berry Co.," Washington, DC.

The patent date corresponds with the ascension of Edward VII to the English throne and the beginning of the era named for him, so it is fi...

Delicate and slender, this lettuce fork measures a lengthy 9 1/8" and weighs .9 T. oz.

An early example of Whiting's Imperial Queen, it is stamped with the company's "lion and W" logo, "Sterling," "Pat. 1893," and with an Old English "O."

Never monogrammed, it is in excellent condition.

The shell and leaf elements that constitute the design are free of polishing wear, remaining crisp and well-defined. The wispy tines are well-formed and without bends, nicks, or burrs. The fi...

Measuring 7 1/4" long, weighing 2.3 T. oz., and having a 2 1/2" diameter by 1" deep bowl, this is a substantially-sized gravy ladle.

The pattern is Whiting's Heraldic, which apropos of the pattern name, features the image of 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.

The bowl on this is the fancier of two that Whiting used for this line. It has a scalloped rim and rai...

A 6" long, just under 1.0 T. oz., item, this ladle has a bowl that measures 2" in diameter and is 1/2" deep.

It is a cream or sauce ladle in Whiting's Heraldic, which apropos of the pattern name, is dominated by the image of a medieval helmet set at the top of the handle. The remainder of the design incorporates a dense array of high relief, scrolling acanthus leaves.

The bowl on this is the fancier of two that Whiting used for this line. It has a scalloped rim and raised, leafy ...

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 ...