The maker of this 7 5/8" long, nearly 1.4 T. oz., flat-bladed, perhaps tomato, server was Porter Blanchard whose name appears on the backside, along with the word "Sterling." He had a bi-coastal career, beginning in Gardner, Massachusetts where Arthur Stone was located, and living in southern California beginning in 1923 where he established himself as a prominent silversmith. This example is fully in the Arts & Crafts mode, having a reverse tipt pointed antique handle...

Listed in the Tompkins "Handbook of Gorham Open Salt Dishes" with a date of 1885, model number "2155" is a flat bottomed, relatively large item. Each of these examples of that item measures 2 3/8" across, stands 7/8" high, and weighs approximately 1.0 T. oz. They have scrolled edges, rippled ("pie crust") rims, and gold washed interiors, although that is largely polished away in one of these. There are no monograms, inscriptions, or removals...

A premier name from the mid 19th century well into the 20th century, Boston's Bigelow, Kennard & Co. served a market that was increasingly eager and able to procure fine goods, of which this 9" long, weighty, 2.2 T. oz., serving spoon is an example. The design is characteristic of a Boston style especially popular in the 1860's leading into the 1870's. The handle is basically "Old English" with a tipt backside. The bowl is eggplant shaped and plain...

Cohr was a major 20th century Danish manufacturing presence whose name was associated with several prominent designers. The company output followed after a modernist style inaugurated by Georg Jensen. This pair of low candlesticks follow in this style. They are triangularly shaped, 2 1/4" across at the widest, and stand 1/2" tall. The combined weight is 2.0 T. oz. They rest on three conjoined legs that extend out beyond the mid point of each side of the triangle...

Measuring about 7 5/8" long and weighing 1.2 T. oz., this coin silver item is the length of a tea or dessert knife. That it is engraved "William" in script on the handle, however, suggests it might originally have been a youth knife. In any case, it is an especially appealing example of mid 19th century silver, offered by a well known New York City maker, Albert Coles, whose three part pseudo hallmark is stamped on the backside of the blade...

Later produced as a Wallace pattern, "Meadow Rose" originated with Watson in 1907. This is an early example, having the Watson crown, W, lion, hallmark, along with the W in a pennant emblem, and the word "Sterling." Older pieces that are without wear as this is, have crisper and sharper pattern detail, and tend to have finer finishes than later pieces. That is the case with this 7 3/4" long, quite heavy, 2.5 T. oz., cold meat fork...

A figural design, Gorham's "Paris" is, as would be expected from the name, French in style and highly decorative. It also one of Gorham's more robustly scaled lines, and that is the case with this 7 7/8" long, weighty, 1.7 T. oz., master butter knife. It has a script "A.T.A." monogram set on the horizontal. It is in good condition overall. The blade is free of bends, nicks, or burrs and the finish is appealing...

This 8 3/4" long, nearly 2.3 T. oz., serving spoon is an old example of Gorham's "Strasbourg." It carries the early lion, anchor, G mark, along with the words "Sterling," and "Pat. 1897." In addition, it has the decorated, flanged shoulders that in later pieces was plain. The bowl has a gold wash that is substantially intact. The condition is flawless and there is no monogram or removal.

This sterling silver sifter is 6 1/2" long and weighs a robust 2.1 T. oz. It has an unusual 1 3/4" diameter round bowl that is flat bottomed and has piercing in the side walls. The pattern is a fiddle thread with a shell end. The shell repeats on the reverse of the handle and the backside heel of the bowl. There is a bull's head crest...

This singular sterling silver fork, whose design sensibility is aesthetic, was made by Gorham, probably c. 1885. The central portion is a solid tube or wire with a 1 1/2" lower section that is twisted. There is a barrel-like cross piece that is the most substantial element of the whole piece. This may have served the practical function of hooking the item onto a caster stand. The end has a finial that is shaped somewhat like an acorn. The three tine serving end is rather diminutive. This s...

This pair of coin silver tongs measures 6 3/4" long and weighs a moderately heavy 1.7 T. oz. The maker's stamp is "P. Howell," for Paul Howell of New York City c. 1810. He is also referenced as in a partnership with Garrett Eoff on Wall Street, NY, 1805-07. These dates all correlate well with the design of the piece, which is suggestive of coffin end. The arms are plain and lead to a broad, 7/8" wide, arch, but have an angular shift in width rather than a tapered one. The arch has a bold, f...

George Gebelein was known for "making fine reproductions and adaptations," and as a collector and authority on silver according to Dorothy Rainwater in "Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers." He was a recognized participant in the Boston arts and crafts movement, and well-established in that city. This example of his work is a 9 5/8" long, just over 2.1 T. oz., serving spoon that is imitative of a c. 1800 coffin end piece with an exposed drop on the heel. It is stamped "Gebelein Ster...