Truly massive weight at nearly 2.5 T. oz., this 7 1/4" long, three tine, salad (or fish?) fork was made by Dominick & Haff in its 1898 "New King" pattern. D&H's version of this English origin design, joins Tiffany's "English King" and Gorham's "King George" as the premier iterations of this motif in the American environment. This example is in flawless condition, evidencing no wear, having even, pointed tines free of nicks or burrs, and with a fine finish...

Towle produced a number of artful engraved designs in the 1880's known only by numbers. This gravy ladle is "63" in that series. It is large, 7 3/4" long, and relatively heavy, weighing just over 1.8 T. oz. The handle is blunt-end, while the bowl is singular in design. It has scalloped shoulders with double coffered walls. The interior has a bronze gold wash. The entire front of the piece, and the backside of the bowl, have a soft matte finish that gives the surfaces a frosted look...

Documented as working in Frankford, Pennsylvania c. 1800-20, and subsequently in nearby Philadelphia, Isaac Reed was the maker of this 6 3/4" long, 1.1 T. oz., pair of coin silver tongs. In addition to having his personal mark, "I. Reed," imprinted on the inside of each arm, they carry what John McGrew describes in his work on pseudo hallmarks as the "Philadelphia eagle." The style suggests a date from early in his career...

Measuring 8 1/2" long and weighing 1.5 T. oz., this sterling silver berry spoon carries a retail stamp for "J.S. MacDonald" of Baltimore, but no maker's mark. It has a stylized diamond cut engraved handle with a satin matte background. There is a fancy "CMK" script monogram. The bowl is ovoid with notched edges. It has a floral engraved, again bright cut, design on the interior set against a pale gold satin matte surface...

This sterling silver cream or sauce ladle measures 5 1/2" long and weighs .9 T. oz. The pattern is "Persian" made by Whiting. It dates from 1880, slightly later than Tiffany's design by the same name, but the two are very similar in many aspects. The pattern is dense, drawing upon Moresque and Renaissance Revival elements. There is a reserve which in this instance is without a monogram or removal...

"Prince Albert" is a design that is attributed to Michael Gibney, but which shows up in the marketplace under various nameplates (Gibney rarely marked his own work). Indeed this exceptionally long, 8 1/8", and heavy, 2.3 T. oz., fork is stamped "Ball, Tompkins & Black." A firm of high standing, successors to Marquand & Co. in 1839 before becoming "Ball, Black & Co." in 1851, it may have enjoyed a particularly close business connection with Gibney...

Having hexagonal bases and walls leading to rounded tops, each of these identical individual nut (or candy) dishes has a top diameter of 1 5/8", a base width of 1", and stands 1/2" high. The group together weigh 1.8 T. oz. All the interiors are finished in a gold wash. Marked only "Sterling" on the undersides, there is no identification as to maker, but they are clearly American. Their hammered surfaces done in the Arts & Crafts style suggests a date in the first quarter of the 20th century...

The plain, reverse tipt handle on this 8 9/16" long, approximately 1.7 T. oz., berry spoon belies its highly decorative bowl...

Gorham issued a series of engraved patterns c. 1880 on an "Antique" blank. This 7 1/2" long, quite heavy, 2.3 T. oz., gravy ladle is an example from that line. It has a satin matte surface with engraving that includes a stylized palmetto leaf, rosettes, and a leafy drop. The handle is engraved "DeWolfe." on the front in Old English lettering, and "May 6th 1880" in script on the reverse. The bowl is oval, measuring 2 1/2" by 2" by 3/4" deep. The condition is flawless. The engraving remains ...

Dating from the late 19th century, this napkin ring stands 1 1/2" high, measures 1 3/4" across, and weighs just under 1.0 T. oz. It has heavy top and bottom rims and a leafy pattern, engraved and reticulated side wall. There is a feathered script "GHE" monogram set at an angle in a bannered reserve area. In flawless condition, this is marked "Sterling" and with the model number "2400," along with a maker's stamp which is rubbed.

A French-inspired design dating from 1897, Durgin's Madame Royale features a leaf and berry motif set against a lined border. This example is a 6 7/8" long, 1.1 T. oz., sardine fork, retailed by Philadelphia's Bailey, Banks, & Biddle, as stamped on the reverse. Other marks are the Durgin "D" and the word Sterling. The design is elaborated upon in the heel of the gold finished, six tined serving end. The lower tine is notched to provide a cutting edge. There is a script "CLSB" (?) monogram. ...

This 6 3/4" long, 1.9 T. oz., gravy ladle has a shell-shaped bowl that is 2 1/2" wide and 2" front to back. The pattern is Lady Washington by Gorham. This is a low-relief, figural pattern similar in style and period to Tiffany's Renaissance. Lady Washington is easily subject to polishing wear. This suffers none of that. It retains full clarity of detail of the swags, drapery, and central female head that constitute the design. In all other aspects the item is likewise flawless. There is a sc...