For the most part, 19th century California silver is far less available than Eastern silver of the same period. The industry of the time was essentially located in San Franciso, with several names dominating. One of these was Schulz & Fisher, the maker of these six, matching, coin silver dinner forks in the "Farlone" pattern. They are over sized at 8" long. The six together weigh 9.4 T. oz. Each one has the same feathered script "D" monogram...

Fessenden & Co. of Providence, RI produced a number of successful Art Nouveau designs, of which this 4 1/2" long, just over .5 T. oz., sardine fork is a choice example. Dating from 1910, the pattern is "Tulip." It features a single, fulsome blossom surrounded by leaves, all skillfully rendered in high relief on both sides of the handle. The 2 1/4" wide, reticulated serving end has three central tines flanked by circular areas...

Dating from 1880, Whiting's "Persian" is a Moresque design deriving from the same sensibilities that generated Tiffany's pattern of the same name, as well as Whiting's own "Arabesque" and Gorham's "Hindostanee" among others. This example is a 7 1/2" long, 1.5 T. oz., preserve or jelly spoon. It has the plum-shaped bowl with flanged rim and central rib that Whiting used across several lines of the period...

Cincinnati's Duhme & Co. offered a line of "Medallion" silver that featured a cast and applied head of "Mercury with his traveling hat (petasos) adorned with wings." (Soeffing, "Silver Medallion Flatware" p. 36) Dating c. 1863, it was produced in both twisted and non-twisted stem versions, with the twisted stem examples such as this 6 1/16" long, .8 T. oz. youth, or possibly tea, spoon less commonly found...

This 5 5/8" long, heavy, nearly 1.3 T. oz., sterling silver teaspoon has its origins in mid 19th century Calcutta, India. It was made by Hamilton & Co., which one online source describes as "probably the [most] well known and celebrated British silversmith operating in India (he is known as the Garrard of India)." Marks include an elephant (a standard mark comparable to the English lion), an "H&C," a rubbed "A," and one other rubbed symbol...

An early production item of Towle's late 19th century "Old Colonial," this cream or sauce ladle measures 6" long and weighs a substantial 1.2 T. oz. It has a gold washed bowl front and back sides, and a script "EGR" monogram on the reverse. It is in immaculate condition, showing slight wear on the gold, and otherwise no signs of use. Marks are the Towle emblem, "925/1000," "Sterling," and "Pat. 1895."

Measuring 8 7/8" long and weighing 2.7 T. oz., this sterling silver server is a large cold meat fork. It is an early example of International's Art Nouveau "Frontenac," in immaculate condition and without a monogram or removal. It has a slightly upturned end and retains all the fine detailing that characterizes original pieces of this pattern...

Whiting's "Imperial Queen" is a late 19th century design based on English antecedents. These two examples, a 5 1/2" long, .9 T. oz. sauce or cream ladle, and a 4 1/2" long, just over .4 T. oz., bon bon or nut spoon, are flawless, absolutely mint, examples without monograms or removals. They both have matte finish, gold washed serving ends. Marks on the reverses are Whiting's lion emblem, "Sterling," "Pat. 1893," and an Old English "O."

Measuring 5 1/2" long and weighing 1.2 T. oz., this sterling silver cream ladle is an old example of Gorham's "Chantilly." It is is flawless condition and without a monogram or removal. There is no polishing wear and the finish is lustrous. The lobed bowl has flanged shoulders and has a bright gold wash finish on the interior. Marks are the Gorham lion, anchor, G, "Sterling," and "Pat. 1895."

Reference material on "G. Weckman," the name stamped on this pair of 8" long, 3.0 T. oz. combined weight, tablespoons is not readily accessible. Presumably the mark is for Gustaf Adolf Weckman, born in Hameenlinna, Finland, with dates 1823-1901...

While unnamed, this c. 1870 design by George Sharp is quite similar to Gorham's "Louis XIV" and Knowles' "Emperor," both of the same period. It is double die struck, meaning the pattern appears on both sides of the piece. This example is a 6 1/2" long, 1.2 T. oz. sauce ladle. The handle is slender and elongated looking, and is joined to a 2" diameter, round shell bowl with a scalloped rim and a flat bottom...

Dating from 1875, Wood & Hughes' "Cellini" falls into the Renaissance Revival style that was popular in the period. This set of matching ice cream spoons measure 5 9/16" long each and weigh 4.7 T. oz. the set. They have ovoid bowls with flanged rims and matte finish interiors. Both sides of the bowls had gold washes, with the backsides retaining more of this detail than the fronts. There are no monograms or removals and the condition of all eight pieces is flawless. There is no evidence of ...