Later produced under the Mount Vernon nameplate, "Queen" originated with Howard of Providence, Rhode Island, and it is in fact Howard's four leaf clover mark that appears on this example. It is a 4 13/16" long, relatively heavy .4 T. oz., three tine strawberry fork. The pattern is distinguished by its robust leafy scroll border surmounted by a shell and a crown terminal. The backside has an Old English "E" monogram and in addition to the Howard mark, includes the words "Sterling," and "Pat...

Dating from the late 19th century, Gorham's Luxembourg is a French rococo design, as might be surmised from the name. It is asymmetrical and employs scroll and paisley like design elements. This item is a 5 1/2" long, weighty, 1.2 T. oz., cream or sauce ladle. It has a gold washed bowl with a flange that goes along the entire perimeter. This has added embellishments around about half of it, as is only to be found on older pieces. The interior is finished in a bright gold wash...

Arcadian is a popular silverplate pattern produced under the International nameplate in the late 19th century. There was also a parallel line in sterling, pieces of which are much less common than the plate versions. This example is a 5 13/16" long spoon with a melon-shaped bowl. It has good heft, although the actual weight is less than .7 T. oz. It is probably for ice cream, but could be used for sugar as well...

At 6 1/4" long, this piece is the next size up from a sugar spoon, with an large, 2 1/2" by 1 3/4" bowl, that suggests it is for jelly or preserves. It is moderately heavy at 1.2 T. oz. The pattern is "Diana" by International, which is a turn of the 20th century design. The scroll motif is late Victorian in style, with a suggestion of Art Nouveau, both of which fit its date. The bowl is especially appealing with its scalloped and patterned edge that repeats the design of the handle...

Measuring 4 1/2" long and having a 1 1/2" round bowl, this sugar sifter dates from the turn of the 20th century. The pattern is Diana by International, whose indian head mark and the word Sterling appear on the reverse. The design is an elaborate scroll which is repeated in the border of the fancy, star-shaped pierced bowl. This is finished in a frosted gold wash. The item is in flawless condition, free of polishing wear and with a fine finish. There is no monogram or removal.

International's Wellesley is an early 20th century floral design featuring what may be daisies, cornflowers, asters, or something similar. The pattern name may have come from an association with "Flower Sunday," a Wellesley College tradition. This item is a 5" long, 2" wide, weighty, seven tine sardine fork. The design is artfully presented on both sides of the handle and in the heel of the server...

The Simpson, Hall, Miller division of International silver was responsible for some of the most successful Art Nouveau patterns of the parent company. The most well known was Frontenac. Others include Cleone, which is the pattern on this master butter knife and sugar spoon. It is a dramatic design, featuring a bearded male figure set amid an array of pond lilies and lily pads...

This sterling silver ice cream knife or slice is impressively scaled, measuring 11 1/4" long and weighing a robust 4.6 T. oz. It is the Repousse design made by Baltimore's Jacobi and Jenkins late in the 19th century. The company's name and emblem appear on the edge of the handle, along with the word Sterling. The blade has a scalloped upper edge...

Born in 1763, the maker of this spoon, Jacob Sargeant, lived and worked in an arc that ranged from Mansfield in east central Connecticut, then to Springfield, Massachusetts, and lastly to Hartford where he died in 1843. "Coffin End" style dating c. 1800, this spoon dates to his working years in Hartford. It measures 5 1/4" long and weighs .4 T. oz...

An alternative to a spoon shaped bowl, this shovel form met with some popularity in mid 19th America. The flat surface and open end may have been purposeful, i.e. adapted for a specific function. This example is a lengthy 6 3/4", .8 T. oz., coin silver sugar stamped "J.C. Blackman & Co." and "Bridgeport" (Connecticut) flanked on either end by an American eagle. The item has a refined look. It is well-proportioned, with chiseled margins, a reverse tipt end, and an artful feathered script "FAL...

This sterling silver sugar sifter is imaginatively designed, and perhaps more so given its variance from traditional, i.e. constrained or formulaic, English style. The touch marks on the reverse date it to 1892, made by James Dixon & Sons of Sheffield, England. It is a 5 3/4" long, rather heavy, 1.5 T. oz., sugar sifter. The handle has an irregular margin and a short lower twisted section. The surface is finely engraved and diamond cut in a stylized floral motif. The 1 7/8" diameter, 5/8" d...

These four matching, flat handled breakfast or tea knives are all 7 1/4" long and quite heavy. They weigh 7.0 T. oz. the group, or 1.75 T. oz. each. They have an Old English rounded end, and are otherwise plain save for the cross hatching between the rather thick handles and blades, and the elaborate high Victorian "JAB" monograms. They are without a maker's identification, but carry the retailer's stamp of Philadelphia's esteemed J.E. Caldwell, and 925 in an oval. They are in excellent cond...