Unlike some early pieces whose markings leave ambiguity, this 2 3/8" high, 2 3/4" top diameter, 1.8 T. oz. beaker is abundantly and clearly marked. It is an early 19th century piece made in Paris, France. It has the "bearded man's head" used for .950 (higher than sterling's .925) French silver 1819-1838. This, the maker's mark for "Sixe-Simon Rion" (working first third of the 19th century), a woman's face symbol used after the French Revolution, and a letter all appear on the underside...

Measuring 5 5/8" long and weighing not quite .5 T. oz., this coin silver tea or coffee spoon is marked "D. Williams" with a hatched border. This is the mark for Deodat Williams of Boston, and its c. 1805 date would place it early in his career. It has a coffin end handle, with an elongated, rectangular shape and high, squared shoulders at the join with the handle. The backside is plain except for the mark. There is a rather primitive, large, feathered script "AB" monogram...

Of exceptionally large scale, this 11 1/2" diameter, heavy, 20.9 T. oz., charger or service plate was made by Reed & Barton. It is item number "90" as indicated on the brushed finish underside, which appears alongside the R&B emblem and the word "Sterling." The bottom is also inscribed in script, "Anne and Sam, from, Auntie Mamie, October 7, 1916," giving it a precise date. It has a plain, flat, mirror finish center and 2 1/4" wide encircling rim...

"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...

While "Olive" was a standard mid 19th century design, there were many variants. This 7" long, approximately 1.1 T. oz., example tracks to Boston, which had its own subsets of "Olive." It is stamped with the name "Haddock, Lincoln & Foss," a company with dates either side of 1860. Right on the cusp of the change from a coin to a sterling standard, this is marked "925" in an oval, for sterling. The backside of the handle is engraved "JAR to CA" in a handsome, carefully articulated script...

A scarce item in a pattern that is otherwise well represented in the marketplace, "Louis XV" by Whiting, this cheese knife measures 7 3/4" long and weighs just under 1.4 T. oz. It is fully original and authentic, with a three tine tip end, and not a "pretender" adapted or made up from some other piece. It is in superb condition and without a monogram or removal. The blade is even, free of nicks or burrs, and the pattern detail remains crisp and well-defined...

A truly massive piece at 9 5/8" long and weighing 4.8 T. oz., this vegetable serving spoon is an old example of Tiffany's "Chrysanthemum." It bears the company name on the reverse, along with the words "Sterling," "Pat. 1XX0," and a telling capital "M," which dates it no later than 1891. There is a script "EN" monogram...

This "Iris" design in an Art Nouveau style is a non full line pattern produced by Whiting. It measures 4 1/2" long overall, with a roughly 2" diameter bowl with a scalloped edge and reticulated center. Weight is approximately .5 T. oz. The backside is plain save for the Whiting emblem and the word "Sterling." Condition is outstanding.

Measuring 3 1/2" by 2 1/2" and weighing .8 T. oz., this sterling silver footed dish is item number 4020 made by Wallace and so marked on the underside. It is a fully true-to-life representation of a clam shell, specifically a quahog, which is a favored clam in New England for making chowder, and in Rhode Island in particular, for "stuffies." This sits on two ball feet, with the deepest part of the shell serving as the third resting point...

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...

Marked on the underside with the Gorham lion, anchor, G, the word "Sterling," the model number "3025," and a date symbol for 1897, this round master salt stands 1" high, 1 3/4" in diameter, and weighs .7+ T. oz. It has a 3/8" wide, die rolled band around the body and a rolled rim top. The sidewall is monogrammed "KAS" in a flowing script. The interior had a gold wash, of which only pale traces remain. It is in excellent condition, free of dents, nicks, or scratches, and has a fine, bright fi...

While the appellation "New Tipt" would imply a plain, unembellished, design, Gorham's pattern that bears this name does not follow this assumption. It is quite detailed, trending toward an Egyptian Revival style. The lower portion of the handle is tubular, with beaded margins on either end. The broadened end features a pair of flanking leaves, possibly lotus, and an array of grassy elements set against a stippled ground. This item is a rare, 8 5/8" long, 2.1 T. oz., pea or ice spoon with its...