Marked with both Philadelphia's George Sharp's "double lion and S" and "Patent" marks as well as "Tiffany & Co.," this salad serving fork and spoon have a double provenance that bespeaks the finest of mid 19th century silver manufacturing and retailing. Curiously, they are not stamped "Sterling," which standard Tiffany typically required in the 1860's from which they date, so they are possibly coin silver rather than sterling...

Marked only "Sterling," this c. 1860's pattern is a Whiting design commonly identified as "Calla Lily," taken from the three dimensional flower that adorns the end of the handle. This example is a large, 10 1/2" long, just under 2.6 T. oz., serving spoon. Described by one source as "jewelry-esque," this is assembled from a variety of parts, rather than being die struck as a unit, or a single casting...

Whiting produced a series of floral serving pieces in the late 19th that are little documented, but likely intended to compete with Gorham's impressive "H" series of similar designs and large scale. The portraiture on this is a "Rose" or specifically a "Cabbage Rose." Whiting's items have cast handles and applied serving ends, and that is the case with this 8 3/4" long, massive weight, nearly 5.4 T. oz., spoon...

Sometimes referenced as fried chicken tongs, but suitable for a variety of purposes where scale is called for, this serving piece is as large as such items get. It is 10 1/2" long and weighs a hefty 7.0 T. oz. Each arm is an engraved Old English Tipt style. The engraving carries over the arch and has something of a Gothic manner to it. That would be appropriate to the c. 1865 date of the piece. The top of the arch is monogrammed "J.C.P." in O.E. lettering...

Made by John Wendt, this 9 1/4" long, approximately 2.2 T. oz., berry spoon is marked "Shreve, Stanwood & Co." for the c. 18060-69 Boston retailer which was a predecessor to today's Shreve, Crump & Low. It is also marked "Sterling." It has a tubular shank consistent with a form employed by Wendt on other patterns. The handle end is a shaped disk with finely engraved margins. The defining element of the piece is the cast and applied cluster of strawberries with an entwining ribbon...

Stylistically this punch ladle suggests a dating from the mid 1860's. It follows after a style most associated with Philadelphia's George Sharp, having a five sided solid wire stem surmounted by a "domed" top. George Sharp's version has a ball top, or finial, whereas this is more disk shaped. Examples of this pattern are scarce, and when they show up are generally without a maker's identification...

This pair of English, sterling silver asparagus tongs are fully marked for London, 1800. The maker's punch is "IB" for which there are several possibilities, the likeliest being John Blake. English asparagus tongs are of a type, and this pair follow along after the form. They measure 9 1/2" long and weigh a substantial 6.5 T. oz. There is a single crossbar that is secured into place with two silver screws. The grips are narrow and grooved so to hold the asparagus spears...

There is lack of complete certainty on the name of this 1870's Gorham pattern classified in the Egyptian Revival mode, but it is generally and reliably identified as "Hindoo." It has a tubular stem and diamond prism handle end with banded borders. It is essentially Gorham's "Isis" without the winged snake figure. The bowl on this large, 13 1/2" long, heavy, 6.4 T. oz., soup ladle has a central vee made up of two flanking lobes with rounded shoulders...

One of the most elegant designs produced by Durgin, "Regent" (1885) holds it own within the panoply of first rank patterns generated in the Victorian era. The line featured large scale pieces, which is evidenced by this 9 3/4" long, massive weight 5.1 T. oz., berry spoon. The design employs scroll, shell, and leaf elements interspersed with open lattice work areas in both the handle and the bowl. There are two versions of "Regent," one with a plain background and one engraved. This is the en...

An example from Tiffany's 1872 "Vine" series, the specific motif on this 8 3/4 long, 2.6 T. oz. berry spoon is "Grape." A detailed and realistic pattern, the front of the handle is embellished with grape, tendril and leaf elements set against a stippled ground. The backside is considerably simplified and has a polished surface. In this instance, the reverse also has an expressive, Art Nouveau style, script "ET" monogram. The 3" by 2" bowl is oblong, has flanged shoulders, and a scalloped and...

Gorham's Japanese is a multi-motif pattern featuring various figural themes set against a stylized (and somewhat pseudo) ground of Far Eastern-looking elements. It definitely falls within the category of the Aesthetic taste and has always had strong decorative appeal. This example is an 8 9/16" long, a bit light feeling at 2.0 T. oz., pie or pastry server. The image on this form is a peacock perched atop the handle, with a long, trailing tail. The 4 1/2" by 2 1/2" at the widest blade has the...

Whiting's and Gorham's Lotus are nearly twin patterns, although there are subtle differences. The primary distinguishing feature is the number of lotus fronds in the design, Gorham having three and Whiting, as with this piece, having five. They are both a product of the c. 1870 Egyptian Revival movement and are patterns that have never lost appeal. This example is a 10 1/8" long, 2.0 T. oz., ice cream server. It is in immaculate condition, showing essentially no wear, and is without a monogr...