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...

Measuring 5 5/8" long and weighing a relatively heavy 1.0 T. oz., this three tine fork is suggestive of an oyster or seafood fork, but has a different and singular tine configuration. There are three tines, with the lower one exceptionally wide and having a beveled edge, while the other two are narrow and pointed. Two function possibilities are an escargot or a cheese fork. The maker was Dominick and Haff and the pattern is that company's old version "Louis XIV" dating from 1888...

Originated by Schofield and then carried on by Stieff, "Baltimore Rose" is a pattern very much akin to Kirk's "Repousse." This 5 7/8" long, 1.0 T. oz., spoon is its own form and a little puzzling, but the best identification available seems to be jam or jelly spoon...

Marked with the Gorham lion, anchor, G, "Sterling," and "Pat. 1903," this cake saw or knife is a late example of a popular 19th century form. The pattern is "Norfolk," aka "Villa Norfolk," which is a relatively simple lined scroll design offered at a time when the ebullience of Art Nouveau expression was still at a peak. This measures 9 5/8" long, weighs a substantial 2.7 T. oz., and is solid silver. It is without a monogram or removal and in flawless estate condition...

An atypical design for its 1950 date, Kirk's "Quadrille" has a courtly French look, which also likely relates to the pattern name. It is a high profile design comprised of various leafy elements on the front side and a simplified interpretation of the same elements on the backside of the handle. It is also a heavy line, with this 8 3/4" long, large cold meat fork weighing 2.8 T. oz. There is a script "CGC" monogram...

Made by Paye & Baker, this citrus (grapefruit or orange) spoon measures 5 1/2" long and weighs approximately .6 T. oz. The pattern is "Pond Lily," offered in an Art Nouveau style, a mode which P&B was successful with judging from this and other of its designs from the period (early 20th century, 1900 in this case). It has an overall satin, almost frosted, finish and a pale, almost gray, gold wash on both sides of the bowl. The bowl is slender and has a flanged rim with elongated tip...

Usually identified as "Old" to distinguish it from a later Gorham pattern of the same name, the standout feature of this earlier "Baronial" is the lion's head that surmounts the handle. This example is a 4 3/4" long, .6 T. oz., ice cream spoon. The bowl has decorated flanged shoulders, and gold washed surfaces front and back sides. There is an unusual style and appealing "HWMC" monogram on the front. The reverse is marked with the Gorham lion, anchor, G, "Sterling," and "Pat...

Dating from just after the turn of the 20th century, Gorham's "Poppy" exhibits all the expressiveness of design that characterized the Art Nouveau mode. This 4 5/8" long, .9 T. oz., pair of tongs are large sized sugars. The pattern is carried onto the especially attractive, three-pronged grips with stippled background. The piece is in perfect condition, and without a monogram or removal. Marks are lion, anchor, G, "Sterling," and "Pat. 1902."

A relatively simple scroll pattern, Gorham's "Norfolk" also goes by the name "Villa Norfolk." This two items are a salad serving spoon and fork set. To be sure, while so designated, they could be used individually for a variety of purposes. The spoon is 8 1/2" long and weighs 2.4 T. oz...

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. This is again the form that was used on "...

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...

Dating from 1880, Gorham's "Old Medici" utilizes Renaissance figures as a central motif. This 6 1/8" long, 1.0 T. oz., sugar spoon is an early example marked "Copyrighted," along with Gorham's lion, anchor, G emblem, and the word "Sterling." It has an ovoid bowl with scalloped and rippled edges. The interior of the bowl is artfully engraved. There is an Old English "M" monogram on the reverse. This is in excellent condition. There is only very slight polishing wear on the high spots of the...