Whiting's Japanese stands alongside a number of patterns (Tiffany's and Woood & Huges' Japanese, and Wendt's Bird for examples) of the period that derived from an intense interest in things and matters Asian and Aesthetic. This example is a large, 9 1/8" long, 2.2 T. oz., serving spoon. It has a plum-shaped bowl with a central vee ridge and crimped or pie crust edging. The bowl retains most of an original pale gold gilt surface...

Gorham produced this unnamed line of hollow handle serving items in the 1870's. It is somewhat similar to another Gorham design of the same period that is sometimes referred to as Hindoo. This example is a 7 1/2" long, just over 2 T. oz., sugar sifter. The style is vaguely Aesthetic. The handle has two applied leafy bands and is engraved. The four-lobed bowl is intricately cut, again in a leafy design which in this instance resembles palmetto...

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...

Generously proportioned at 8 3/4" long, and solid heft at 1.2 T. oz., this lettuce serving fork was made by Durgin. The pattern is "Madame Royale," which features leaf and floral spray details. It is quite similar to "Dauphin," save the interior area of the handle is plain and "Dauphin" is decorated. The tine area is pierced, and displays finely rendered elements of the pattern in the heel...

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...

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...

Measuring 7 1/4" long and weighing a heavy 2.5 T. oz., this estate gravy ladle in Towle's Old Colonial presents in an impressive way. The faceted bowl is generously proportioned at 2 1/4" by 2 1/4" and 3/4" deep. It has scalloped shoulders and is finished in a bright rose gold vermeil on both front and back sides. The condition of the piece is immaculate, and it is without a monogram or removal. Marks are 925/1000, the Towle emblem, Sterling, and "Pat. 1895," the last mark being rubbed.

This solid sterling silver cream or sauce ladle measures 5 1/4" long and weighs a relatively heavy 1.2 T. oz. The pattern is Poppy by Gorham...

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. There is no m...

Measuring 6 1/16" long (and weighing .8 T. oz.), this is slightly larger than a typical teaspoon. It is an early die struck pattern, Lily, made by A(braham) & W(illiam) Wood of New York City. Their dates are narrow, 1849-71. It was retailed by W.H. Hickcox according to the imprint on the reverse. The design is quite intricate and singular for its c. 1865 period, and it is double die struck, meaning the image appears on both sides of the handle. This has a pointed, well-defined, bowl, and is...

This item was made by New York's Henry Hebbard (also Hebberd) and retailed by Solomon (marked Soln.) Myers accord to the stamps on the reverse. It is an 8 5/8" long, 1.8 T. oz. coin silver berry spoon with a shell bowl. The pattern was patented in 1859 as indicated on the reverse. It is a modified Olive or Tuscan (itself a modified Olive) quite similar to John Polhamus's, with whom Hebbard is closely associted, Louis XIV of the same period. There is a feathered script "GS" monogram. It is i...

Thomas Conlyn is listed as a Philadelphia silversmith c. 1843. These six, matching 5 7/8" long, 3.1 T. oz. the group, coin silver teaspoons that bear his stamp date near to that. They have plain fronts, while the reverses have subtly tipt ends. The bowls have exposed drops. Each spoon has a feathered script "EB" monogram that is appealingly primitive straining to be sophisticated in style and execution. The condition of the set is near immaculate. There is no bowl wear, nor bends on the ha...