Whiting's "Japanese" is one of the most successful patterns that that company evolved. Patented in 1874, the design closely parallels Tiffany's Japanese (aka Audubon) and John Wendt's Bird, all of the same period, all popular, and all derivative of the aesthetic movement of the period. The pattern is multi-motif, the central feature of which is one or more birds. This item is a 9" long berry spoon that has a perched avian image with a tufted head and long tail...

This 7" long cheese knife is a completely original item, not made up from another piece. The pattern is Wellington, a late 19th century design by Alvin. It features a shell and scroll end with an egg and dart margin. The blade has a scalloped upper edge and four prong tip, characteristic of cheese knives. It is without a monogram or removal and is in mint condition. Marks are the Alvin emblem, Sterling, and Patent, all in fine lettering.

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 Providence, Rhode Island,established himself in Cincinnati, Ohio as a jeweler. He had several partnerships, one with John Gould Anthony, also originally of Providence. The dates on this firm were 1836-40. This example bearing the Rhodes, Anthony & Co. mark is a 6" long, .9 T. oz. sauce or cream ladle. It has a plain, broad end that curves downward. The shoulders off the bowl are high and pronounced. There is a feathered script "KW" monogram...

Larger than a shot measure and smaller than a julep cup, but similar in design to each of these forms, this small beaker was made by Gorham. It stands 2 5/8" high, has top and bottom diameters of 2 1/4" and 1 3/4" respectively, and weighs just under 1.7 T. oz. In addition to the Gorham hallmark and the word Sterling it is stamped with the date symbol for 1911 and the number 4081 in a rectangle followed by the letter A...

This 6 1/4" long, .7 T. oz., coin silver sugar shovel has an interesting provenance for those interested in such things. It has double markings. One is for H.I. Sawyer of Hartford, Connecticut. The second is A.T. Gage with a single die bust pseudo hallmark. John McGrew in his work on the subject, associates this single die with Sawyer, and references it in conjunction with an A.J. Gage, possibly in New York City...

This 7 1/4" long, just under 1.5 T. oz., gravy ladle is a pristine example of late 19th century silver craft. It is a bright cut floral and leaf design set on a matte finish ground. The slightly ovoid bowl also has a matte surface with gold vermeil. There is a script "A.J." monogram on the otherwise plain backside of the handle. Marks are the retailer's name, Whitney & Co., and Sterling.

This cream ladle is a delicate 5" long and weighs .9 T. oz. It is a cream ladle made by Watson in the Orchid pattern. This is an Art Nouveau design first offered in 1902. It was one of the most successful of a number of successful Watson floral designs of the period. It has a highly textured surface, and expresses all the fluidity that so characteristics the genre. It is in excellent condition and without a monogram or removal. Marks are the Watson pennant emblem and the word Sterling.

At 6 11/16" long and with four tines, the outer two of which are splayed, this is a (chipped) beef fork. It weighs .9 T. oz. The pattern is Louis XV, made by Whiting. This has proven to be an enduring design, quite similar to Gorham's Strasbourg of the same period, and which also has been lastingly popular...

This solid sterling silver sugar sifter made by Whiting dates c. 1885. It has a "Reverse Tipt" handle that is decorated with bright cut engraving on the front. This incorporates two flowers and leaves along with other details. The upper floral arcs around the top end of the handle and may be a fuchsia. The overall length of the piece is 6 11/16", while the four-lobed bowl is 2 1/4" in diameter. The weight is just under 1.4 T. oz. The bowl is pierced and finished in a gold wash. There is a...

The scale on this pair of coin silver tongs is large. They 6 1/2" long, have arms that are 1" at the widest, and an arch that has a 1 3/4" span and a 1" width. They weigh a substantial 2.5 T. oz. They have a "B pellet G" imprint for Baldwin Gardiner, along with a "bust, lion, G" pseudo hallmark which McGrew suggests may be Forbes, with Gardiner the retailer. The final clarification of this is difficult and is further complicated because Gardiner was established in both Philadelphia and New Y...

This Fiddle Thread fork measures 7" long and is quite heavy at 1.6 T. oz. It would have been used for tea or dessert. The backside is stamped Gorham & Co., which is a mark that was used by that company 1852-65, and "Coin." The front is engraved A.L. Fiske in script lettering. It is in very good condition, with surface scratches on the tines, which also show slight tip wear.