In pristine condition, and without a monogram or removal, this original example of Alvin's Art Nouveau "Old Orange Blossom" measures 6" long and weighs a relatively heavy 1.2 T. oz. It is marked with the finely lettered words "Patent" and "Sterling" as would be expected, along with the three part Alvin emblem. All the elements of the floral design retain their sharply defined and detailed elements, including those that so artfully extend onto the scallop shaped bowl...

This example of Tuttle's "Hannah Hull" is unusual in that it has an overall hammered surface as opposed to the usual smooth finish of the pattern. It is an early piece in the line, produced during the second year of Herbert Hoover's administration, i.e. 1930, within the time span of the Arts & Crafts movement, and likely influenced by that style. The "HH II" inside a crescent mark on the reverse is a date indicator...

Measuring 5 1/8" long and weighing not quite .4 T. oz. (11 grams), this marrow spoon is unusual for its size. It is essentially a miniature version of a form that is typically much larger, often twice as long and proportionally wider and heavier. It is English in origin, with hallmarks for sterling, a date letter for 1812, a regent's head, and "SA" for London maker Stephen Adams. It is an Old English design with a down turned, reverse tipt end...

Fully stamped for London, sterling, and a date letter "r" for 1912, this item is also impressed "Drew & Sons, Piccadilly Circus," and "S.S.D" over "E.D" in a shield for Samuel Summers and Ernest Drew. A high end retailer, this company apparently traded in leather goods, personal items, luggage, pen sets, and silver items (cited as beginning in 1887). Sources indicate S.S. Drew himself retired or died in 1914, so this dates from his tenure, a high point for the firm...

The leaf pattern on this 7" long, 1.2 T. oz., flat handled master butter knife is a "Leaf" design that is nearly identical to Gorham's "Josephine," and likewise akin to William Gale's "Leaf." The pattern has been attributed to Philadelphia's James Watts and likely dates from the same 1855 period. It is stamped "Brown & Co." for the retailer, and "Coin." The pattern is double die struck, meaning it appears on both sides of the handle...

Commonly referenced as a claret spoon, one reliable online source prefers to identify this 11 3/4" long, 2.6 T. oz., piece as a lemonade soon, while another suggests it was intended for a mixture of fruits and berries soaked in alcohol, in the manner of sangria, rather than wine. Indeed, the 3" long, 1 3/4" at the widest, bowl on this would be too large and sharply angled to fit in a claret decanter, but it would fit a pitcher...

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...

The size of a sugar bowl, this piece may once have been part of a tea set, although it certainly stands on its own. The lowest portion measures 3 7/8" across at the widest, has a footed base that is 2 1/4" in diameter, rises 2 1/2" to the rim, and weighs 4.8 T. oz. It has a fitted, 4" diameter lid, is 2 3/8" high to the top of the finial, and weighs 3.3 T. oz. The total height of the piece with the cover in place is 4 1/2"...

This 5 1/16" long, just under .6 T. oz., egg spoon is fully marked for sterling (seated Britannia), Dublin, 1834, and with a maker's mark of "PW" for Peter Weeks whose dates correspond with the piece...

A turn of the 20th century design, "Helena" is an early offering in the Blackinton line patterns. It is highly embellished with scrolls, beading, acanthus leaves, and hatch marks, all fully emblematic of late Victorian design. The bowl is especially artful, with a scalloped edge, decorated flanged rim, and stylized shell interior. It is pierced and finished in a deep, bronze colored, gold wash. The piece is in mint condition, and there is no monogram or removal. Apart from slight loss of go...

Measuring 4 3/4" long and weighing .6 T. oz., this piece was made by Gorham. The pattern is "Lancaster" sometimes referred to as "Lancaster Rose," reflecting the rose cluster that adorns the end of the beaded border handle. The size of a bon bon, the bowl does not match the lattice work pattern of the bon bon illustrated in the early Gorham catalogs. It is in fact more refined and this may technically be a nut or almond spoon. The edge is scalloped and the interior has a variety of piercings...

This sterling silver spoon bears the mark "W[illiam]. Faber & Sons," for a well-known and well-regarded Philadelphia silver firm whose dates cover roughly the middle third of the 19th century. It is an 8 1/2" long, 1.8 T. oz. serving spoon. The form seems to be indigenous to Philadelphia as it shows up only on pieces from that area. It has a shallow, actually flat with a slight scoop to it, bowl that has a scalloped upper edge. It may be an ice cream server. The handle and interior of the b...