Tiffany (HH) 'Oriental' Four Sterling Silver Teaspoons

A pattern for which John Polhamus and Henry Hebbard, who worked individually and in a short-lived partnership in New York City in the mid 19th century, held a joint patent, Oriental was a favored design for marketing by Tiffany in its early years.

The dies for the pattern were eventually acquired by George Shiebler, who extended production subsequent to all these antecedent firms.

These four, matching, 6" long, 3.2 T. oz. the group, teaspoons are older pieces, marked "H.H." for Henry Hebbard, "Patent 1855," "Tiffany & Co.," and "Sterling."

Tiffany adopted sterling earlier that other outlets and suppliers had to meet that standard even if their usual production was in coin silver, which was the general situation with Hebbard at the time.

An Islamic style design evoking such structures as the Alhambra in Spain, Oriental established itself as an enduringly admired and sought after line. The pattern appears on both sides of the handle and extends onto the backside heel of the bowl.

These four are monogrammed "HKH" in feathered script set sideways on the handle fronts.

In very good condition, they are absent polishing wear, have well-shaped bowls free of dents, dings, or tip wear, and have even finishes. Note: the monogram on one piece (the left one in the group of four in the image above) shows polishing wear of the monogram and a slightly uneven surface around it that the other three do not.