Old Friends  
5572f   $36.00

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Dating circa 1870, this jelly or small preserve spoon measures 6 5/8" long and weighs .77 T. oz.

It is marked J.C. Kelley, along with "Sterling," for the Philadelphia jeweler in business 1849-77.

The pattern is an engraved leaf and grass design presented in an Aesthetic manner on a convex Antique Tipt handle with a mid point crossed ribbon.

This is one of two similar designs produced by James Watts, also Philadelphia, and Kelley and Watts are paired on other jointly... Click for details

Old Friends  
5569f   On Hold

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This master butter knife measures 7 1/4" long and weighs 1.0 T. oz.

Straightforward in design, it has a (Fiddle) Tipt handle set at a right angle to a scalloped edge, pointed end, blade.

Architectural in manner and ruggedly plain, it has flat surfaces throughout. The handle tapers to a square, solid, block where it joins the blade (this strengthens the piece at this natural stress point).

The piece is without adornment, although its clean, serviceable, character and balanced... Click for details

Old Friends  
5568f   $200.00

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Offered in both sterling silver and silver plate, Harlequin was a floral series issued by Reed & Barton circa 1890 and continued in production for nearly a century.

These eight pieces are from an original, old, set of 5 1/8" long, 4.56 T. oz. the group, 5 o'clock spoons marked with R&B's "eagle, R, lion" emblem and "Sterling."

The bowls all have the same soft satin very pale gold surface and are engraved with "HVR" monograms in flowing script lettering.

Cast rather than die... Click for details

Old Friends  
5567f   $45.00

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A liturgical spoon of a form that traces to the earliest centuries of the Christian church, notably the Coptic Orthodox tradition, this near miniature 3 5/8" long, .26 T. oz. (8 grams), silver piece features a long, narrow, faceted handle with a pointed tip.

This is attached to an ovoid bowl with a curved device.

Such replica pieces were inspired by items found in what is identified as the Traprain Hoard of ancient artifacts unearthed in East Lothian, Scotland.

In a description... Click for details

Old Friends  
5566f   On Hold

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Originally associated with Herman Marcus as Starr & Marcus, Theodore B. Starr established his own firm in 1880. His work as a jeweler was renowned and he also produced silver hollowware (see Old Friends item 5551f) as well as some flat ware.

This 6" long, relatively weighty at 1.2 T. oz., sturdy sauce ladle marked "Sterling" and "Theodore B. Sarr New York" dates from the early 20th century, and, although marked for Starr, may actually have been made by Marshall Field who produced a... Click for details

Old Friends  
5565f   $85.00

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A 7 5/8" long, 1.7 T. oz., item, this piece is marked "W.J. Behan," along with "925 Sterling."

W.J. Behan is an elusive name to document, at least as relates to silver.

It is most associated with William J. Behan, who was mayor of New Orleans from 1882 to 1884, but there is no record that he was ever involved in the silver retail trade.

There is also a reference in an 1898 edition of the Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review to a person of this name representing the "Newark... Click for details

Old Friends  
5564f   $325.00

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Introduced in 1889, Coligni stands alongside other enduring Gorham patterns such as Versailles, St. Cloud, and Cluny that originated at the hand of renowned designer Antoine Heller.

Heller was a classicist much of whose work reflects the Beaux Arts style. This mode is very much evident in Coligni which is a multi-motif line that incorporates draped, romantic figures arrayed amid opulent background imagery.

This example is a very large, 9 5/8" long, 4.6 T. oz., serving... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2519   $$$

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Let's crawl into our first new offering of 2024 at a turtle's pace with this handsome utensil, originally intended for eating (gasp!!) turtle stew, which was a trendy and popular dish among those folks who were of a means to spring for the tureen, a set of twelve forks, and twelve dishes all to match, back in 1890.

See item 20207411 at the Rhode Island School of Design's Gorham collection for an example of the tureen, and item 2020406 for an example of this fork, or simply search "Gorham... Click for details

Old Friends  
5562f   $34.00

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Among Gorham's oldest full line patterns, New Tipt was introduced in 1871.

Decidedly distinct from a standard Tipt design, it incorporates period Greek and/or Egyptian Revival motifs such as palmettes, reeds, and beading, set on a broad, pointed end, handle with a tubular shank.

This example is a 5 5/8" long, .7 T. oz., early pastry or pickle fork.

This has an Old English letter "B" monogram on the handle backside, and is in flawless estate condition, free of... Click for details

Old Friends  
5559f   $60.00

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A strikingly well-crafted piece, this 5 7/8" long, .8 T. oz., souvenir spoon was marketed by Bath, Maine, jeweler "A.G. Page Jr.," whose name along with the word "Sterling" is stamped on the backside.

The handle has straight, tapered sides with a curved end with angular shoulders.

The surface is diamond cut engraved in a brilliant Aesthetic design with an open area at the end that has a satin matte finished surface. This is engraved "Sam." over "July 11th" "1892." in fancy script... Click for details

Old Friends  
5558f   $425.00

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This solid silver bowls stands 3" high on a rimmed base that is 3 1/4" across, has a top diameter of 7 1/4", and weighs a substantial 14.18 T. oz.

It is marked on the underside with the "hammer over Stone" emblem of Arthur Stone, "Sterling," and "G" for benchman Herman Glendenning, who was with Stone from 1920 to 1936.

Glendenning seems to have been a major presence in the Stone studio. He is referenced numerous times in Elenita Chickering's foundational volume Arthur J. Stone... Click for details

Old Friends  
5557f   $115.00

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An expressive pattern from renowned Gorham designer Antoine Heller, Old Medici features a variety of figures and imagery drawn from the Italian Renaissance period.

This example, a 7 1/4" long, 1.54 T. oz. preserve or jelly spoon portrays a matronly looking woman in festooned garb. She is carrying a tray laden with fruit with a basket or other container hanging below this.

Additional details include a gargoyle, a pair of doves with raised wings, and leafy tracery.

Most references... Click for details

Old Friends  
5555f   $35.00

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A souvenir of Baltimore, this 4 1/4" long, .3 T. oz. (9 grams), coffee spoon was made by "Dominick & Haff" and retailed by "Hennegen Bates & Co.," with confirming manufacturer's and retailer's marks on the backside, as well as the word "Sterling."

The portraiture includes a turtle, along with oyster shells and seaweed on the handle, and the North Point battle monument in the gold washed bowl.

It has a script "M" monogram engraved in the open area on the... Click for details

Old Friends  
5554f   $32.00

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One of Wendt's less commonly found patterns, Osiris was issued in 1870, and, as the name implies, is derivative of the Egyptian Revival mode popular in the period.

It features a lined handle with a fan, i.e. palmette, end. This in turn is framed by two acanthus leaves at the point where the handle turns tubular.

This example is 5 7/8" long, relatively substantial weight 1.0 T. oz., teaspoon that was retailed by carriage trade New York City jeweler "Howard & Co.," as... Click for details

Old Friends  
5550f   $60.00

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This 6 15/16" long, 1.25 T. oz., place, aka oval soup or dessert, spoon speaks through time in multiple voices.

First, the pattern which is Ruby by John Polhamus (later Shiebler) is a superb expression of the Greek and Egyptian Revival modes popular in its 1870 period.

It features a central palmette set atop something akin to a papyrus leaf. There is a rosette flanked by ivy leaves situated on the pointed tip end. These elements are surrounded by... Click for details

Old Friends  
5549f   $185.00

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A commanding piece in a dramatic pattern, this ice cream server, aka ice cream knife, measures 9 3/4" long and weighs a substantial 4.1 T. oz.

Made by Whiting, the pattern is Heraldic, issued in 1880.

Appropriate to the name, the imagery features a medieval helmet prominently set at the top of the handle. The remainder of the design incorporates a dense array of high relief, scrolling acanthus leaves.

There is a flowing script "EAW" monogram engraved in the shield reserve on the... Click for details