Old Friends  
5580f   $65.00

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Gorham's numbered items were non full line specialty pieces sometimes produced in variety of forms and sometimes offered only as a single piece.

This example, a tea caddy spoon with a likely late 19th century date, is stamped with the number 406 on the reverse, along with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem and the word "Sterling."

It measures 3 5/8" long and weighs just over .5 T. oz.

Comprising slightly more than half the length of the piece, i.e. 2", the handle is shaped... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2521   $175.00

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length 10 5/8 inches, weight 2.93 Troy ounces, excellent original condition, no monogram, with gilt matte-finish blade, marked as shown in fourth enlargement.

Compare at Replacements @329.95

Old Friends  
5577f   $38.00

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George Blanchard, along with sons Porter and Richard, represent a dynasty within the realm of American Arts & Crafts silversmithing.

With family roots in Gardner, Massachusetts, George originally worked with Arthur Stone. Porter went on to establish one of the most well-known silver workshops in California, where the family also founded the California Society of Arts & Crafts.

The "B09 in an oval" that appears on this 6 3/16" long, .87 T. oz., teaspoon was an early mark of the partnership,... Click for details

Old Friends  
5576f   $46.00

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King(s), or English King as identified by Tiffany for its line of flatware in this style, was a pattern with English origins that was produced by numerous American manufacturers in many variants.

This example, a 6 3/16" long, .96 T. oz., serving spoon, is marked for Phildadelphia's Peter Krider and follows standard conventions for the pattern.

Catherine Hollan in Philadelphia Silver illustrates this specific design within her section on handle patterns save she... Click for details

Old Friends  
5574f   This item is currently being auctioned

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A high style piece representative of the finest quality silver work generated in mid 19th Boston, this item is a substantial-sized water pitcher.

It stands 11" tall to the highest point of the lofty handle, has a bulbous, eight panel, baluster-shaped body that is 6" across at the widest, sits on a rimmed, 4 1/2" diameter, octagonal base, weighs 25.75 T. oz., and holds four pints (64 ounces) of liquid.

Each of the eight panels is engraved in a delicately rendered leaf and floral... Click for details

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  
5570f   $46.00

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A pattern that originated with Albert Coles, Jenny Lind established itself as a popular mid 19th century design and was adopted by numerous manufacturers.

This example, a 6 7/8" long, 1.25 T. oz., coin silver jelly or preserve spoon bears the four part pseudo hallmark that John McGrew in his benchmark work Manufacturers' Marks on American Coin Silver attributes to the "Gilbert, Cunningham, Cooper" complex of New York City.

This has a shell form bowl and is engraved "M.... 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

Old Friends  
5563f   $65.00

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This 8 1/8" long, 1.67 T. oz., spoon is marked with an "animal head over shield" emblem attributed to James P. Butler, Philadelphia.

It is also stamped with the words "Coin" and "Patent" and the name of the retailer, Philadelphia jeweler "J. Einstein."

Catherine Hollan notes in Philadelphia Silver that Butler was "a member of the extended Butler-Peters-McCarty families" and that he worked as a partner with James Watts for one year, 1867.

The leaf and rosette with an... 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  
5561f   $42.00

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One of William B. Durgin's earliest designs, the pattern on this 5 7/8" long, .64 T. oz., sugar spoon goes by the name Bridal, although it is also referred to as Bow, (Crossed) Ribbon or Knot, taken from the bow and knotted ribbon that appear on the handle front and back sides.

Introduced in the 1860s, it was initially made in coin silver and continued in production long enough to arc the transition to sterling, as examples in both standards exist... Click for details