Catalog: Silver

Edward Holland Hastings was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on February 1, 1857.   This dramatic christening cup from the gentleman whom we presume to be his uncle, Edward M. Holland, presaged a distinguished career as owner and impresario.

After spending a year at Cambridge High School, he prepared for four years at Philip Academy in Exeter, NH...

height 4 inches excluding handle, top diameter 3 1/4 inches, weight 6.67 Troy ounces, marked Wm Glaze with another partially effaced mark as shown in fourth enlargement.

Those with long memories will recognize this as the same mug which sold at Charlton Hall, June 14 2009, (lot 730) for 1725.00. Please take a moment to look at those catalogue photos (see fifth enlargement), and you will notice a few dents and some surface abrasion presumably due to improper cleaning with steel wool...

Boston circa 1900, richly decorated with Rococo revival ornamentation, crested but otherwise not monogrammed, height 12 1/4 inches, weight 14.58 Troy ounces, some polishing wear to high points but fine overall condition, marked as shown in fifth enlargement.

While quite common in the world of Continental silver, these are exceptionally scarce in Victorian era Americana.

length five inches, total troy weight 4.30 ounces, designer E.V. Hallett. These appear to have been tucked away in a drawer for the past one hundred thirty-two years, and are in untouched original condition. They have never been monogrammed.

The Granddaughter of whaling captain Seth Coffin (b. June 25, 1753), Emma V. Hallett was an author and a talented artist...

height 7 7/8 inches, length 10 inches across the bobeches, diameter of base 4 inches, weight approximately 38.5 Troy ounces, no monogram, excellent condition.

Little is known about La Paglia himself, though Dorothy Rainwater relates (see Silver Magazine, May/June 1995, item pictured in article) that he worked as a spy during WWII, and was smuggled into and out of Italy on board a submarine...

circa 1830,height 3 1/2; top diameter 3 1/4 inches, total Troy weight 13.47 ounces, some very minor dents but outstanding overall condition, monogrammed "AMC" in period script (please see fifth enlargement for mark and inscription.

With their band of cast applied grapes and elegant double molded rim, these are an outstanding example of the best American Empire era Philadelphia style...

length 13 1/2 inches, weight 5 oz Troy, no monogram. Concerning condition, the handle is ever so slightly off vertical and there are some very minor dents in bowl (please see fourth photo). Both of these issues are difficult for my eye to detect, so I do not feel that they need to be addressed. The bust looks pretty much the way it did when this item left the factory in Providence some hundred forty odd years ago...

London 1929, comprising two pepper castors, two open salts and mustard pot (with cobalt liner), weighable silver 32 Troy ounces, excellent condition, no monogram. This set is of the finest quality. Nothing which you may purchase "new and off the shelf" will match it.

Gale & Mosely, New York circa 1830, double struck-- for the uninitiated, this means the pattern is both front and back, length just shy of 8 1/2 inches, some very slight tine wear on a few (we've pictured the worst one in enlargement number four) but superb overall condition, weight 30.74 Troy ounces (!!) or 2.79 each on average, no monogram.

One would be hard-pressed indeed to find a better set of dinner forks.

height 9 1/8 inches to top of spout, weight 39 Troy ounces, no monogram, a few minor dents around the waist which won't show in a photo but fine overall condition, vintage CC (Calvin Coolidge, circa 1925).

With its gadrooned border and luxuriously chased acanthus leaf thumb rest, this is a refined, well constructed and massive piece of early 20th century Boston silver. Please see fourth enlargement for marks...

Canton circa 1825, gilt interior, the elaborate cast everted godrooned rim adorned with flowers and scrolls, the midsection with ten chased panels of grapes and vines, the finely chased acanthus leaf thumbrest atop double C-scroll handle. Height 5 inches; length across handle to spout 7 3/8 inches, weight 21 Troy ounces, discretely monogrammed "W" in period script just below the waistline, marked as shown in fourth enlargement.

This is a hefty, fine quality item...

circa 1900, length 10.6, height 7.5 centimeters, mass 162.7 grams, .950 standard. If you're a Brit, that's 4 inches long; 3 1/4 inches high; 5.23 Troy ounces.

We're not going to prattle on about how rare it is or how good it is, but you may rest assured that it's both. Aside from a small test mark on the underside (please see fourth photo) the condition is pretty much flawless.

engraved on reverse "Comp'n Thos R. Smith appointed Grand Sword bearer AL 5834 AD1830", diameter 2 1/2 inches, pristine original condition, weight .80 Troy ounces, tests 14K, unmarked. An object of remarkable construction and quality, each letter on the obverse is hand-cut and applied. The circular and triangular elements are fastened together with miniature nuts and bolts. Ex-collection Carl Crossman...

an original set at that-- all with date letter "F", S.K. in rectangle, 11 over 12, and city mark. Length 8 3/8 inches, weight 31.1 Troy ounces, all monogrammed "M" (reverse, period script, see third photo) most have some slight tine wear but the pattern is in very good condition. One or two are hard to find, but a set of twelve is rare, and this is not a word which we use lightly!!!

Our only American assay office was located in the city of Baltimore, circa 1814-30...

retailed by Palmer and Newcomb, length overall 23 1/2 inches, each coaster eight inches in diameter, gross weight 47 Troy ounces, engraved with an old English "m" and the crest of the Muir family (please see fourth photo). Overall condition is superb, though we will mention that the wooden inserts are later made but period accurate replacements...

for having made it to the end of my little web page...

Gorham souvenir spoons have been described as miniature sculptures, and these are fine examples. Each one was designed by a New Orleans silversmithy, and cast at the Gorham factory. From top to bottom (see photo): demi with gilt bowl, five-o-clock spoon, round bowl Jackson Square (SOLD), all by A.B. Griswold & Co; sugar shell with gilt engraved bowl (rare) by A.M. Hill; teaspoon A.B. Griswold(SOLD); citrus by A.M. Hill.

As pictured, top row: Four unmarked (save for French import mark) Chinese tags with brackets to hold various labels, 4/$125.00 2nd row: HOCK, SOLD (Dublin ça 1807, maker JT); MADEIRA, $95.00 (London, 1824, George Pearson?); KETCHUP, SOLD (London ça 1790, T. Phipps & E. Robinson); SOY, SOLD (London, 1797, maker I•H in oval); FISH SAUCE, SOLD (London, 1825, IR?) 3rd row: ANCHOVEY, SOLD (unmarked); two WHISKEY, $35.00 each (20th c.); SOY $165.00 (London ça. 1799, Elizabeth Morley); ES...