Catalog: Silver: Sterling

length 6 1/4 inches, monogrammed "LES" script obverse, fine condition, retailed by The Cowell & Hubbard Co.

length 5 3/8 inches, total Troy weight 3.91 ounces, astonishing original condition, no monogram, gilt bowls.

This pattern gets much less love than its close relatives Iris and New Art, but is every bit as finely detailed and well executed as either one of those.

spoons, length 5 3/4 inches, Total Troy weight 4.6 ounces, excellent original condition, crested and monogrammed as shown in first enlargement, with half-matte engraved bowls, marked with retailer's mark only and "sterling"; see photo number four.

Also available as a set of twelve, at a slightly more attractive price.

length 8 7/8 inches, weight 5.14 Troy ounces, excellent detail and die-depth, marked as shown in fifth enlargement .

What's all the brouhaha about this fine old Durgin pattern? Well at the moment, the short answer is: none whatsoever. Twenty years ago, collectors for New Art abounded. Today there are few, giving you, dear reader, the chance to obtain examples at an attractive price point...

Just shy of 15 inches long, monogrammed "LBG" (fancy script with flourishes, obverse), a few very minor scratches and a tiny dent in bowl which may or may not show up in photo number four but fine overall condition. Among the myriad ladles described as "punch" on this world wide web, here, dear reader, is one that is...

length 14 inches, weight 6.55 Troy ounces, a bit of polishing wear and some minor dents in bowl but fine overall condition.

Engraved with crest of the Mossman family and their admirable motto "ME MELIORA MANENT" (better fortune awaits me).

height 7 3/8 inches, 3 1/4 inches across base, weight 11.75 Troy ounces, no monogram. Please note that these are not weighted.

There are some condition issues. One (on left in photo) has some dents in the side panels; the bobeche on the other is a bit wavy. Also, though they bear the same model number, one is decorated with beading and the other with "rope."

Keep in mind that when your table is lit with candle light, the guests will simply say "what lovely pair of candlesticks!"

with heart shaped cut out in tines, length 6 1/8 inches, total Troy weight 7.08 ounces, fine condition, monogrammed "H" as shown in third enlargement. These are scarce.

length 6 5/8 inches, fine condition, monogrammed "m" (obverse), total Troy weight 7.93 ounces, marked as shown in fourth enlargement.

retailed by Hennegan Bates and presumably the work of S. Kirk, just shy of 5 3/8 inches long, fine condition, monogrammed "A".

with oak leaves and acorns, height and diameter both approximately 1 3/4 inches, weight 1.8 oz Troy, fine condition, marked only "S 620" but according to a Very knowledgeable fellow, the work of Wood and Hughes.

circa 1870, height of cup 3; diameter 3 5/8 inches, weight 8.07 Troy ounces, some minor insults above the applied round foot where Alice perhaps in need of more tea rapped her vessel upon the table (please see third photo) but very good overall condition.

Years ago, many folks had high enthusiasm over silver from the Golden State, but now we're going to find out the hard way whether or not anyone indeed still gives a rat's derrière.

length 9 3/4 inches, weight 4.17 Troy ounces, no monogram, some very light scratches on blade (ask me to give it a gentle buffing before shipping, if you'd like) but excellent overall condition.

This is a big, splashy looking server which will make a wonderful wedding gift for a couple with a solid sense of style.

Marked as shown in fourth enlargement.

length 8 7/8 inches, no monogram, excellent condition, gilt bowl, weight 3.4 Troy ounces.

This is the rare Bigelow Kennard pierced variant, and it bears the retailer's mark of that fine and elegant old Boston firm.

Compare on ebay at 689.00!!

length 7 1/2 inches, weight 1.25 oz. Troy, monogrammed as shown in second enlargement, excellent condition. Often, Gorham's engraved decoration is unsuited to the pattern's theme, but here a classically engraved blade with wrigglework border goes well, stylistically, with the Greek bust woman's portrait.

Compare on the Big Bad Auction Site (item 295853985036) @499.99!

length 6 7/8 inches (!!), total Troy weight 4.9 oz., excellent condition, monogrammed as shown and dated "1889" on reverse.

Of all the nineteenth century American flatware manufacturers, we have a particular fondness for Durgin. Their sensitivity to the natural world and ability to evoke it "in the metal" was uncanny...

top diameter 4 1/2; height 2 5/8 inches, weight 6.10 Troy ounces, no monogram, excellent condition.

Marked as shown in second enlargement.

length 5 5/8 inches, weight 4.22 Troy ounces, monogrammed as shown, some very light scratches on blades (see third enlargement) but fine overall condition.

For those of you who favor comparison shopping, check out prices (69.00 each) over there on the Bay of Ease.