This pattern is among Stone's finest designs. A nearly identical though not quite so desirable piece is held by Yale University Art Gallery, see Chickering p. 147, plate 134. Similar examples may also be seen in the collection of Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, and the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Most American silver manufacturers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries offered some variant of the Chrysanthemum pattern. As faithful readers of our little web page will know, here is my favorite one of them all...
Born in Winchester, England (1839), Mockford trained as a miller. He originally established himself in Tompkins County as a baker and flour merchant, then a jewelery pedlar, and finally a retail jeweler. For a peek back in time at how his mill would have looked in 1890, see photo number five.
French silver from this period is quite scarce. Price is for the total of eight pieces.
If the hostess gift still lives, then this (and a pound of great coffee) would make a fine one...
Come ye citizens of Portsmouth and reclaim thy heritage!!
Faithful readers of our little web page know we never tire of mentioning that Burt was a substantial and by all reports jovial fellow who weighed three hundred and eighty pounds.
$1650.00
P.O.R.
This spoon is not monogrammed and does not appear ever to have been, which is most unusual for early American silver.
There is a file cut (visible from side and reverse only; see fourth photo) which we've pictured in excruciating detail, and some light pitting on the blade which we've mostly polished out and probably will address a bit more, as time allows. Aside from this, the condition is excellent.
Place pieces are much rarer than servers in this grand old Durgin pattern whose name is a subject of some disagreement, which leads me to believe that not many were produced.
This pattern has always been a personal favorite. Note the expressiveness of the eyes, which you may examine up close in photo number three.
$450.00
$1650.00
One would be hard-pressed indeed to find a better set of dinner forks.
$725.00
These are perfectly plumb, but wide angle distortion has caused one to look a bit akilter, and for this we must apologize, dear reader.