Catalog: Silver

An assortment of individual (and two master) salt spoons. Pictured here top to bottom: Whiting EMPIRE monogrammed "L.M." and engraved "Cincinatti" (reverse), SOLD; Durgin FAIRFAX monogram "C" 18.00; four Whiting LOUIS XV no monogram SOLD; Watson PLYMOUTH master salt three inches engraved "The Rocks" (For once I am without comment) $25.00; five Whiting IMPERIAL QUEEN monogram "D" $24 each...

Alas, so are we. After 26 years, the Boston Antique Coop II is closing its doors. This, as they say, is due to circumstances beyond our control. Along with my colleagues John, Lolly, Gerry, Françoise, Rosemary, Brian, and Jackie let me offer a heartfelt thanks to all the folks who helped make our shop a success. Will we open another retail location? There are no immediate plans, but stay tuned to this spot...

Top to bottom: Durgin IRIS, SOLD; D & H BLOSSOM, SOLD, D & H RENAISSANCE, SOLD; Durgin STRAWBERRY, SOLD; Durgin CHRYSANTHEMUM, $125.00 (sold), Whiting LILY, $125.00. All are in excellent condition. Average length five inches save for Lily, short but cute @4 3/8...

Thanks to all the folks who stopped by for a visit. Hopefully, we'll see you again, sometime...

no, not that kind of a cat box, but a snuff box with "trap door" opening and secret compartment, 2 1/4 by 1 7/8 by 1 inches, weight 2.27 oz. Troy, marked with Chinese ideograms only (please see 5th photo).

In terms of construction, this is, not alas a first rate object. The edges don't quite meet up flush, the hinge is on the exterior rather than integral, and there are also a few minor bits of waviness on the front and side panels...

(for lack of a better description we'll call it this) with finely detailed alternating satyr's heads and irises above an urn shaped vessel decorated with garlands of highly three-dimensional applied flowers, height 9 1/2 inches, weight 14.09 Troy ounces, monogrammed as shown, one extremely minor dent which will not show up in a photo but excellent overall condition.

Kerr, a famous Newark jewelry and silver manufacturer of the early twentieth century, was noted for excellence of design...

Philadelphia circa 1790, a fine, large and massive piece, length 14 inches, length of bowl five inches, weight 6.87 Troy ounces, marked JA struck twice in cut cornered rectangle. There is a minor fill at the edge of the bowl (please see fifth photo) and some scratches on reverse, but excellent overall condition.

This spoon is not monogrammed and does not appear ever to have been, which is most unusual for early American silver.

Let's take a moment to reflect upon why a dealer, or at least Yours Truly, chooses to add an item to inventory.

Over the years, I've examined many pieces of Martelé, and if you dear reader will forgive me for a bit of crudeness, most of them are "trashed." Specifically, the detail is severely worn away, leaving the beauty of the overall design still appreciable but no longer intact...

Many of our faithful readers have no doubt been wondering, "Has Cherner resigned, retired, been fired, got tired or perhaps become discouraged with the overall lack of interest in antiques unless they are being chased by strange folks on the telly"? Well, no, we actually took a bit of vacation and mostly stayed out of the shops so have little new to show but this lone Tiffany spoon.

If the hostess gift still lives, then this (and a pound of great coffee) would make a fine one...

length six inches, weight 1.00 Troy ounces, no monogram, excellent condition, retailed by Wendell & Roberts.

Silver scholar and author D. Albert Soeffing describes this portrait as "a rather plain woman," and though it lacks the sophistication of some Medallions, there is a certain undeniable charm to her face. A great entry level item for the budding silver collector, should such a creature still exist...

spoon, length 5 3/4 inches, excellent condition, no monogram. The T-monarch-S trademark (see second photo) is ringing only the faintest of bells in our memory, but Thomae silver company is also a possibility.

length 7 3/8 inches, weight .69 oz Troy, no monogram, good condition.

The handle is applied with wirework in the form of a watch spring, making this the perfect gift for your martini-drinking watch collector friend!

length five inches, weight .66 oz. Troy, excellent original condition, gilt. Note guilloché work on reverse of bowl.

In spite of our best efforts, the rich plum purple color of this item does not show well, but it is stunning.

circa 1840. Tipt double swell fiddle handle, no monogram, length 7 1/4 inches, weight .87 oz. Troy, good condition. For those who collect VT silver, finding the town mark (please see third enlargement) along with the maker is an unexpected pleasure.

Roswell Hopkins Bailey was born in Unity, NH on July 22, 1804. At or near the time this spoon was made, he served as master to two apprentices: first Samuel Philbrick Bailey, then Bradbury Melon Bailey...

engraved "Kansas City" in bowl, length 5 7/8 inches, weight 1.30 Troy ounces, excellent condition.

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.

length 8 1/4 inches, weight 1.05 oz Troy, fine condition, monogrammed as shown in fourth enlargement.

Some might hold out for pie in the sky when they die, others would prefer to eat it now. We won't confess to endorsing either preference but will provide the right utensil for those who fall into category number two. Just shy of 7 1/4 inches long, excellent condition, weight 1.58 oz. Troy, monogrammed "LRM" (script, obverse, see third photo).

Baltimore circa 1850. Length 9 1/8 inches, weight 1.71 Troy ounces, attractive floral engraving, monogrammed "Clintonia."

We've checked the big bad auction site, and can't find anything similar there for under one hundred mighty dollars, so if you're a reseller, there's a good chance that you'll be able to make enough on this to buy a minor league sports team, or at the very least a small yacht.