Catalog: Silver

with bird, flowers, foliage; a beaded band above and below, diameter 2 1/4; height 1 1/2 inches, weight 1.5 Troy ounces, .800 standard, no monogram, marked as shown in fourth enlargement.

Some twit put a drop of silver-test acid right inside the cartouche and left a slight stain, but aside from this the condition is exemplary.

Canton or Hong Kong circa 1840 with carved mother of pearl handles, length eight inches, monogrammed "WL" (?), fine condition although one blade shows evidence of being straightened (see fourth photo).

Forbes lists one set of dessert knives, #252 shown in figure 75, but these would appear to be quite rare.

No, dear reader, you're not daft though I may be, there are only five pictured here. Yes, we do have the sixth and it is no different than these!!

length 9 3/4 inches, weight 5.38 Troy ounces, monogrammed "F" (reverse), a bit brighter than we'd like but still with minimal wear to the high points. Marked with Gorham trademark, star, sterling, copyrighted (twice!!), and datemark for 1886.

Even without the exquisitely engraved blade this would have been a rare find, so we're doubly pleased. Note: although this server is hollow handled, we do not believe it to be weighted.

length 11 5/8 inches, weight 3.95 Troy ounces, monogrammed "LJA" (reverse, in period script with flourishes) as shown in third enlargement.

The quality of this engraving is above average, and it remains in fine condition.

maker Francis Jones, length 13 5/8 inches, weight 6.29 Troy ounces.

It's possible that this piece has had an erasure, but if so, it's subtle and difficult to distinguish. However, the overall presentation is excellent, and so is the price!

length ten inches, weight 2.38 Troy ounces, some minor scratches and slight wear to gilding, mostly reverse where blade meets table, but fine overall condition, monogrammed "M" (script, obverse) retailed by Boston's own late lamented Bigelow Kennard.

Rather a hard to find item in this dignified old Durgin pattern.

with short back midrid (a/k/a reverse fiddle tip't), pointed chamfered shoulders and a pronounced "flat" at leading edge, length 9 inches, weight 2.23 Troy ounces, monogrammed as shown. There is a small imperfection on back of bowl (see third photo) but otherwise fine condition.

We often speak of the "hallmarks" on American silver, but it is worth noting that very few pieces are actually hallmarked. This one bears the Baltimore assay office stamps commonly associated with 1824.

with applied foliage and a blossom over acid etched decoration on hammered background, gilt bowl, no monogram, excellent condition, length 5 3/4 inches, weight 1.60 Troy ounces, marked "sterling" overstruck by "c".

This unusual combination of etched and applied decoration lends the piece a three-dimensional quality which is quite successful, artistically.

retailed and most likely designed by C.E. Rose, length 5 7/8 inches, weight 1.18 Troy ounces, excellent original condition, no monogram,

Long sought after as one of the Holy Grails of spoon collecting, we are pleased to offer this immaculate example for substantially fewer dollars than the two others currently for sale on this Internet.

length 6 7/8 inches, weight 1.19 Troy ounces, excellent condition, no monogram.

Please see third enlargement for mark. The craftsman is Charles W. Brown

length 10 1/4 inches (not that small, really, but they did make a bigger one), weight 4.58 Troy ounces, fine condition, blade retains most of its original gilding, monogrammed as shown.

One of Yours Truly's favorite patterns because of the expressive eyes in this face. Please see all enlargements for detailed photos.

length 8 1/2 inches, weight 2.55 Troy ounces, monogrammed as shown, fine condition.

Other pages on this internet show a scrawny 5 1/2 inch item which they're trying to pawn off as the nut spoon. We beg to differ. And if you'll allow me to indulge myself in some shameless salesmanship, I will state that pierced servers are eminently useful, and the pointed antique patterns fit in well with any others.

Philadelphia circa 1825, length 3 1/2 inches, weight .81 oz. Troy, monogrammed "JLH" in period script with flourishes. With pointed, chamfered shoulders and a flat portion at tip, these are in excellent condition and of above average quality.

Often referred to as "snuff spoons," they may also have been intended for use in children's play. We'll stay safe and simply call them miniature.

height 1 7/8 and 2 1/4 inches respectively; gross Troy weight 5.1 ounces, no monogram, excellent condition although the ebony (or teak?) handle is a bit wobbly in place.

Porter was a highly talented silversmith, but his work is inconsistent and sometimes sloppy. These items showcase his skills at their best. The solder joints are subtle and superbly executed, the hammering is uniform and attractive, the piercings are symmetrical...

For our first listing of 2018, let's return to some good old fashioned pattern silver, a subject in which few folks seem to have any interest but we'll give it a shot because I'm a glutton for punishment and thrive on rejection.

Retailed by Boston's own late lamented and very elegant Bigelow Kennard, this implement is 8 5/8 inches long, weighs 2.76 Troy ounces, has no monogram and is in excellent condition...

spoons, London 1842, length four inches, weight a rather stunning .92 Troy ounces each, maker SC, untouched original condition, no monogram. The reverse of bowl with a lion's face cast in high relief, the tail entwining handle and terminating in a cast and chased paw with superb detail.

I do not recall ever having seen a finer pair of master salt spoons.

each acid etched with "Jan. 14th 1891" one with the initials "LB" and the other "DB" in fanciful foliate script, height 1 3/8; diameter 1 7/8 inches, total Troy weight 2.58 ounces, excellent condition.

We've made a brief attempt to find a pair of socialites who were married that Winter Wednesday and come up empty handed, but you dear reader may have the pleasure of continuing this search, once these are safely in your collection.

Please note that our price is for the pair (!).

length five inches, no monogram, gilt bowls, excellent condition, total Troy weight 2.63 ounces.

Designed by the great French scultor Antoine Heller, these figures have attitude!!