Catalog

Bearing two telling marks, "S. Kirk & Son" used by the renowned Baltimore firm 1846-51, and "10.15" for the distinctive regional silver standard designation which is slightly less than coin, this place spoon measures 7" long and weighs 1.06 T. oz. (33 grams).

A handsome and well crafted piece, it has a Fiddle shaped handle with a subtle Tipt backside. The bowl has an exposed drop, and high, pointed and beveled, fins at the join with the handle.

The handle front is engraved wi...

Issued in 1910, Buckingham bears a strong resemblance to Gorham's companion and immensely successful Chantilly line that was introduced fifteen years earlier.

It could be argued the two patterns are variants of the same design, with the former incorporating English style detail and the latter French, as intimated by their respective names. Buckingham is also more robust, i.e. generally heavier weight, than Chantilly, and often has more elaborated serving ends.

T...

Around the turn of the 20th century, Gorham produced an array of specialty silver stand alone items grouped together in what is known as H series pieces.

This 5 1/8" long, .45 T. oz., is model number "H239" from that series.

A lemon fork, it has the requisite three, narrow and splayed, tines that define its function.

Evidencing the precision of finish and substance of H series items, it has an open work handle that is reminiscent of the Chippendale style, rendered i...

Solid silver, this child's dish measures 4 1/4" across, stands 1 5/8" high and weighs 2.6 T. oz.

Marked on the underside "International" alongside the "C in a crescent" emblem of the Watrous division of that company, and "Sterling," it is identified as a model number "608/1" child's bowl with a likely early 20th century date.

Well-made, it has a sturdy applied upper rim, a rounded lower edge, and a flat bottom with a brushed finish on the underside.

The sidewall is acid etched in two sc...

Gorham issued a little known, often unrecognized and often unmarked, design named Imperial in coin silver in the 1850s and then re-employed the name for a different pattern in 1891, as found on this listing.

The later design incorporates a double lined border handle with a knob top. The central portion of the handle has a raised feature that appears to be, appropriate to the line name, a fleur de lis or the feathers in the Prince of Wales's badge.

This item is an 8 3/4...

A choice period piece dating from the third quarter of the 19th century, this item is marked "English Sterling," along with model number "404."

Although without any other identifier, "English Sterling" was a short-lived term generally only used by makers John Wendt and William Gale, both New York City, and often appears on pieces retailed by Ball, Black & Co., also New York City.

A solid silver master salt dish, this is cauldron shaped, with a bowl that measures 2 1/8" across. It stands 1 ...

A stand out Renaissance Revival design, Gorham's Raphael dates from 1874.

It features a dense arabesque background surrounding a central bird with upraised wings. There is a shield-shaped reserve area, which in this instance is engraved with an Old English "H" monogram.

This example is a lengthy, 9 5/16", and weighty at 3.34 T. oz., berry or other serving spoon, such as casserole in contemporary usage or a rice spoon in Southern custom.

The bowls that Gorham produced in this lin...

Measuring 4 7/8" long and weighing just under 1.0 T. oz., this sardine fork has a 2 1/2" by 1 1/2", seven tine serving end with a pierced heel.

The pattern is Nuremburg, issued by Alvin in 1903.

The design incorporates the face of a horned, devil-like, figure masked in the detail of the overall pattern. This image is presumably meant to suggest the grotesque medieval gargoyles for which the German city of Nuremberg in known.

The handle front is engraved in script with an "O'L" mo...

This 6 3/8" long, just over 1.0 T. oz. (32 grams), sugar spoon was hand made by Old Newbury Crafters, whose "ONC" mark and the word "Sterling" appear on the backside. It likely dates prior to 1955, the time when ONC began the practice of including individual craftsmen's symbols alongside other identifiers.

The pattern is Panel Antique or possibly the similar Moulton. It has a slender, elongated, handle, with chamfered margins and a Tipt backside and overall subtle ...

Issued in 1900, Alvin's Majestic is a multi floral pattern that features one of eight different flowers on each piece.

This example is the larger of two sizes of sugar tongs available in the line. It measures 5" long and weighs a robust 1.3 T. oz.

The flower is iris, which appears at the top and mid portions of the handle, and impressively, on the talon form grips.

The margins of the handle and lower section show trailing, sinuous, leaves, all in keeping with the Art Nouve...

Designed by Antoine Heller, renowned for his Beaux Arts figural patterns such as Versailles, Fontainebleau and Mythologique, equally commanding St. Cloud is by contrast non-figural.

Its leaf and anthemion subject, with tight, circular, elements reminiscent of fern fronds suggests Aesthetic influences, which is in keeping with its 1885 date of introduction.

This item is a 6" long, just under 1.0 T. oz. (30 grams), ice cream spoon.

The bowl is len...

Often attributed to prominent 19th century silversmith James Watts, the particular "animal head over shield with star" mark found on this lengthy, 9 1/2", 2.4 T. oz., coin silver pie server belongs to James Butler. Both men worked in Philadelphia in the mid 19th century.

Catherine Hollan in her encyclopedic Philadelphia Silversmiths notes Butler was a partner with Watts for "only one year 1867, then successfully continued independently manufacturing silverware with engraved patterns th...

The longest master salt spoon that Kirk made in its flagship Repousse pattern, each of these two, matched, examples measures 3 3/4". They weigh a relatively heavy .96 T. oz. the pair.

Never monogrammed, they have plain backs save for the marks, which are "S. Kirk & Son," which Rainwater dates 1932-61, along with "Sterling."

In spite of their considerable age, they are in exceptionally fine condition, showing no evidence they were ever used. The pattern is sharply defined, the bowls a...

Model number "A9969," as stamped on the underside, along with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, the word "Sterling," and the name of the retailer, Boston's "Bigelow, Kennard & Co.," this flat-bottomed, oval tray measures 8 1/4" long by 5 1/2" wide and weighs a relatively heavy 6.8 T. oz.

A highly decorative item, the uplifted and rounded walls have a 5/8" wide banded rim, which has a beaded margin bordering a chased design of repeating urns, rosettes, acanthus leaves and fan...

A piece attached to the early history of Chicago, this coin silver sauce or small gravy ladle is marked "Speer & Cosper" "Chicago," for a partnership of only two years duration, 1852-53, although Isaac Speer had been in business as a jeweler and watchmaker since 1840, and continued on after the pairing dissolved.

This is an unusually proportioned piece. It measures 7" long, with a handle that is lengthy in comparison to the 2" by 1 1/2" by 1/2" deep oval bowl. It weighs 1.1 T. oz.

The patt...

Designed to reach deep into a narrow mouth container, a horseradish scoop or spoon generally has a relatively long and narrow handle and a paddle-like end.

This example made by Towle in its 1893 Canterbury follows that form and is fully original, i.e. not made up or custom as many such pieces currently available are. It measures 6 1/4" long, weighs an unexpectedly heavy .5 T. oz., and has the requisite cupped bowl with a rounded end.

As befits the name, Canterbury is a statel...

Tracing to mid 19th century Boston, this 6 3/4" long, .7 T. oz., jelly or large sugar spoon is marked "Currier & Trott" for the partnership between watchmakers and jewelers, Richard and Peter respectively, which lasted 1823-55.

The Fiddle Tipt pattern of this places it toward the latter end of those years.

A finely crafted piece, it has a shell bowl with notched and scalloped edges.

There is a finely engraved script "LR to ECL" monogram engraved on the handle backsi...

This 7" long, very heavy at 2.28 T. oz., fork is notable for several reasons.

Evolving from the immediately preceding 17th century English Trefid style with a three-lobed handle tip, this is a turn of the 18th century Dognose piece with a single, extended, slightly upturned, knobbed end.

Scarce items, Dognose forks are all the more so relative to spoons.

This has an interesting, and telling to anyone versed in such things, crest on the handle backside that portrays ...