Catalog

While most sources place H. Hastings in Cleveland, Ohio, circa 1820, William McGrew in Manufacturers' Marks on American Coin Silver introduces the possibility of a Connecticut location.

He labels this particular "eagle" as "a frustrating mark because so many of the retailer names are unidentified," but questions whether Hastings could have been located in Hartford, Connecticut, given other instances wher...

Aesthetic in manner, it has a rounded Antique, slightly upturned, handle that is bright cut on the front in a thorny branch with leaves design. There is an "R" monogram inscribed in the open area near the tip.

The ba...

This example of the work is a 2 1/4" tall, 3" wide top, 4" maximum span to the end of the handle, 2" bottom diameter, 3.3 T. oz., solid silver mug or handled cup.

It is marked on the underside "MF & Co., Sterling," and "Colonial," all in a rectangle, and ...

In an Olive pattern, these are all original to one another with each engraved in script lettering, "C.J.A." to "C.A.P."

The commonality of the "C.A." letters prompts speculation about whether two generations shared names.

All pieces are stamped "C.A.W. Crosby," which was a Boston retailing firm established in 1852 ...

Other marks include the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and the word "Gorham," which may indicate the piece was sold in the company's New York City store, or it may simply be a redundant mark.

Gorham used a number of bowls for this line, and that on this, a small berry or preserve spoon, i...

Georgian in style as befits its 1769 date, it has a round body with an applied beaded top rim with an encircling, line detail inscribed 1/8" below this.

Otherwise the bowl is plain, noting that the underside is engraved with a block letter "E * B" monogram, along with full hallmarks including a "leopard h...

The pattern is Union, made by John Wendt, and in this case retailed by "Starr & Marcus," New York, as stamped on the handle backside, along with "Sterling" and "Patent."

Introduced in 1862, Union is a period design that is similar enough to Gibney by F.H. Gibney, later Whiting, and also dating 1862, that the two ...

This 7" long, relatively weighty 1.32 T. oz., preserve or jelly spoon is a particularly fine example in pristine condition.

It has a generously proportioned, 2 1/2" long, 1 5/8" at the widest, 1/2" deep, shell form bowl with scalloped edges and a ribbed interior, all finished in a pale, satin matte, gold wash front and back sides.

The sh...

This expression of the form, made by Gorham in the early decades of the 20th century, evolved from the much earlier Gibson one, although it is different in construction, and in actuality as much a novelty or collector's item as it is a utilitarian piece.

Solid silver, it is comprised of two different sized bowls, one the size of a tablespoon, the other the size of a teaspoon, with each hinged to...

It is marked on the solid silver blade front with an "eagle, V, bust" hallmark for James Vancourt. William McGrew in Manufactureres' Marks on American Coin Silver notes this mirrors a mark first used by Albert Coles and he suggests it was in turn reduced from a similar "C&V" mark used by (William L.) Coles & Vancourt in a partnership that las...

A modernist, his work was hand fashioned, following after the Arts & Crafts movement that arose earlier in the 20th century.

This example of his work is an 8 1/2" long, 2.73 T. oz., solid silver, salad of other serving fork.

It has a plain, tapered, handle with sharply angled corners and a straight across end...

This master butter knife is a lengthy at 7 7/8", and weighty at 1.61 T. oz., early example of Gorham's Old Medici marked with the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and "Copyrighted" on the handle backside.

Old Medici is one of the many expressive patterns created by renowned Gorham designer Antoine Heller. It features a variety of figures and imagery drawn from the Italian Renaissance period.

Most references date this to 1880, although Charles Carpenter in hi...

A highly decorative item dating from the 1860s, it has a twisted stem joined to a scalloped edge, slightly upturned handle. This has a central shield shaped reserve surrounded by a textured background with wriggle work and bright cut engraved detailing.

The handle backside is plain save for wriggle work around the margins and ...

The upper portion of the handle is shield-shaped and features an intricately rendered portraiture of raised ivy leaves and berries set against a stippled ground, with a leafy margin along the lower edges.

This example is a 7" long, 2.1 T. oz., sugar sifter with a large, 2 1/2" diameter, 3/4" deep, shell-shaped bowl.

Ther...

The maker's mark is on the flanking edge of the bowl and reads "N V in a caret," with a "star" below the V and a "star and crescent" above it.

A tea caddy spoon, this measures 4 7/16" long and w...

It is stamped on the underside "Currier & Trott," along with "Coin," for the Boston partnership of jewelers and watchmakers with dates from the mid 1820s to the mid 1850s.

The style of this suggests it traces to the 1840s.

It has applied gadroon rims on the top a...

The handle is hollow filled and comprises 5" of the total length of the piece, and is sterling silver, while the six-sided, pointed tip, sharpener is plated steel.

This is an early production item made by Gorham in its 1895 Chantilly pattern, marked "Sterling" and with the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem imprinted on both sides of the edge of the handle at the place where it meets the guard.

The handle has a delicat...

Coin silver, it is stamped C[harles]. C[arter] Coleman, for the Worcester, Massachusetts silversmith and jeweler with dates 1844-60. It has a "P (or T) W H" feathered script monogram engraved on the front of the curved handle.

This is finely crafted, with excellent proportion, good balance ...