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The same surname, however, appears in the history of 18th and 19th century silversmithing in New Haven, Connecticut.
This minor dynasty included Miles Gorham, his son by the same name, and his nephew John, whose "J. Gorham" mark is imprinted on this lengthy, 8 7/8", 1.5 T. oz. coin silver spoon...
$65.00
This pair of 5 3/4" long, .9 T. oz., coin silver tongs are marked "W.P. & H. Perry" for that partnership.
Their plain, angular, fiddle shaped arms date them from early in the partnership, c. 1830...
$48.00
This motif appears in the top center of the handle, and is repeated on the lower front and backside heel of the join with the blade of this 6 3/4" long, 1.0 T. oz., master butter knife.
There is a script letter "R" monogram on the handle front...
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Elegantly designed, it has a lengthy, slender, handle that has high, double swell, chamfered fins off the blade. The end is fiddle shaped and features a raised shell motif.
The blade is somewhat short at 2 7/8" long and wide at 1 1/8". It has a blunt end and curved upper edge with a notch toward the tip...
$55.00
The pattern is Douvaine, issued in 1904. Douvaine may be the most recognizable of the numerous early 20th century Art Nouveau flatware patterns Unger generated and for which the firm is renowned...
$145.00
Other marks include "coin" for the silver standard, and very small cartouche with the letters "ET," for which there is not an immediate explanation.
The form is very much of its period and place...
$285.00
This example is marked only "Patent 1861" and with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem absent a sterling designation, thus indicating it is coin.
It is also the largest iteration of a ladle in this line and is for soup...
$65.00
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William Root and Frederick Chaffee were located in Pittsfield, in the Berkshires region of Western Massachusetts, and were in partnership 1830-1849.
These have Fiddle handles with Tipt backs and are all engraved in fancy, feathered script, lettering, "E T Boyd" on the fronts.
In very good condition, they are free of wear or damage suc...
$365.00
Baluster form, it has a beaded base with smaller beading encircling the top rim. The area of the body opposite the C scroll, hollow handle is chased in a floral (perhaps hibiscus)...
$38.00
It is marked "Benedict & Scudder" over "New York," a partnership dating 1828-36, with Andrew Comstock Benedict, who also worked independently, the more prominent and lasting name in silversmithing of the two.
The end of the handle features a raised Basket of Flowers. This, along with the Sheaf of Wheat motif, were two popular embellishments on the otherwise largely plain designs on silv...
Auction
Sugar tongs, they measure 5" long, and at 1.7 T. oz., are exceptionally heavy for their size.
Stamped "S. Kirk & Son" and "10.15" for the peculiar-to-Baltimore silver standard that is essentially equivalent to coin, each arm is chased in a high relief flower and leaf design that is akin to Kirk's holloware of the period, as illustrated, for example, in Maryland Silver published b...
$70.00
Coin silver, it is stamped "J. Guthre" for James Guthre, who worked in Wilmington, Delaware in the second quarter of the 19th century. References record him in partnership with Emmor Jefferis c. 1840.
Well-crafted, this has an exceptionally wide, flat with a slight downward arc, front with a subtle Tipt back, Fiddle handle.
This is engraved with a feathered, line script, "CP" monogram on the ...
$235.00
It is stamped on the handle backside, "Vanderslice & Co. S.F. Cal." for the firm established in 1858 which, as recounted in Silver in the Golden State, became "the longest lived of the nineteenth-century San Francisco manufacturing firms," suggesting that this piece, unlike much California silver of the period, was regionally produced.
The handle is a Frenc...
$36.00
Lacking a certain attribution, Catherine Hollan in her Philadelphia Silversmiths writes, "The firm is unidentified, probably from New Hampshire or New England where "DOLLAR[S]" is used [although this term, designating a coin silver standard, is not exclusive to New England]."
She further notes, however, that Yale University Art Gallery has spoons [with...
$115.00
This exa...
A table serving spoon, it is marked "Coin" and "Twambley & Cleaves" for the Biddeford, Maine, jeweler and silver retailer.
The handle is a Pointed Antique with a Tipt end. The surface is finely bright cut engraved in a period acanthus leaf design with a reserve area that is inscribed with a cursive "H" monogram.
The backside is plain save for the marks.
As noted, this is a quality item produ...
$20.00
It is marked "S. Ayers Elmira" for Socrates Ayers born in 1814. He worked in Elmira as a silversmith, watchmaker and jeweler until about 1877.
It is also stamped with a "star D star," which mark John McGrew in his Manufacturer's Marks on American Coin Silver attributes to an "Unidentified - Up-State New York" maker.
The handle is engraved "Ruth Burnham" in script lettering set sideways...