Catalog

Catherine Hollan in Philadelphia Silversmiths offers dates of 1876-87 for the firm of "McCarty & Hurlbert," which is the name that is imprinted on the backside of this 9 1/4" long, 2.4 T. oz., berry spoon. Antecedent firms trace back to c. 1845.

It is also marked "Coin," which is late for this standard, as most manufacturers had converted to sterling by the 1870s.

It has an "Old English" handle with a tipt backside and a bright cut fine flower and leaf theme on the front.

The poi...

One of Gorham's earliest full line patterns, references date it to 1865 although this 7 3/4" long, 1.4 T. oz., solid silver master butter knife is stamped "Patent 1867," indicating a later date and situating it just before the company's conversion to a sterling standard in 1868.

Other marks on this include Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, and the name of the retailer, Philadelphia's "Geo. H. Bechtel."

"Ionic" is a Greek Revival design that incorporates a central rosette with a stylized a...

Readily identifiable from their length and round bowl spoon, chocolate muddlers are designed to reach deep inside tall chocolate pots to stir any settled powder on the bottom.

This example measuring 7 1/2" long and weighing 1.3 T. oz. was made by Dominick & Haff in the "No. 10" pattern.

A dense yet delicate multi-floral design dominated by a single chrysanthemum set at the handle end, "No. 10" was patented in 1896, as marked on backside.

Other marks include the company's three part embl...

Measuring 6 7/8" long and weighing approximately 1.0 T. oz., this place, sometimes referred to as a regular, fork was made by Watson whose Mechanics Division pennant emblem and the word "Sterling" appear on the handle backside.

The pattern is Bacchante, issued in 1895. It features a nude female figure holding a bay in one arm and a cluster of grapes, a reference to Bacchus, the God of wine, and the source of the pattern name, in the other arm.

The image is modeled after a statue desi...

A decorative item, this 5 7/16" long, approximately 1.1 T. oz., sugar sifter has a rounded end Antique handle with a Tipt backside.

The front is bright cut engraved in a floral, starflower like, pattern along with a fancy, feathered script, "AMJ" monogram.

The essentially round, 2" diameter, pierced bowl has a scalloped edge, coffered sides, and a raised circle in the base. The interior has a satin matte finish that is wriggle work engraved with "pom pom" like detailing that ...

Credited with giving momentum to the surge in souvenir spoon collecting that began in the late 19th century, the first Salem Witch design was produced by Durgin and retailed by Daniel Low & Co., Salem, Massachusetts.

An immediately popular item, it was soon joined by a similarly themed pattern produced by Gorham, also offered exclusively by Daniel Low.

This 5 3/4" long, .8 T. oz., orange spoon is an example of the first, Durgin, version, marked with the company's "D" emblem, "Ster...

A virtually unused example of Wood & Hughes' Renaissance Revival Angelo pattern, this preserve spoon measures 6 15/16" long and weighs just over 1.0 T. oz.

The intricate detail of the design on the handle is complimented in this instance with a bowl engraved with particularly fine, decorative, palmetto leaves, all set against a soft, satin finish on the interior.

The backside of the handle is engraved "Irene." in script. This may have been a cherished gift, and left unused, thus off...

Issued in 1910 (some sources indicate 1890), Alvin's Marie Antoinette, bespeaks its French design origins in its delicate, raised, detailing which includes garlands, wreaths, ribbons, and laurel leaves, all set on a plain ground. The pattern repeats on both sides of the handle.

This example is a 7 7/8" long, 2.2 T. oz., small berry or perhaps vegetable serving spoon.

It has a large, 3 3/8" by 2 3/8", bowl with squared corners.

Never monogrammed, this is in pristine condition, sho...

Josephine was one of the earliest line patterns produced by Gorham, as indicated by the "Patent 1855" and "Coin" that appear on the backside of this example, which is a full-size, 7 1/2" long, just over 1.5 T. oz., dinner fork.

The design is characterized by a die struck leaf, scroll, and anthemion that appear on the handle obverse, minus the leaf on the backside, and an expanded leaf on the reverse heel.

This has a fancy, feathered script, "AP Borden" en...

Standing 1 3/4" tall and 1 3/4" in diameter, this 1.3 T. oz., sterling silver napkin ring is a relatively large item.

It is marked "S 135" on the interior, which designator is thought to have been used by Wood & Hughes, New York City.

Dating circa 1880, it has a flat walled body with top and bottom rims. These are bordered by a repeating design that is in the manner of a Vitruvian scroll.

Apropos of its period, the sides are engraved in an Aesthetic design that features ferns or ...

Each of these six matching spoons measures 5 7/8" long and is engraved with the same fancy, feathered line script, "AI" monogram. They weigh 2.35 T. oz. the group.

They are stamped "E.E. & S.C. Bailey," for brothers Ebenezer and Samuel, who established a partnership in Claremont, New Hampshire, circa 1825.

Particularly well-crafted and elegantly formed, they have slender, elongated, Fiddle Tipt handles with markedly upturned ends.

The bowls are relatively narrow and long, and ha...

Tea accessories, mote spoons were popular items in early 19th century England.

Indeed, this 5 1/4" long, .32 (10 grams), sterling silver example traces to London, 1811, George III, according to the hallmarks on the reverse. No maker's stamp is present.

It is characteristic of the form, with a slender, tapered handle that ends in a triangular, pointed, pediment, for cleaning clogs.

The bowl is attractively cut in a cross, scallop and bellflower motif and has a thumb drop on...

Measuring 5 1/2" long and weighing just over 1.0 T. oz. (32 grams), this pair of George III English tongs are marked "SG/EW" for London silversmiths Samuel Godbehere and Edward Wigan.

Other marks are a "lion" for sterling, a "bust" duty mark, and date letter "G" for 1802-03.

Very much a period item, the slender, curvilinear, arms are bright cut and wriggle work engraved in a starburst and diamond pattern.

The grips are spoon bowl shaped and decorated with a novel wriggle work design on ...

Dating from the mid 19th century, this preserve or jelly spoon measures 7 1/4" long and weighs 1.0 T. oz.

It is stamped on the backside of the handle "J.E. Caldwell & Co." for the renowned Philadelphia jeweler and retailer of fine goods, and "Pure Coin," suggesting this piece may have been sourced from a New England manufacturer, given this term was typically used in that area.

It has a twisted central stem, with a broad, plum-shaped, tipt backside, end that is extensively engraved with br...

A faithful representation of the vine, leaves, and fruit from which the pattern takes its name, Dominick & Haff's "Grape" is a late 19th century design, early in the Art Nouveau period.

The imagery is fully developed on the reticulated bowl of this 4 7/8" long, weighty at approximately 1.2 T. oz., bon bon or nut spoon.

Presented in remarkable detail, the leaves show veined and textured surfaces, the rounded grapes are set in high relief, and the tendrils form an artful grid among the open ...

Measuring a lengthy 5 7/8" and weighing a hefty near 1.7 T. oz., this pair of tongs originated in Boston and date circa 1860. Probably intended for sugar, they are large enough to be used for ice.

They are stamped "Shreve, Brown & Co.," the 1857-60 predecessor of Boston's premier "Shreve, Crump & Low," on the inside of one arm, and "925 in an oval" on the inside of the other.

The pattern is an Oval Thread with cast, sturdy and highly articulated, grips.

Never monogrammed on eithe...

A highly regarded iteration of the Medallion genre popular among silver manufacturers of the 1860s, nearly all of John Wendt's product in this line was retailed through New York's "Ball, Black & Co.," whose name, along with "Patent" and "925," appear on the backside of this 5 3/4" long, approximately .8 T. oz., relatively heavy, youth fork.

Appropriate to the item function, the figure on this is young and could in fact be either male or female and thus a suitable association for a chil...

Introduced in 1951, Rondo was made by Gorham. Both the pattern and the company name, along with the word "Sterling," appear of the backside of this 8 1/4" long, weighty at 2.5 T. oz., all silver tomato server in the pattern.

A clean design, French with a modernistic flair, this has scrolled margins which are expanded into a rosette on the handle end.

The blade is large, has scalloped edges, a pierced surface, and a slightly cupped heel.

Never monogrammed, this is in flawless esta...