Catalog

Very early examples of San Francisco marked flatware, this set of six, matched, 8 3/8" long, 10.9 T. oz. the lot, coin silver spoons date circa 1860.

They are stamped on backsides "G.C. Shreve & Co., which firm according to an entry in Dorothy Rainwater's Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers, was established in 1852.

It eventually became the West Coast's premier jeweler and silver manufacturer.

In its early years, however, as noted by Rainwater, flatware was sourced from...

A novel item laden with sentiment, this large, handled (tea)cup has a body with a top diameter of 3 1/2" and a maximum span of 4 5/8" to the end of the handle. It stands 2" high to the rim, has a base that is 1 7/8" wide, and weighs 2.96 T. oz.

It is stamped on the underside "Shreve & Co.," "San Francisco," "Makers," "925-1000," and "Sterling."

It has a double Greek Key motif, expressed first and dramatically in the flat band handle and secondly in the applied rim with pale blue enam...

Marked with the "plumed helmet over S in a shield" emblem introduced by Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co. in 1895 and continued by International after SHM merged into that amalgamation in 1898, this piece dates from the 1895-98 period or shortly thereafter.

It is also marked "Sterling" and model number "C1342."

A medium-to-large sized gravy or sauce boat, it measures 6 1/2" from handle end to tip of spout, is 3 7/8" wide, and stands 4" tall at the highest.

All silver, it weighs a substantial ...

Stamped with the "helmet over S in a shield" manufacturing mark introduced by Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co. in 1895 and continued in use after the merger that formed the International Silver Company in 1898, this piece made have been made under the auspices of either firm, but not likely much later than 1900 based on the style of the item.

A 2" tall, 3 1/8" wide, 2.57 T. oz. solid silver shaving mug, it follows after the manner of a standard handled mug, save with the addition of a cupped and p...

Introduced in 1906, Pointed End was one of renowned Arts & Crafts silversmith Arthur Stone's earliest line patterns. It has a "Tipt" backside and slender, arched and tapered handle.

These six, matching, 8" long, 5.7 T. oz. the group, individual iced tea or lemonade stirring spoons are stamped with the "hammer over Stone" emblem, "Sterling," and an "E," for benchman George Erickson who established his own well-regarded silver shop subsequent to his work with Stone.

These show the qua...

Although primarily a New York City Silversmith, Louise Belden in Marks of American Silversmiths and other sources note that William Grigg spent some years in other locations, namely Albany 1770-78, and Halifax, Canada, 1782-89.

He was a freeman worker in 1765, dating this group of six, matched, 5 1/2" long, just over 3.0 T. oz. (95 grams) the lot, to the decades between then and Grigg's death in 1797.

They are all stamped "W.Grigg" in a serrated cartouche, which is one of four marks...

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...

This item traces to mid 19th Baltimore and reflects the character of early silver from that city.

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...

Dating from the middle third of the 20th century as indicated by the particular "S. Kirk & Son Sterling" mark that appears on the handle backside, this 5 3/8" long, approximately 1.0 T. oz., round bowl piece is variously identified as a cream or mayonnaise ladle.

The pattern is the company's signature "Repousse," featuring an array of high relief, satin finish, flowers and leaves.

The backside is plain and never monogrammed.

In flawless estate condition, this is free of any evident wear...

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...

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...

A matched set, this c. 1835, coin silver, 6 5/8" long, likely pickle, fork and 7 1/2" knife, 2.8 T. oz. combined weight, are marked "S. Richard" for the New York City silversmith Stephen Richard.

The handles are filled (which is included in the total weight above), and feature a complex, double-sided, pattern that incorporates leaves, scrolls, flowerets, and two kinds of shells, one that is spiraled and one that appears to be a nautilus.

The pattern may be attributable to Richard's contemp...

Stephen Adams I was a well-recognized London silversmith of his period, roughly the full span of the second half of the 18th century.

Grimwade's foundational London Silversmiths notes his parentage is undiscovered, but that he entered his first mark with William Jury c. 1758, with another mark for both 29 October 1759. Although he also registered marks as a buckle maker, Grimwade states "it is clear that he was principally a spoonmaker."

This 8 3/8" long, 1.86 T. oz., table or servi...

An 8 3/8" long, approximately 1.9 T. oz., table serving spoon, this piece is fully hallmarked for London, sterling silver, 1775, and maker Stephen Adams I (S·A).

Having a Hanoverian handle, the end is upturned and tipt, while there is a long drop, evolved from a rattail, on the bowl backside.

The handle reverse is engraved in a period "S + S" monogram.

In very fine condition, this is free of noticeable signs of use, has a well-shaped bowl that retains a rounded tip, is free ...

This solid silver open master salt dish has a bowl that measures 2 1/2" in diameter, is 1 3/8" tall, weighs 1.7 T. oz., and stands on three supporting hoof feet legs.

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...

Colonial Williamsburg commissioned Baltimore's Stieff Company (later Kirk-Stieff) to produce the revivalist Queen Anne line of flatware, which was introduced in 1940 and sold through "CW."

Queen Anne is a Hanoverian design with a rounded-end, upturned handle with a midrib and a rattail bowl back.

A companion pattern, Williamsburg Shell was added in 1970.

This offering is for an original, estate set of 12 complete, 5 piece, place settings in Queen An...

This group of three pieces comprise a matched set, for either youth or traveling.

Sterling silver, they were made in Birmingham, England in 1833-34 by the firm of Taylor & Perry. The spoon is stamped with five identifying hallmarks, with the fork and knife having confirming partial marks.

The pattern is a robust grape leaf and fruit cluster that appears on the front and backsides of all three pieces. The spoon also has an elaborate, raised shell, motif on the heel reverse.

The solid sil...

A large, 2 3/8" tall by 2 5/8" base diameter, and heavy 5.8 T. oz. silver content, this mustard pot is fully hallmarked on the side for Sheffield, England, 1914, sterling, and prominent maker Thomas Bradbury & Sons (TB & S in a shield).

The lid is counterstamped on the underside with the maker's mark and a lion passant for sterling.

Edwardian in period, but Georgian in style, it has applied top and bottom rims (tiered on the base) and a solid, scroll handle with a robust hinge attached to...