Catalog

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...

An example of Shiebler's Month series of flatware introduced in 1902, this four tine, likely youth, fork measures 6 1/4" long and weighs a substantial 1.2 T. oz.

The month is March with the corresponding flower being Violet.

Decidedly Art Nouveau in manner, the portraiture is expressively sinuous and fluid as is characteristic of the mode.

There is a flowing script "WKH" monogram engraved on the handle front.

In very good condition, this shows little evidence of ...

Marked with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, along with "Sterling" and "Pat 1885," this youth fork measures 5 7/8" long and weighs .9 T. oz.

The pattern is St. Cloud, which was one of the outstandingly successful designs produced by Antoine Heller in his long and consequential career with Gorham.

It is in very good condition. The dense leaf and shell motif remains well-defined, showing minimal polishing wear. The tines remain straight and pointed, although they evidence faint r...

Tracing to the mid 19th century, this pair of coin silver tongs are early production items made by Cincinnati's premier firm "Duhme & Co.," as indicated by the stamp on the inside of each arm.

Possibly for use with a (pickle) caster, they are large at 6 5/8" long, and heavy at 1.7 T. oz., and combine a variety of period design elements.

The arms have a twisted central section joined to a solid squared block where they meet the substantially-scaled talon grips.

The upper portions are br...

Featuring a raised ram's head at the handle end, a satyr's face and ivy leaf and berry set midway on the shank, and an expanded ivy motif on the backside heel of the bowl, Grecian originated with Henry Hebbard, New York City, and was subsequently produced by Whiting.

This is an early, coin silver, example of the line marked "H.H. Patent 1862," and with the name of the retailer, "[E.S. & J.] Ettenheimer," Rochester, NY.

A sugar spoon, it measures 6 1/8" long and weighs .8 T. oz.

I...

The long dominant 19th and 20th century Cincinnati silver and jewelry house, Duhme produced a number of flatware lines of its own design.

In addition, several patterns that are essentially identical to, or strikingly reminiscent of, other makers also appear with Duhme's name on them, and that is the case of this 7 7/8" long, weighty at just over 2.3 T. oz., serving fork that markedly resembles Durgin's 1891 Louis XV .

The two designs incorporate the same densely arrayed rococo eleme...

An oval soup or dessert spoon in American usage, this English place piece measures 6 5/8" long and weighs 1.1 T. oz.

It is fully hallmarked for London, 1796-97, sterling silver, and makers Peter and Ann Bateman, who were members of the renowned Bateman dynasty.

It has a rounded end with tipt back, Old English, handle, narrow shank and thumb drop on the bowl reverse.

The bowl is well-shaped, evenly formed, and comes to a gentle point.

The handle front is engraved with what is p...

An prominent name among contemporary British metal workers, Michael Allen Bolton (1938-2005) produced signature jewelry, flatware, and small items in silver.

There is ample biographical information about him available online, along with illustrations of his products.

One UK source notes these details,

"He exhibited successfully at the Goldsmith's Company 'Loot' exhibitions from 1975 to 1981 and in their 'Contemporary Silver Tableware' exhibition in 1996. In that catalogue it stated 'His...

This 7 3/8" long, solid silver, master butter knife weighs a substantial 1.6 T. oz.

Dating circa 1870, it is marked "Bigelow. Bros & Kennard.," for the prominent Boston jeweler, and "925" in an oval.

It has a rounded, upturned end, Antique handle that is engraved on the upper surface in a circular diamond pattern with leafy detail above and below this. The interior reserve area is inscribed with an Old English "M" monogram.

The blade is twisted at a right angle to the handle and ...

One of William B. Durgin's earliest designs, the pattern on this pair of matching 6" long, relatively heavy at 1.9 T. oz. combined, teaspoons goes by the name Bridal, although it is also referred to as Bow, (Crossed) Ribbon or Knot, taken from the bow and knotted ribbon that appear on the handle front and back sides.

They are stamped "Crosby, Morse & Foss" for the Boston firm with dates 1869-75, and "Patent." They also bear a "925 over D in a shield" emblem,...

An original, early production item made by Alvin in one of the benchmark Art Nouveau floral patterns of the early 20th century, Alvin's Bridal Rose features a raised, sculptural in manner, portraiture of rose blossoms, leaves, and thorny stems stem on a handle with a slightly upturned end.

This 5 5/8" long, relatively weighty at 1.3 T. oz., cream or sauce ladle, is an early production example marked on the backside with the company emblem, along with the words "Patent" and "Sterling," ...

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...

Replete with imagery, Florentine is one of the most fulsome designs Gorham produced in the early 20th century.

It features a bearded figure at the handle end, a pedestal urn laden with fruit midway up the handle, and an array of other fruit and acanthus leaf detail overall.

This example is a 9" long, very heavy at 4.3 T. oz., serving spoon (berry, vegetable, or salad).

The bowl is large, 3 5/8" long by 2 7/8" at the widest, has decorated flange shoulders, and retains traces of...

In his benchmark work, Tiffany Silver Flatware, William Hood illustrates three pieces in a rarely-found motif that he describes as having "block-form hollow handles" with "ornamentation" (chapter eight, "Not-full-line Patterns").

This 6 1/8" long, nearly 1.3 T. oz., sugar sifter is a fourth example of the pattern. The "ornamentation" in this instance is comprised of an engraved leaf and flower (perhaps wild rose) that extends to all four sides of the rounded edge "block."...

Shiebler's late 19th century Flora series was largely offered in teaspoons, but also less commonly issued in other forms, such as this pair of 4 5/8" long, .9 T. oz., sugar tongs.

The pattern is Forget-Me-Not, which is set in high relief and clear detail on each arm.

The arch is crimped for strength, while the grips are highly articulated, hairy talon style.

In superb condition and never monogrammed, these are without wear or damage and show a bright, even, finish.

Mark...

An early example of Gorham's pattern inspired by imagery from the palace for which it is named, this 7 1/4" long, 1.6 T. oz., jelly spoon in Versailles is marked with the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and "Copyrighted" on the backside heel of the bowl.

The main figure of the design is a classically presented female figure holding a cluster of grapes in one upraised arm and cradling a bowl of fruit in the other arm.

She is surrounding by an array of complex, Baroque...

Measuring 7 1/2" long and weighing approximately 1.3 T. oz., this item is a preserve or jelly spoon.

The pattern is Whiting's Arabesque, which is rooted in Moorish design and was produced during the Renaissance Revival period of the 1870s. The primary feature is a standing griffin with widespread wings surrounded by traditional arabesque detailing.

There is a disk-shaped reserve area on the handle front, which in this instance has never been monogrammed.

The bowl is plum shaped, ...

An uncommon specialty pattern produced by Baker-Manchester, this 5 3/16" long, .5 T. oz., spoon is marked with the company's "M in a shield flanked by eagles" emblem, "Sterling," and model number "D 2."

Dating from the early 20th century, the handle design is an Art Nouveau style Carnation surrounding a cherubic-looking child's face. This feature is offered in relief and and quite charmingly presented, with clear features that include a shock of curly hair.

A 5 o'clock (tea) spoon, ...