Catalog

An important name among late 18th/early 19th century New York City silversmiths in his own right, Thomas Richards also paired with other significant smiths of his period, beginning with his father-in-law Daniel VanVoorhis, with whom he apprenticed starting in 1790 and partnered with from 1798-1802.

He was also associated at various times with John Sayre, William Pelletreau, and William Morrell prior to his death in 1830.

This pair of 6 1/4" long, 1.45 T. oz., coin silver tongs are stamped ...

This 7" long, very heavy at 2.28 T. oz., fork is notable for several reasons.

Evolving from the immediately preceding 17th century English Trefid style with a three-lobed handle tip, this is a turn of the 18th century Dognose piece with a single, extended, slightly upturned, knobbed end.

Scarce items, Dognose forks are all the more so relative to spoons.

This has an interesting, and telling to anyone versed in such things, crest on the handle backside that portrays ...

This George III fork is fully hallmarked for Dublin, Ireland, 1812, and sterling silver. The maker's letters are "TT," which is likely Thomas Townsend or possibly Thomas Tudor, and "Law" for retailer William Law.

A dinner fork, it is a lengthy 8" and is exceptionally heavy at 2.4 T. oz.

Very finely crafted, it is a "Tipt" aka "Fiddle Tipt" pattern, with high, angular shoulders off the gracefully curved heel of the bowl. The four elongated tines are slender and pointed.

The handle backsi...

Produced in the greatest number between 1780 and 1840, English meat skewers varied little in form (Thomas Waldron, Antique Silver), although as this example illustrates, they ranged in size.

Generally quite lengthy (there are three others offered on Old Friends between 10" and 12" long), this piece measures 7" and weighs approximately .6 T. oz. Its size actually sets it apart.

It is fully hallmarked for London, 1805-6, sterling silver, and maker Thomas Wallis.

The shank is...

This lengthy at 11 1/2", 3.4 T. oz., piece is variously identified as a basting, stuffing or platter spoon.

English in origin, it is hallmarked for London, 1805-06, sterling silver, and "TW" for maker Thomas Wallis.

The slender handle is "Old English" style, with a rounded end and tipt backside. There is thumb drop on the bowl reverse.

Never originally monogrammed or inscribed, this was apparently re-presented as a 25th commemorative gift, given the script "1928/L/1953" engraved on the ...

In his comprehensive work Tiffany Silver Flatware, author William Hood discusses a number of "not-full-line patterns without a known name or description."

This 6" long, weighty at 1.2 T. oz., specialty teaspoon falls into this category.

As with several of the pieces Hood illustrates, this is based on "a form related to conventional Antique" with "a chamfered edge around the front of the handle."

Apart from the exceptionally fine overall quality, the distinguishing feature ...

Issued at the turn of the 20th century, Tiffany's Florentine takes its name from the city whose identity is synonymous with the Italian Renaissance, and fittingly the decorative elements of the pattern derive from design characteristic of that period.

This example is a 6 1/4" long, very heavy relative to size at nearly 1.4 T. oz., youth fork with a line script "ALW" monogram engraved in the reserve area of the handle front.

In good condition, this retains clear pattern detail and pr...

A pattern for which John Polhamus and Henry Hebbard, who worked individually and in a short-lived partnership in New York City in the mid 19th century, held a joint patent, Oriental was a favored design for marketing by Tiffany in its early years.

The dies for the pattern were eventually acquired by George Shiebler, who extended production subsequent to all these antecedent firms.

These four, matching, 6" long, 3.2 T. oz. the group, teaspoons are older pieces, marked "H.H." for Henr...

A pattern with a history rooted in the Aesthetic movement, Tiffany's original Japanese (to be distinguished from later produced and renamed Audubon) was the first of numerous American flatware patterns to be issued in a multi-motif bird motif, as indicated by William Hood writing in Tiffany Silver Flatware.

Drawing upon research provided by Gorham scholar Sam Hough, Hood further notes, "In this same period [1869] Tiffany and Gorham started to conceive of producing ...

Issued in 1870, King's aka King was one of Tiffany's earliest flatware patterns. It is generally identified as Saratoga, which was the name assigned it when it was introduced in 1956.

It was also rebadged Cook and reactivated (having been discontinued in 1904) for a short while c. 1908.

William Hood in Tiffany Silver Flatware surmises, "the name change was to honor Charles T. Cook, who became president of Tiffany & Co. after Charles L Tiffany died in 1902...

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."...

A specialty, limited production, piece, this 6 1/4" long, very heavy at 1.32 T. oz., spoon shows exceptional crafting.

It was made by Towle, whose "T in a standing lion" emblem and the word "Sterling" is imprinted on the handle backside.

Rendered in an Arts & Crafts manner, it has a reticulated handle portraying something of a Chippendale design.

No doubt made to demonstrate that Towle, located in Newburyport, Massachusetts, had the capacity to produce items equivalent in calibe...

Designed to reach deep into a narrow mouth container, a horseradish scoop or spoon generally has a relatively long and narrow handle and a paddle-like end.

This example made by Towle in its 1893 Canterbury follows that form and is fully original, i.e. not made up or custom as many such pieces currently available are. It measures 6 1/4" long, weighs an unexpectedly heavy .5 T. oz., and has the requisite cupped bowl with a rounded end.

As befits the name, Canterbury is a statel...

A bright cut floral and leaf design dating circa 1880 rendered in an Aesthetic manner, the pattern on this 8 1/4" long, 1.4 T. oz. serving spoon appears to be Towle's No. 38 Engraved.

The lack of a maker's mark and an ovoid shaped bowl with a flanged rim and central raised vee not typically Towle in form, however, suggests it was made by some other contemporaneous producer.

Set on a rounded end Antique handle, the engraving is exceptionally well rendered, exhibiting bright, f...

An early production example of Towle's Old Colonial flatware pattern, this piece is marked with the company's "standing lion in a shield emblem," "925/1000," "Sterling," and "Pat. 1895."

It is a 7 5/8" long, 1.5 T. oz., solid silver jelly knife.

The blade is long, narrow, pointed, and as is characteristic of this line, faceted, with scalloped shoulders and upper edge.

The design is a double Bead with Scroll detailing and a central open blocky area that resembles an ...

This 8 5/8" long, 1.2 T. oz., piece is a choice example of 1860s silver.

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...

Slender and delicate, this piece measures 8 3/4" long and weighs just under 1.2 T. oz.

Marked only "Coin," without a maker's or retailer's identification, the rounded handle with notched tip essentially matches Gorham's early, 1865, "Italian" pattern, and the quality of manufacture suggests such a significant maker.

This is bordered by fine wriggle work engraving and has an elegant period "EC" feathered script monogram set in the center of the plain area of the surface.

The lower por...

Measuring 5 5/8" long and weighing .8 T. oz., this sugar spoon was produced by Unger Brothers, Newark, New Jersey, whose entwined "UB" surrounded by "Sterling" and "925 Fine" mark appears on the backside.

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.

An expressive design, it features a dolphin or fish image at the tip of the han...