Catalog: Silver

The name Wilson is deeply entwined with the history of Philadelphia silver dating from the first half of the 19th century, and that story began with Robert Wilson Senior (1766-1824) and continued through two more generations...

While Francis W. Cooper was well-regarded producer working in New York City in the third quarter of the 19th century, and especially known for his ecclesiastical silver, little biographical information seems to be available about him.

This example of his work is a full-size, 7 5/8" long, heavy at 1.9 T. oz., coin silver dinner fork...

This example of late Victorian grape shears or, as period catalogues identify them, scissors, are of a quality that set the bar for such pieces. They excel in terms of design, manufacture, and material.

The first factor that stands out is that they are made of solid sterling silver...

Not quite an identical pair, these two spoons are nonetheless clearly kindred pieces.

They have nearly the same flat, shaped, handle with an upturned end and matching scallop shell bowls with gold wash.

Likewise both are monogrammed on the backside "HAW," one in a fancy leaf script and one in plain script.

One measures 6 1/8" long and the other 6 1/4", and each weighs approximately .6 T. oz., with 1 gram difference between them...

These two identical teaspoons each measure a lengthy 6", are slender, have an exposed drop on the heel of the bowl, and show a midrib running down from the subtle tipt end on the backside of the handle.

They also have deeply beveled and highly angular shoulders coming off the pointed bowls.

The pair weight approximately 1.0 T. oz. combined, and each one has the same feathered script, period "HM" monogram engraved on the front...

At 8 1/4" long, and relatively weighty at 1.9 T. oz., this coin silver spoon was likely a place piece in its circa 1865 period, but is today's tablespoon size.

Made by Albert Coles of New York City, it bears his three part "eagle, AC, bust" mark on the reverse, along with "A. Coles," which added identifier is not frequently found.

There is a feathered script "W" monogram on the handle front...

A large piece, measuring 9 3/8" long and weighing nearly 2.7 T. oz., this is a berry, pudding, or other serving spoon. The pattern is Whiting's "Persian," which dates from 1880, and is a Moorish design in the same genre as Tiffany's pattern of the same name, as well as Whiting's own "Arabesque" and Gorham's "Hindostanee" among others.

The bowl is generously proportioned, 4" by 2 3/8" at the widest, and has a fluted or piecrust rim...

Produced by John. L. Westervelt of Newburgh, New York, as indicated by the "star, lion, bust" pseudo-hallmark imprinted on the backsides, and also marked for retailer "B. Marsh" of nearby Albany, these eight, matched teaspoons are in the "Floral" pattern.

Each one measures 6" long, while the lot weigh 6.3 T. oz. Dating circa 1865, they are to a coin silver standard.

All have a fancy script "SFW" monogram set sideways on the handle...

William Hood in Tiffany Silver Flatware describes "Olympian" as an academic/beaux-arts pattern that incorporates "seventeen different handle decoration designs depicting subjects and stories from classical mythology."

Referencing a company brochure dating 1880, Hood identifies the scene on this 7" long, 1.7 T...

Measuring 7 1/16" long and substantial weight at just under 1.5 T. oz., this solid coin silver master butter knife has a flat handle on a plane with the blade.

Stamped "R&W. Wilson Philad" on the blade, it was made by brothers Robert and William with dates spanning the second quarter of the 19th century...

Standing 3 1/2" tall and weighing a substantial 4.6 T. oz., this coin silver julep cup has a tapered body 3" in diameter at the top and 2 1/2" across on the base.

Plain walled, and never monogrammed or inscribed, it has applied rims on the base and lip, each of which has a knurled band decoration.

It is stamped on the underside "Talbot Bailey & Co." over "Indianapolis" for the partnership dating from the early 1850s.

In exceptionally fine condition, this is free of dents, splits, or ben...

A matched set, each of these candlesticks is marked on the brushed finished, flat bottom, underside, "Tiffany & Company," "Sterling," "925/1000," "m," pattern number "18929" (introduced in 1916), order number "5839," and the word "weighted."

They weigh 19.9 T. oz. the pair, but that is essentially irrelevant because of the fill in them.

A matched, baluster form, pair, they stand 6 1/2" tall, have bases that are 3 7/8" across, and have solid silver removable bobeches that are 2" in diameter...

A pattern originated by John Polhamus in the second half of the 19th century, and continued by George Shiebler, "Corinthian" is a Greek Revival design that features an anthemion at the handle end, supported by rosettes and palmettes.

These six place or dessert spoons are all matching, were never monogrammed, measure 7" long each, and weigh 8.0 T. oz. the group.

They are in excellent condition, are absent polishing wear and have bowls that remain well-shaped and are free of dents, bends, ni...

A large item measuring 9 3/8" long and weighing 2.5 T. oz., this serving fork has four tines, the outer two of which are notched. The serving end has a cupped heel with decorated shoulders and is finished in a gold wash front and backsides.

The pattern is "Empire," which is a late 19th century design that incorporates imagery suggestive of majesty, nobility, and imperial realms. This includes a dominant crown, cornucopia, a torch and flame, a wreath and festoons of ribbons and flowers.

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Catherine Hollan in her volume Philadelphia Silver lists 1825-49 as directory dates for the Philadelphia firm of Robert & William William, noting they were referenced in a letter dated 1821, while the firm "continued to be listed in Bywater's and Boyd's directories until 1851."

A wide variety of silver is still found with the company's various marks, the one on this 7 1/8" long master butter knife being "R&W.W."

It is coin silver, with a solid, blunt end, blade, and a hollow, filled...

Catherine Hollan in "Philadelphia Silversmiths" lists William Faber as working by 1828 and joined by sons Charles and William as "Faber & Sons" in 1866, which name and firm lasted until 1887.

Producers of fine silver, much of which demonstrated artful bright cut work, the company also produced this die struck pattern that bears strong similarity to one, also unnamed, produced by George Sharp in the same 1860s period (see Old Friends catalogue item 3170), and which in turn is akin to Knowles &...

A charming composition, this 6 3/4" long, .9 T. oz., youth knife incorporates a cherub-like child sitting on a floral garland swing, surrounded by an open, scrolled border that is situated above a raised heart. The handle end is surmounted by a basket of flowers.

A non-line, meaning it was not produced in a full service, flat handle, pattern, it is stamped on the blade "Sterling," and with Alvin's early lion emblem. The quality of design and execution is equal to such other well-regarded offe...

Recognized as the creative impulse who, with his son Edward, transformed Tiffany & Co. from a retailer to the major silver manufacturer that it became, New York City's John C. Moore was an established silversmith long before his association with Tiffany began.

He was in fact the second manufacturer, after Michael Gibney to patent a flatware design, with that on these six, matching, coin silver tea or dessert forks, dating to 1847 as indicated by the "Patent 1847" mark on the reverse. The actu...