Catalog: Silver

This solid silver, two handled, tea strainer has a pierced bowl that measures 2 1/4" in diameter, is 3/4" deep, and has a maximum span of 4 5/8" handle tip to handle tip. It weighs just over .8 T. oz.

Made by The Merrill Co., aka as The Merrill Shops, located in New York City, the firm's emblem, the word "Sterling," and the number "804" are stamped on the backside.

Arts and Crafts in style, it likely dates to the first quarter of the 20th century...

Made by the Merrill Company, aka Merrill Shops, in the early part of the 20th century, this brandy or cognac warmer is imaginatively designed. Overall it is Arts and Crafts in manner. The bowl is heart-shaped with a beaded border and has the requisite pair of hooks to grip a glass edge. The handle is plain with an angular end.

It measures 5 3/4" long and weighs just over .7 T.oz.

It is in excellent condition and without a monogram or removal...

A charming item, this 4 1/4" long, just over .3 T. oz. total weight, (baby) food pusher is stamped with the "sword through B" mark of Blackinton, along with the word "Sterling."

The pattern is rococo in style and incorporates scrolls and florettes along its asymmetrical border. This frames a white enamel ground that itself contains a pair of purple lilies with trailing green leaves. The canted blade has a flat end and scalloped edges...

Measuring 7 1/4" long and weighing 1.3 T. oz., this preserve spoon was made by Wallace whose "RW&S with deer head" emblem and the word "Sterling" appear on the backside.

The pattern is "Violet," one of several Art Nouveau floral designs Wallace produced early in the 20th century. It is an expressive, true to life portraiture, with the design carrying into the matte finish, gold washed bowl.

There is a script "MKW" monogram.

It is in impeccable condition...

An expressive, detailed high relief design, Durgin's late 19th century "Heraldic" incorporates many images appropriate to the name.

Starting with the top of the handle, there are a pair of upraised (presumably eagle) wings. These appear to rise out of a crown, which itself sits over a lion rampant on a shield. Lastly there is an upraised steed projecting out of a castle turret...

This mid 19th century, coin silver spoon measures 8 11/16" long and weighs 1.4 T. oz.

It has a broad, "Tipt" end, high shoulders off the bowl, and a generously proportioned, 3" long by 1 7/8" at the widest, scallop shell bowl.

There is a fancy, feathered script "HMM" monogram on the front of the handle.

It is stamped with the name of Philadelphia retailer "S.M. Hopper," and a three part "arrow, W, shield" pseudo hallmark...

A late 19th century pattern, Durgin's "Empire" incorporates imagery reflective of the notions of majesty, nobililty, and the pattern namesake, imperial realms. This includes a dominant crown. cornucopia, a torch and flame, a wreath and festoons of ribbons and flowers.

This example is an unusual form server that measures 9 1/2" long and weighs a relatively heavy 2.9 T. oz.

It has a flat blade, with a rounded edge. The upper edge is scalloped and decorated with pattern elements...

Dating from 1902, George Shiebler's group of twelve month designs follows closely after his Flora series and his line pattern "Fiorito." All of them incorporate Art Nouveau, floral motifs.

This trio includes the months of "April," "September," and "November," and portrays respectively, a lily, a poppy, and a chrysanthemum.

Each spoon measures 6" long, and is heavy, weighing something over 1.0 T...

Some years ago, "The Magazine Antiques" produced an article about Gorham's fabled 1880s "Narragansett" design silver. An opulent line, it featured a variety of sea forms reflecting (and reputedly molded directly from in some instance) sea flora and fauna found in Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay and nearby coastland.

That article spawned (pun intended) an intensified interest in this already enchanted, and immensely costly, pattern. It also prompted the assignment of the label "Narragansett...

Kirk's oldest pattern, "King" remained in production throughout the life of the company.

These examples are stamped "S.Kirk & Son," which was used beginning in 1932 until 1961 according to one reference and until 1979 according to another.

They are cream soup spoons, measuring 6 1/8" long. There are 14 of these, all matching, with the same script "ELS" monogram on the backside. They all weigh between 1.2 and 1.3 T. oz., with one exception which is extra weight at 1.5 T. oz.

They ar...

An exceptional design, Dominick & Haff's late 19th century "New King" is a standard bearer among American expressions of a motif derived from English antecedents.

It employs a robust amount of detailing, all well-balanced and set in high relief.

Known for heavy pieces, D&H went all the way with weight in this 7 1/4" long gravy ladle which tops the scale at a full 4.0 T. oz.

The round bowl is generously proportioned, measuring 2 1/2" in diameter and 1 1/8" deep. The stylized shell fo...

Identified by the marker "M2" set alongside the Whiting lion emblem and the word "Sterling," the pattern on this matched youth knife and fork is engraved on a rounded "Antique" handle with a reverse tipt end.

The engraving is Aesthetic in manner, which is consistent with the 1884 date of this design. The backsides are plain, save for elegant, feathered script "ARF" monograms.

The 7" long knife is solid silver while the four-tine fork measures 6 1/8". The two together weigh 1.8 T. oz., ...

Important New York City silversmiths in their own rights, Thomas Underhill and John Vernon operated as a short-lived partnership in a common shop in New York City in the very earliest days of the American Republic, 1787-88.

This 8 5/8" long, nearly 1.9 T. oz., coin silver tablespoon is marked with the "T.U" and "I.V" indicative of that partnership.

It has a rounded, "Reverse Tipt," down-turned, end and a pronounced drop on the bowl. The shank is narrow, thick, and smoothly joined with th...

In his benchmark work, "Tiffany Silver Flatware," William Hood traces the name evolution of the pattern most commonly known as "Saratoga."

The company's third line, it was originally issued as "King's" or "King" in 1870, sometimes referred to as "Old King" to distinguish it from the later "English King." It was briefly reissued in 1908, then called "Cook," and finally again reintroduced in 1956 under the name "Saratoga" by which it is known today.

This example is from the earliest period...

An early 20th century pattern, "Norfolk" aka "Villa Norfolk" stands in contrast to the exuberance of so much 19th century design. A simple, double-lined, multi-scroll motif, it is clean, direct, and understated in manner.

This example is a 9 5/8" long, nearly 2.7 T. oz., cake saw. It has a solid, flat handle, and all-silver blade. The blade has a saw-tooth upper edge, which is characteristic of this item.

Without a monogram or removal, this is in exceptionally fine condition. There i...

This collapsible shaving brush made by Gorham is illustrated in the company catalog of 1906 (see image 2).

It measures 6" long when fully assembled, and 3 1/8" when folded up. Solid sterling, the holder and perforated cap weigh .7 T. oz. combined, while the base and brush together weigh another .7 T. oz.

The body is a high relief floral and leaf repousse design. There is a central reserve which is engraved with an embellished script "TB" monogram.

The natural bristle brush stores i...

Made by San Francisco's Koehler & Ritter, and so marked, this coin silver serving spoon measures a lengthy 9" overall and has a generously proportioned, 3 3/4" by 2 1/2", plum-shaped bowl. It weighs approximately 2.3 T. oz.

The pattern is "Alameda" aka "Ivy." It strongly resembles Gorham's "Corinthian" of the same c. 1870 date, but with the addition of a spray of raised ivy leaves and berries set against a stippled ground.

The bowl has a central rib and something of a pie crust border....

An immensely scaled piece, this ice cream knife or slice is about as large an example of such things as can be found. It measures a full 12" long and weighs just over 5.0 T. oz.

It is solid sterling silver, with a flat blade that measures 7 1/2" by 1 3/4". This has a beveled lower edge, and upswept, pointed tip. The upper edge is perfectly straight.

The pattern is "Corona" by Dominick & Haff. This is a double shell design that appears on both sides of the handle. The handle front ha...