Catalog: Silver

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...

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...

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...

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 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 ...

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...

While a matching pair, these two large serving pieces come from different sources, with slightly different dates.

Both are marked for London, England, and sterling silver. The earlier one is an 11 3/8" long, 2.9 T. oz., platter, aka stuffing or basting, spoon. It is marked "PB/AB" for Peter and Ann Bateman, and with a date letter for 1798-99.

The second piece is an 11" long, also 2.9 T...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

Among Gorham's oldest full line patterns, New Tipt was introduced in 1871. This 5 5/8" long, .6 T. oz., sugar spoon is an early example, monogrammed on the handle front "C.E.F." in script and with the date "1872" on the reverse.

More detailed than a standard Tipt design, this version incorporates Greek and/or Egyptian Revival features set on a broad end, tubular shank, handle. These features carry onto the backside heel of the plum shaped with central vee, gold washed, bowl.

...

Marked "Sterling," "925/1000 in a shield," and "Duhme Co.," this 6 1/8" long, approximately 1.0 T. oz. spoon has Cincinnati origins and associations.

It has a Tipt handle with straight sides and rounded shoulders off the bowl. This departs from the pronounced Fiddle shape with angular shoulders typical of 19th century Ohio River Valley silver design.

The shell bowl is also something of its own form, with an undulating edge and a raised central vee extending from the handle ...

Relatively large for an ice cream place spoon, this piece measures 6 1/8" long and weighs a substantial near 1.4 T. oz.

Made by Gorham, the pattern is Cluny which bespeaks the French origins of its renowned designer, Antoine Heller.

The pattern features dense, high relief, floral elements with rosette and palmetto accents, and has proven to be enduringly appealing.

The handle backside of this is engraved in script, "A.P.W." over "Oct. 17, '91.," indicating the piece originated cl...

The larger of two cold meat forks that Alvin offered in its Majestic line of flatware introduced in 1900, this piece measures 8 5/8" long and weighs a robust 2.4 T. oz.

A multi-motif floral, the portraiture on this is "peony."

Producer of such touchstone Art Nouveau designs as Raphael and Old Orange Blossom, Majestic reflects the same sensitivity to the subtle, flowing sensibilities of the mode, all expressed inprecise, intricate detail.

The serving end of th...

A late 19th century pattern, Dominick & Haff's Pointed Antique was issued in a number of variations, with the one on this 7 1/8" long, heavy at 2.1 T. oz., sugar sifter being No. 2.

A strikingly clean design, D&H's interpretation of this classic design has a slightly downturned handle with chamfered edges and a midrib backside. No. 2 adds a diamond cut border to the front, which is a motif common to English Georgian period silver.

The handle front is also...

Introduced in 1861, and initially made to a coin silver standard then continued in production beyond the conversion to sterling in 1868, Gorham's Grecian features a solid tubular stem capped with an elaborated anthemion or palmette.

This 7 1/2" long, 1.9 T. oz., gravy ladle is an early piece, marked "Coin," along with "Patent 1861."

The handle backside is engraved with an "H.A.B" monogram in Old English lettering.

The bowl is large, 2 3/4" by 2 1/4" by 1" deep, helmet-shaped, has ...

A pattern developed by Albert Coles in the mid 19th century, Jenny Lind proved a popular period design that was eventually offered by a number of producers and retailers, and made over time in both coin and sterling silver.

This example is marked "Sterling" and "Wm. Gale & Son," who was a major New York City manufacturer, with this particular mark dating 1862-66 according to Dorothy Rainwater in Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers.

A massive piece, it measures 9 1/2...