Catalog: Silver: Coin Silver: Flatware

Measuring 8 1/8" long and weighing 1.8 T. oz., this coin silver item has a generously sized, 2 1/2" diameter, shell-shaped, pierced, bowl and "Reverse Tipt" handle.

Generally identified as a large sugar sifter, there is some argument to be made that pieces this scale from this period were actually early ice spoons.

In either case, it is a fine representation of what it is.

It is stamped "R...

This 7" long place or dessert spoon stands apart on several counts, the first of which is its exceptionally heavy weight at marginally over 2.0 T. oz.

Secondly, marked "Tiffany & Co.," it traces to the early years of the firm when it operated solely as a retailer.

In this case the maker was Henry Hebbard, whose three part "star, H, anchor" pseudo hallmark appears on the handle backside...

Writing in Silver Medallion Flatware, D. Albert Soeffing comments that "[Philo B.] Gilbert was a prominent New York City manufacturer, working for about thirty years. Although not well know today, he was one of the leading producers of his day."

This 6" long, .8 T. oz., coin silver sugar spoon is an early example of his "Medallion" pattern, marked only "Patent 1867."

Relatively rare, the line is multi-motif, featuring a variety of different helmeted knight's heads facing left...

A matched set, this c. 1835, coin silver, 6 5/8" long, likely pickle, fork and 7 1/2" knife, 2.8 T. oz. combined weight, are marked "S. Richard" for the New York City silversmith Stephen Richard.

The handles are filled (which is included in the total weight above), and feature a complex, double-sided, pattern that incorporates leaves, scrolls, flowerets, and two kinds of shells, one that is spiraled and one that appears to be a nautilus...

A popular 1850s design, the leaf form on this 8 5/8" long, 1.9 T. oz., coin silver spoon was made by several makers with slight variation, including William Gale & Son who produced this piece, Gorham whose pattern was named "Josephine," and Henry Hebbard.

The leaf appears on the handle end front and back sides, in elaborated manner on the reverse heel of the bowl, and in smaller stylized form on the front join with the bowl...

As was a practice with many American silver manufacturers working in coin, even more so did Canadian silversmiths employ pseudo hallmarks imitative of English silver to identify their work.

This 8 5/8" long, weighty at 2.1 T. oz., circa 1840, coin silver table serving spoon is a case in point. It is stamped with a "crown, bust, lion" along with "IM" for John Munro, and "NB" for the province of New Brunswick, the city of St. John in this case, for the this maker...

Marked for the prominent Cincinnati firm of "Duhme & Co.," this 6" long fork, 6 3/8" knife, and 6" spoon set has additional provenance as each piece is engraved what appears to read, "Andrew K. Reuss" on the handle front and "Jan. 26th 1872." on the reverse.

Artfully crafted, the hollow handles have rounded ends with a "Thread" design and arum leaf detailing at the join with beaded and engraved banding...

Taking its name from the novel by Sir Walter Scott, "Kenilworth" originated with Albert Coles in the 1860s and was later continued in production by George Shiebler.

This 7 1/2" long, 1.2 T. oz., tea aka breakfast aka dessert knife is an early solid coin silver example marked with Coles' three part "eagle," "A/C," "bust" emblem.

Classified as a "Medallion" pattern by D...

Singular in form, this place fork measures 7" long and weighs a heavy 1.9 T. oz.

Visually it is divided into two sections. The upper part is flat, thick, and set in a "French Thread" pattern on both sides...

References assign an 1880 introduction date for Whiting's "Antique Tip" aka "Antique Tipt" pattern made in sterling, but this fork is an example of an earlier, 1860s, version made to a coin standard.

Measuring 7 1/8" long and weighing approximately 1.2 T. oz., this is a lunch, or simply a regular or place, piece.

It is characterized by a narrow shank that broadens widely, comes to a point at an unturned end which has a raised scroll and diamond drop that looks something like a fleur-de-lis...

An original knife, fork and spoon youth grouping, each of these pieces is stamped "C.A.W. Crosby" for the Boston jeweler, 1855 onward, and "Pure-Coin," which is a characteristic New England term indicating the silver content.

A double die struck (meaning the design appears on both sides) Olive pattern popular in the mid 19th century, each handle is inscribed in script lettering set sideways, "C.J.A. to C.A.P."

The blunt end, solid, knife measures 7 3/8" long and weighs 1.1 T. oz.; t...

Relatively lengthy at 6", with slender, Fiddle Tipt handles in a style that is particular to Baltimore where they were made, this group of four, matching, teaspoons weigh 2.3 T. oz.

Each one is stamped "S. Kirk & Son" along with the standard mark "10.15," which is roughly equivalent to coin silver. This specific combination of marks was used 1846-61.

Each piece has a feathered script "EVE" monogram engraved on the front and an exposed thumb drop on the bowl reverse.

In very fine ...

These six, matched, coin silver, spoons are marked "Gorham & Webster," for a partnership that traces to 1831-37.

This period demarcated a turning point in the history of Gorham, defining the pivotal time when the company began its ascendency as a premier silver manufacturing firm.

It bears citing Charles Carpenter's passage in Gorham Silver 1831-1981 about this partnership:

Whether or not Jabez Gorham learned spoon making during his apprenticeship is unknown, but when he deci...

This 8" long, 2.3 T. oz., solid silver sugar sifter is high Victorian in style. It is also a study in the silversmithing art.

Hallmarked for London, 1875-76, sterling, with a Queen's duty head, and "HH" for maker Henry Holland (later Holland, Aldwinckle & Slater), it carries considerable provenance. Holland and the subsequent firm were recognized as one of the most significant English silver manufacturers of their time.

This is artful in multiple ways.

First to be noted is the overall p...

A matching group in a Tipt aka Fiddle Tipt pattern, three of these four (two shown) teaspoons measure 5 1/2" long and one measures 5 3/4". The three collectively weigh 1.6 T. oz., and the single one .6 T. oz.

They are of archival interest for both the maker and the retailer.

Stamped with Whiting's "winged lion and W" emblem and "Coin," they are very early examples of a major 19th century silver manufacturer's modest origins.

Well-crafted and precisely-formed items with bri...

Josephine was one of the earliest line patterns produced by Gorham, as indicated by the "Patent 1855" and "Coin" that appear on the backside of this example, which is a full-size, 7 1/2" long, just over 1.5 T. oz., dinner fork.

The design is characterized by a die struck leaf, scroll, and anthemion that appear on the handle obverse, minus the leaf on the backside, and an expanded leaf on the reverse heel.

This has a fancy, feathered script, "AP Borden" en...

Measuring 5 5/8" long and weighing .5 T. oz., this circa 1840 teaspoon has a double provenance.

It is marked "S. Ayers Elmira" for Socrates Ayers born in 1814. He worked in Elmira as a silversmith, watchmaker and jeweler until about 1877.

It is also stamped with a "star D star," which mark John McGrew in his Manufacturer's Marks on American Coin Silver attributes to an "Unidentified - Up-State New York" maker.

The handle is engraved "Ruth Burnham" in script lettering set sideways...

A large table or serving spoon, this piece measures 9" long and weighs 1.8 T. oz.

Coin silver, it is stamped "J. Guthre" for James Guthre, who worked in Wilmington, Delaware in the second quarter of the 19th century. References record him in partnership with Emmor Jefferis c. 1840.

Well-crafted, this has an exceptionally wide, flat with a slight downward arc, front with a subtle Tipt back, Fiddle handle.

This is engraved with a feathered, line script, "CP" monogram on the ...