Catalog: Silver: Sterling

Standing 2 1/4" high on a rimmed base that is 3 1/4" across, and having a top diameter of 5", this round bowl weighs 6.1 T. oz.

It is stamped "S. Kirk & Son" in italics on the underside, which is a mark that Rainwater in "Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers" dates 1880-90. It is also imprinted with the peculiar-to-Baltimore "11 oz." standard, which designates silver content more than coin and less than sterling...

Introduced in the first years of the twentieth century, Gorham's "Virginiana" quickly gained popularity, and remains a sought after pattern today.

An Art Nouveau design, it features poppy blossoms, leaves, and complementary trailing elements set in textured, high relief, detail.

Commonly identified as a demitasse at 4 1/4" long, catalogues of the period reference this size as a coffee. This matched pair weigh approximately .8 T. oz...

Introduced in the first years of the twentieth century, Gorham's "Virginiana" quickly gained popularity, and remains a sought after pattern today.

An Art Nouveau design, it features poppy blossoms, leaves, and complementary trailing elements set in textured, high relief, detail.

This example is a 4 3/4" long, relatively heavy at nearly .6 T. oz., egg spoon.

It has an ovoid bowl with a gold wash interior, and is monogrammed with an Old English "E" on the handle...

A lengthy, 9", approximately 1.0 T. oz., example of the form, this delicate and slender fork was intended for use with soft lettuces.

The pattern is Towle's late 19th century, "Old English." It incorporates small rose blossoms interspersed with a leafy scroll border.

Consistent with the characteristic design of such pieces, it has three long tines, the outer two of which are splayed. These are pointed and have scalloped edges...

A storied pattern that features twenty-four different ancient classical subjects, "Mythologique" was one of numerous remarkable designs produced by the renowned Antoine Heller under the Gorham banner.

"Mythologique" has generated interest and commentary since its introduction in the late 19th century...

With elongated handles, these ten, matching, oyster or seafood cocktail forks measure 7". The group weigh a substantial 7.7 T. oz.

The pattern is Durgin's 1890 "Shell." Having a slender, essentially tubular, central shank, the ends where the raised shells are situated are broad and rounded.

These embody a refined elegance. The design is understated, while the highly tactile finish has a satin smoothness...

This 2 1/4" tall, 3" diameter, round bowl sits on a tiered pedestal base that is 2" across. The piece weighs nearly 2.8 T. oz.

It is hallmarked for Turner & Simpson, of Birmingham, England, with city and sterling symbols that, while rubbed, are legible. The date letter is obscured, although the outline shape is for "Cycle XIII," which ran 1950-74.

It is Georgian in style, with a plain body that has an applied rim and the previously mentioned footed base...

A striking union of sterling silver with clear glass, this 6 1/2" high syrup jug is one item of a line of hollowware produced by Durgin.  Other forms in this late 19th to early 20th century series include a cream and sugar pair, a vase, a sugar shaker, and possibly more. 

Common to all these pieces are silver bases, crowns, and the truly defining element, which is a dolphin or sea serpent handle. 

The bodies are high quality, finely cut rock crystal.  At least one source attributes the...

A dramatic example of Modernist design, Gorham's "No. 791" tea set, commonly identified as "Hibiscus," seems to take its inspiration from early 20th century Danish style as associated with Georg Jensen.

Offered as a three piece set, this is the pot. It stands 6" tall to the top of the finial, has a main body that is 4" at the widest, 5" to the end of the spout, and has a sterling and ebony handle that extends 4 1/4" at a slight upward cant from the body. It weighs 14.1 T. oz...

At 6" long, and weighing just under .9 T. oz., this olive spoon has a deeply cupped, plum-shaped, pierced bowl with scalloped flange shoulders.

An original, early, production item made by Alvin in the Art Nouveau "Bridal Rose" pattern, the company emblem, along with the words "Patent," and "Sterling" appear on the backside in fine lettering.

The handle is upturned at the end, while the surface displays a high relief, intricately rendered, portraiture of rose buds, blossoms, leaves, and t...

Identified as selling only "to the trade," meaning marketing exclusively through third party retailers, this item carries the maker's symbol for George A. Henckel & Co., "Sterling," and fittingly, it is also stamped for the New York City high end, luxury jeweler, "Marcus & Co."

Working in the early decades of the 20th century (and later absorbed into Currier & Roby), Henckel produced quality work, often in an Arts and Crafts style, as evidenced by this 7 1/8" long, weighty at 3.1 T. oz., pai...

A late 19th century rococo pattern produced by Dominick & Haff, "Trianon" is as fully French in style as its name implies.

Made in two versions, solid background and pierced, it is replete with scrolls, acanthus leaves, and delicate leaves with flowers, all set in moderately high relief.

Elegant without any embellishment, this pierced, 8 1/8" long, 1.4 T. oz., jelly knife is made all the more so by the addition of an overall vermeil, i.e. gold gilt, surface, and rich, multi-colored enamel...

Issued in 1897, just before the turn of the 20th century brought forward a burst of innovative Art Nouveau patterns, Alvin's "Wellington" incorporates traditional design elements such as a shell, egg and dart motif, and scrolls, all offered in an English manner as befits the pattern name.

The backside of the handle on this 4 5/8" long, .6 T. oz., (baby) food pusher has a more simplified design than the front and coincidentally resembles Gorham's "Norfolk" of the same period.

It is a full...

The design on this piece is variously identified as "Acadia" or "Blok," or sometimes combined, with or without a hyphen.

The pattern was introduced in 1934 (one source offers 1931), although the mark on this 4 1/8" long, substantial weight, .8 T. oz. tea caddy spoon, "Georg Jensen in an oval of dots" over "Sterling" and "Denmark," was used from 1945 onward, so it dates between then and the 1970s when production was discontinued.

Deceptively simple in design, the pattern features a slight...

The less common, i.e. bigger, size sugar tongs that Whiting made in its Art Nouveau "Lily" pattern, this pair measure 5 1/8" long and weigh a robust 1.6 T. oz.

They are early production items, marked with Whiting's "lion" logo, "Sterling," "Pat. 1902," and "R'd 1902."

In superb condition, each arm retains excellent, precise detail to the lily design, which is set in high relief. The talon grips are finely articulated and without bends or cracks. The overall finish is bright and even.

Named for the German city with a rich artistic tradition, Alvin's 1903 "Nuremberg" incorporates abundant imagery, the central feature of which is a smiling, slightly devilish looking, jester or gargoyle like figure.

Other elements include flower blossoms, acanthus leaves, a shell, and a fruit or berry at the end of a scalloped edge handle.

This example is a large, 11 1/2" long, approximately 4.0 T. oz., fish slice. The blade has a shaped and curved upper side and shoulders, both with a...

An impressive piece of relatively early Irish silver, this gravy ladle measures 7 1/2" long and weighs approximately 1.5 T. oz.

Dating from the George III period, it is fully and clearly hallmarked for Dublin, 1777, sterling, and maker Michael Homer, whose dates are appropriate to this.

It has a "Hanoverian" style handle, with a down turned, reverse tipt handle that is extensively engraved in bright cut and wriggle work on the front.

There is a feathered script "VL" monogram on the f...

A generously proportioned piece, this sterling spoon measures 9 1/8" long and weighs 1.9 T. oz.

Its origins are Irish, with hallmarks indicating it was made in Dublin in 1821 by Joshua Buckton, as indicated by the "I pellet B" imprint. James Brady also dates from the same time, but his mark is absent the pellet.

It is an "Old English" pattern, with a down-turned, reverse tip handle and a thumb drop on the bowl backside.

There is a feathered script "AMcC" monogram engraved on the fro...