Catalog: Silver: Sterling

Durgin introduced its Old Standish pattern in 1901 followed by New Standish in 1905. Both designs feature weighty, rounded end handles with multi-lined edges front and back sides.

New Standish adds a raised, rolled leaf detail at the handle end on the obverse.

This example is a 5 3/8" long, 1.06 T. oz., sugar sifter with an essentially hemispherical, 1 7/8" by 1 3/4" diameter by 1/2" deep, bowl.

The bowl has a raised vee on the heel where the handle joins...

Not a standard full line pattern, the Daisy pattern on this pair of 4 1/8" long, .68 T. oz., tongs made by Reed & Barton are from the company's early 20th century Harlequin floral series, which was made in a limited number of pieces.

Toward the Art Nouveau in manner, the design features a single full blossom at the top of each arm, with a bud and abundance of leaves below it...

Stephen Adams I was a well-recognized London silversmith of his period, roughly the full span of the second half of the 18th century.

Grimwade's foundational London Silversmiths notes his parentage is undiscovered, but that he entered his first mark with William Jury c. 1758, with another mark for both 29 October 1759. Although he also registered marks as a buckle maker, Grimwade states "it is clear that he was principally a spoonmaker."

This 8 3/8" long, 1.86 T...

Colonial Williamsburg commissioned Baltimore's Stieff Company (later Kirk-Stieff) to produce the revivalist Queen Anne line of flatware, which was introduced in 1940 and sold through "CW."

Queen Anne is a Hanoverian design with a rounded-end, upturned handle with a midrib and a rattail bowl back.

A companion pattern, Williamsburg Shell was added in 1970...

Generously scaled at 9 1/2" long, and weighing 2.44 T. oz., this serving spoon has a particularly large, 4" long by 2 5/8" at the widest, bowl.

It could have been intended for berries, but the size suggests another use such as vegetables, or in Southern usage, rice.

The handle is a Pointed Antique shape and is convex...

Generously sized at 1 1/2" high and 1 3/4" in diameter, and weighing .74 T., the style of this napkin ring suggests an 1860s to 1880s date of manufacture.

Appealingly simple in design, it features rolled rims adjoining knurled bands top and bottom. These are separated from a central, plain, concave band by raised beading.

The central band is finished in a bright gold wash, as is the entire inside surface, which is an unusual detail for a napkin ring...

Gorham's numbered items were generally made in a limited number of pieces rather than a full line, and were often enhanced in some manner, such as incorporating unusual design and/or a higher degree of finish than regular production items.

This 4 3/8" long, .64 T. oz., pair of tongs are stamped with the number "15" on the inside arch along with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, and "Sterling," and are, consistent with the above statement, an unusual design and particularly well-finished...

While the pattern on this 5 7/8" long, .9 T. oz., likely 1870s or 1880s, sugar spoon is by an unidentified maker and without a name, the design and execution bespeak a sophisticated American manufacturer, and there are enough various pieces of this that surface to confirm it was issued as a full line.

The pattern is intricate and rather courtly, in a Henry VIII or Elizabeth I manner...

Exceptionally large, this solid silver pie server measures 10 1/4" long, has a blade that is 5" by 2 7/8" at the widest, and weighs 2.9 T. oz.

Marked "Ball, Black," "925" for sterling, and "Patent," the pattern is Arabesque, made by John Wendt, New York City, and issued in 1871. Arabesque is often (mis)identified as Monroe.

A Moorish design, Philadelphia's George Sharp produced a similar unnamed line...

Wallace produced an extensive line of largely floral numbered patterns in the early years of the 20th century.

An example from that series, this 5 9/16" long, .61 T. oz...

Wallace produced an extensive line of largely floral numbered patterns in the early years of the 20th century...

Standing 2" tall, with a top span of 4 3/8" and a base diameter of 3", this solid silver child's (porridge) bowl weighs 3.83 T. oz.

It has a slightly splayed body with a relatively thick rolled top rim, and a set back foot.

It is marked with the "sword & M" symbol of the Matthews Co., later Hickok-Mathews, "Sterling," and the model number "132."

Dating from early in the 20th century, it has acid etched walls that portray five different Kewpie babies along with shrubs and a...

While a pattern in general production, but without a documented name or maker, the design on this 8 3/4" long, 1.83 T. oz., sterling silver berry or other serving spoon incorporates a dense array of Greek Revival and Moorish design elements.

Likely dating from the 1870s, one private researcher has postulated Fessenden of Providence, Rhode Island, as a maker. Seymour of Syracuse produced some similar work, as did San Francisco sources, so no true solid attribution is at hand. What is incontrov...

A specialty, limited production, piece, this 6 1/4" long, very heavy at 1.32 T. oz., spoon shows exceptional crafting.

It was made by Towle, whose "T in a standing lion" emblem and the word "Sterling" is imprinted on the handle backside.

Rendered in an Arts & Crafts manner, it has a reticulated handle portraying something of a Chippendale design.

No doubt made to demonstrate that Towle, located in Newburyport, Massachusetts, had the capacity to produce items equivalent in calibe...

This piece is fully hallmarked for sterling silver, London, 1891-92 and the partnership of "J.T. Heath" and "John Middleton," operating as "Hukin & Heath." This firm was renowned for producing items inspired by famed English designer "Christopher Dresser."

This 10 3/4" tall silver and cut glass claret jug is in full conformity with other examples of such Dresser items from this source, and as such is an important example.

Similar examples are held at the Victoria and Albert Museum i...

The first full line flatware pattern produced by Rogers, Lunt, & Bollen, later simply Lunt, Dorothy Q was carried forward from antecedent firm "A.F. Towle & Son Co." which introduced it in 1883.

This example is a 6" long, .77 T. oz., early production sugar spoon, marked with the R L & B three part emblem and the word "Sterling."

The handle is Old English in style with a plain Tipt backside and a front that is extensively and engagingly engraved in a star shaped flower ...

An especially fine, c. 1870, regional period piece, this lengthy at 10 7/8" overall, 3.1 T. oz., solid silver pie or pastry server is marked "Bigelow. Bro's & Kennard.," for the prominent 19th century Boston firm, along with "925" in an oval, for sterling.

The handle is an Old English pattern with a Tipt backside. The front is engraved in a motif that is identified as either Buckle or Garter. The interior of this is further engraved "E.S.F. from G.W.F."

I...

Larger than most such pieces, this fish slice measures 12 1/8" long and weighs a substantial 3.7 T. oz.

The pattern is Lady Washington, which was one of Gorham's early lines, dating from 1876, the year of the American Centennial. That anniversary may have occasioned the development of the design given the name is associated with the first family of the then new nation.

The pattern features the profile of a courtly looking female figure set against a background of classical imagery t...