Catalog: Silver: Sterling

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 ...

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...

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.

It is in very good condition. The dense leaf and shell motif remains well-defined, showing minimal polishing wear...

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...

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...

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...

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...

An early production example of the 1810 flatware pattern introduced in 1930, this 8 1/4" long, weighty at 2.3 T. oz., all silver (not partly stainless steel) cold meat fork is marked with the "Native American profile" emblem of the Wilcox & Evertsen division of International Silver, along with "Sterling."

The pattern is colonial in style, featuring a fiddle shaped handle with a tipped backside and distinct flanking shoulders off the bowl.

The serving end has four symmetrical, plain ...

A decorative item, this 5 7/16" long, approximately 1.1 T. oz., sugar sifter has a rounded end Antique handle with a Tipt backside.

The front is bright cut engraved in a floral, starflower like, pattern along with a fancy, feathered script, "AMJ" monogram.

The essentially round, 2" diameter, pierced bowl has a scalloped edge, coffered sides, and a raised circle in the base. The interior has a satin matte finish that is wriggle work engraved with "pom pom" like detailing that ...

A highly regarded iteration of the Medallion genre popular among silver manufacturers of the 1860s, nearly all of John Wendt's product in this line was retailed through New York's "Ball, Black & Co.," whose name, along with "Patent" and "925," appear on the backside of this 5 3/4" long, approximately .8 T. oz., relatively heavy, youth fork.

Appropriate to the item function, the figure on this is young and could in fact be either male or female and thus a suitable association for a chil...

Gorham's Angelo aka No. 10 flatware pattern forms the core of the fabled (Henry Jewett and Elvira Irwin) "Furber Collection" of silver held at the "Rhode Island School of Design Museum."

Gorham Silver: Designing Brilliance 1850-1970 edited by Elizabeth Williams recounts,

"Sitting down to the Furbers' table, one would have been confronted with a bevy of Gorham flatware--687 pieces in all. The majority of serving and dining utensils are the Angelo pattern, which d...

Measuring 6 1/8" long, this relatively heavy at approximately 1.3 T. oz. sugar spoon is an early production example of Reed & Barton's Art Nouveau Intaglio pattern issued in 1905.

It is marked with R&B's "eagle, R, lion" emblem, "Sterling," and "Pat. Appl'd For," all in fine, precise lettering as would be expected on an old piece.

It also carries the retailer's stamp, "Cady & Olmstead," Kansas City, Missouri, and as was customary with this multi-motif floral line, the name of the fl...