Catalog: Silver: Sterling

Inspired by English and European antecedents, porringers were a favored form long produced by American silver and pewter manufacturers.

Consequently there is an ample inventory available in the antique and resale environment, with many offerings largely undistinguished, quite in contrast to this exceptional, solid silver item made by R. Blackinton & Co...

A 7 1/8" long, just over .9 T. oz., this item is emblematic of its c. 1880 period.

Marked only "Sterling" and "27" on the otherwise plain backside, the maker is unidentified and neither the shape of the blade and handle, nor the particular engraving is definitive as they are singular.

Decidedly "Aesthetic," i.e. "Eastlake," in mode, the bright cut and wriggle work engraving portrays ferns, grasses, flowers, along with non-representational detailing...

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...

A relatively large item, this gravy ladle measures 7" long, has a 2 1/2" by 2" by 3/4" deep, oval bowl, and weighs just under 2.3 T. oz.

Fashioned in an Arts & Crafts manner, it was produced by Arthur Stone whose "Stone and hammer - Sterling" symbol, along with a benchman's "B" for Charles W. Brown, or possibly George Blanchard, appears on the handle reverse.

The angular "Coffin End" handle was one of Stone's early designs, first issued in 1910.

A plain piece, i.e...

This 7 1/2" long, 1.2 T. oz., master butter, sometimes identified as a fish, knife was made by Wood & Hughes, whose "WwH" emblem, "Sterling," "Patent," "1868," and the name of the retailer, "W.M. Savage," Columbus, Ohio, appear on the blade backside.

The pattern is unnamed, but is essentially an unembellished version of the company's 1875 Renaissance Revival "Angelo," with an engraved script "H.B.L." monogram in the place where the Moorish detail of "Angelo" otherwise appears...

Standing 4 1/2" tall overall on a splayed, 2 1/2" high, pedestal foot that is 3" across on the bottom, and with a bowl measuring 4 1/2" across, this solid silver footed bowl or small compote weighs 7.2 T. oz.

Designed and executed in an Arts & Crafts manner, and likely dating from the early 20th century, it appears to be hand formed, showing, for example, distinct hammering marks on the underside of the foot that carry through very subtly to the exterior surface...

Large scale, this all silver item measures 7 3/4" long and weighs 3.0 T. oz.

Ice tongs (which could readily be used for salad), they have a 1 1/2" diameter embossed bowl with scalloped edges at the end of one arm, and a cut leaf shaped grip on the other.

The arch is wide, 1" across, and reinforced for strength, and without a monogram or inscription.

The pattern is "Dresden," dating from the late 19th century...

An elegant Rococo pattern dating from 1885, Wood & Hughes' "Louvre" shows to advantage at the large scale of this pair of 5 3/4" long, 1.4 T. oz., tongs.

A multi-motif design that incorporates scrolling, rosettes, and acanthus leaf detailing, the pattern is markedly elaborated.

This particular pair have added engraving on the upper portions of the arms. The leaf form grips are highly articulated and finished in a satin gold wash...

Relatively large at 1 1/2" tall and 1 3/4" wide, and weighing 1.0 T. oz., this napkin ring is stamped with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and model number "2166."

Dating c. 1880, it is bright cut engraved on its otherwise plain walls in an Aesthetic, i.e. Eastlake, style that incorporates fern, leaf, flower, and non-representational detailing and wriggle work.

An open reserve area is inscribed "F.A. Brock." in elegant cursive lettering...

A faithful representation of the vine, leaves, and fruit from which the pattern takes its name, Dominick & Haff's "Grape" is a late 19th century design, early in the Art Nouveau period.

The imagery is fully developed on the reticulated bowl of this 4 7/8" long, weighty at approximately 1.2 T. oz., bon bon or nut spoon.

Presented in remarkable detail, the leaves show veined and textured surfaces, the rounded grapes are set in high relief, and the tendrils form an artful grid among the open ...

As noted in a catalogue listing for a spoon held by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, "Horace E. Potter, a native of Cleveland, was one of the city’s most accomplished and long-lived artists of the Arts and Crafts era.""

He produced jewelry and flat and hollow ware. In addition to the piece noted above, the Rhode Island School of Design Museum has a leaf form spoon of his that is listed on its online catalogue.

Working from 1897 onward, he established the partnership of Potte...

An image with roots deep in the history of theater, the harlequin figure has had many evolutionary manifestations.

This representation, a pair of 4 1/2" long, heavy at approximately 1.6 T. oz., tongs was made by Gorham, whose "lion, anchor, G" emblem and "Sterling" are impressed on the inside of one grip. These are illustrated in the company catalogue of 1888 (see above image 2) in a list identified as "sugar, olive, and bon-bon tongs."

Cast, these are highly detailed and portray the check...

Measuring 5 1/2" long and weighing just over .6 T. oz., this item has a 1 5/8" diameter, flat-bottomed, bowl with scalloped sides.

An unusual form, it is likely a cream ladle.

The pattern is "Angelo," which is a Renaissance Revival design patented in 1878, as indicated on the reverse. Other marks are "WwH" and "Sterling."

This is engraved "MEP" over "'90" in fancy, feathered script lettering on the handle backside.

The pattern detail remains sharp and well defined, absent polishing w...

A 7 1/2" long, just over 1.5 T. oz., preserve spoon, this piece was made by Wood & Hughes, New York City, whose "WwH" emblem is stamped on the handle reverse, along with "Sterling," and "Pat. 1878."

The pattern is "Venetian," which is a Moorish or Renaissance Revival design.

The plum-shaped bowl is relative large and elongated at 3" by 1 3/4" at the widest, by 1/2" deep. It has a central groove in the base, a flange rim, and a pale, satin matte, gold finish on the engraved interior, and ...

Patented in 1881, as stamped on the handle backside, along with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem and "Sterling," this piece is a 6 1/2" long, 1.3 T. oz., sugar sifter.

The pattern is "Domestic," which employs a variety of design elements, the primary one of which is an intricate and finely rendered array of ivy leaves and vines, accented by a rosette midway on the handle and an anthemion at the tip.

This has a strikingly attractive bowl with fluted walls and a pierced interior. It is fini...

Readily identifiable from their length and round bowl spoon, chocolate muddlers are designed to reach deep inside tall chocolate pots to stir any settled powder on the bottom.

This example measuring 7 1/2" long and weighing 1.3 T. oz. was made by Dominick & Haff in the "No. 10" pattern.

A dense yet delicate multi-floral design dominated by a single chrysanthemum set at the handle end, "No. 10" was patented in 1896, as marked on backside.

Other marks include the company's three part embl...

Measuring 5 5/8" long and weighing 1.6 T. oz., this serving, aka table, spoon is an early example of Whiting's 1905 "Violet" pattern, marked with the company "lion" logo, "Sterling," "Pat. App. For," an Old English "O," and an "M," which might be a weight designation (medium).

An Art Nouveau design, this features violet blossoms on the end and midpoint of the handle, along with trailing, sinuous, stems the full length of the handle, ending with a leaf detail at the join with the bowl.

Ther...

This lengthy at 9 1/8", and weighty at just under 2.5 T. oz, spoon was produced by Wood Hughes, whose "WwH" emblem and "Sterling" appear alongside the patent date.

The pattern is "Angelo" which is a Renaissance Revival design that also shows Persian stylistic influences.

Having a large, 3 3/4" long by 2 3/8" at the widest, bowl, this is likely a salad serving spoon, although it certainly could function as a rice or platter piece.

The bowl has fluted or coffered shoulders and is engraved...