Catalog: Silver: Sterling

Introduced in 1890, Douvaine was the first of numerous imaginative Art Nouveau patterns that Unger Brothers issued through the first decade of the 20th century that continue to make a statement over a century after their introduction.

Douvaine features a dolphin or fish like image set at the handle tip, and a renaissance or gargoyle figure situated midway on the handle...

The form on this 5 1/2" long, 1.13 T. oz., piece is commonly referred to as a bucket ladle after the shape of the 2" round, 1" diameter, tapered wall bowl.

Generally solid, the form is for cream, but this instance in Gorham's 1893 Kensington pattern is a rare pierced example, and likely intended as a sugar sifter.

The piercing is delicate and varied, and covers the base and the lower margins of the wall...

This piece, a 6" long, 1.1 T. oz., solid silver sugar spoon in Whiting's Violet is marked "Pat. App. For," indicating it is an early production item, likely made no later than 1905, which is the year its patent was granted.

Other marks include Whiting's "standing lion" emblem and "Sterling."

A gracious Art Nouveau design, this interpretation of Violet speaks gently...

Silver manufacturer George Shiebler was known for innovative and imaginative designs, but apart from his numbered Flora series, Art Nouveau offerings from this source were limited, with Fiorito his most fulsome and expressive full line pattern in this mode.

This example of the pattern is a lengthy, 8", 1.6 T. oz., cold meat fork.

Fiorito is multi-motif pattern, with the flower on this a poppy...

The larger of two sizes of fish servers that Gorham offered in its Buttercup pattern, the fork on this pair measures 8 3/8" long and weighs 2.9 T. oz., while the knife is 11 3/8" and weighs 3.95 T. oz.

Both pieces are solid silver and are early production items with scalloped and decorated shoulders. Later examples had plain shoulders...

An early production example of Towle's Old Colonial flatware pattern, this piece is marked with the company's "standing lion in a shield emblem," "925/1000," "Sterling," and "Pat. 1895."

It is a 7 5/8" long, 1.5 T. oz., solid silver jelly knife.

The blade is long, narrow, pointed, and as is characteristic of this line, faceted, with scalloped shoulders and upper edge...

Duhme & Co. was Cincinnati's dominant silver and jewelry house during the second half of the 19th century and produced many discrete flatware designs, of which the one on this 7 5/8" long, weighty at 1.86 T. oz., solid silver dinner fork is unusual as well as uncommon.

It has a rounded end handle with a plain, concave back that is engraved in a script letter "JBS" monogram.

The front is ridged in a series of parallel swirls that overall are reminiscent of waves...

This original set of six 5 o'clock length, viz. 5 7/16" each, 3.9 T. oz. the group, teaspoons are early production examples of Whiting's Art Nouveau Lily pattern.

They are all marked with the company's "standing lion" emblem, "Sterling," "Pat. 1902," "R'd 1902," and with an Old English "O."

Further corroboration of their age is that they are sequentially dated in script lettering on the handle backsides, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908 and 1909 respectively...

Made by Dominick & Haff, whose three part emblem, "Sterling," and the name of the retailer, "C.E. Woodward," appear on the handle backside, this solid silver, likely early 20th century, piece measures 8 1/4" long and weighs 1.8 T. oz.

It has a generously-sized, 3 1/2" by 2 1/2", flat blade with cupped and scalloped shoulders, and was probably intended as a hotcake lifter or pastry server.

The handle is a Pointed Antique design with a slightly downturned end...

Gorham's St. Cloud features a leaf and anthemion subject, with tight, circular, elements reminiscent of fern fronds, and shows Aesthetic influences, which is in keeping with its 1885 date of introduction.

This example of the pattern is a large, 7 3/4" long, substantial weight at 1.54 T. oz., solid silver master butter knife.

The flat blade is set at an angle to the handle and has a scalloped upper edge and gently rounded end.

The handle reverse is engraved with a fancy leaf scrip...

Along with several other artisans, Horace Potter was a founder of the "Cleveland School of Arts and Crafts" in 1898.

There is ample biographical material about him available online, including the site "chicagosilver," which notes that he graduated from the "Cleveland School of Art" in 1898 and maintained strong ties with Boston where he studied further and worked briefly.

The "New York Metropolitan Museum of Arts" holds a silver casket made by him circa 1907 which reflects the influence Ch...

English in origin, this soup ladle measures 13" long overall and has a generously proportioned 3 1/2" diameter, 1 1/8" deep, hemispherical bowl.

Solid silver, it weighs 4.0 T. oz.

The pattern is Old English with a rounded, downturned, handle end with a Tipt backside. It has an exposed thumb drop on the join with the bowl.

Plain, this has never been monogrammed or inscribed. Its appeal lies in its simplicity of design and fine crafting, all preserved in near original condit...

This piece measures 5 7/8" long and weighs a substantial 1.2 T. oz.

It is an original production example of Reed & Barton's Love Disarmed, issued in 1899, and is marked with the company's "eagle, R, lion" emblem, "Sterling," and "Pat. Appl'd For," all in very fine lettering.

All the details are exactly as they should be on an old example save that, significantly, the floral tip on the pattern is missing. It either broke off at some time, or this is a consequence of a defect in manuf...

A commemorative birth or christening mug, this piece stands 2 3/4" high to the lip, has a top diameter of 2 5/8", a maximum span of 3 1/2" to the end of the handle, and sits on a flat bottom that is 2 3/8" across. It weighs 2.35 T. oz.

It was made by Gorham, whose "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and model number "A3428" are imprinted on the underside.

It is engraved "Charles Barham Jr." over "July 16. 04," which places its date of manufacture to early in the 20th century.

It has a...

Matching pieces, each of these four silver teaspoons measures 5 3/4" long, with the set weighing 1.64 T. oz.

The pattern is Fiddle Tipt which is a mid 19th century design. Each one is engraved with a fancy, feathered script, "A. R." monogram set sideways on the handle front.

These are marked "Sterling" when coin would be expected for this style, so whether they are early sterling examples, or later production pieces of an older design is uncertain.

That is one of two minor perple...

A 19th century purveyor to the Austrian royal court, the renowned Vienna firm of J.C. Klinkosch passed from father Joseph Carl to sons Arthur and Isidor in 1884, and eventually to Arthur Krupp in 1918.

This large, 8 3/8" long, heavy at 2.25 T. oz., solid silver, 20th century, fork is marked on the backside heel in English, "Made in Austria" and "Sterling," along with "Ges. Gesch." for "Gesetzlich Geschutzt," i.e. the German equivalent for patent, trademark, or copyright.

Lastly, there is a...

An Indo-Persian pattern, Gorham's Hindostanee was issued in 1878, as indicated by the "Pat. 78" that appears on the handle backside of this 7 3/4" long, 1.77 T. oz., serving spoon.

Other marks include the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and the word "Gorham," which may indicate the piece was sold in the company's New York City store, or it may simply be a redundant mark.

Gorham used a number of bowls for this line, and that on this, a small berry or preserve spoon, i...

This solid silver open master salt dish has a bowl that measures 2 1/2" in diameter, is 1 3/8" tall, weighs 1.7 T. oz., and stands on three supporting hoof feet legs.

Georgian in style as befits its 1769 date, it has a round body with an applied beaded top rim with an encircling, line detail inscribed 1/8" below this.

Otherwise the bowl is plain, noting that the underside is engraved with a block letter "E * B" monogram, along with full hallmarks including a "leopard h...