Catalog: Silver: Sterling: Flatware

Produced by the Chicago silver firm of Wendell Manufacturing Company, Ariel is a highly expressive pattern.

Sculptural in manner, the central design element is a cherubic figure set against a dense, decorative background.

It is strongly reminiscent of Dominick & Haff's Labors of Cupid, which it predates by five years, introduced in 1895 vs. 1900.

It is a multi-motif line, meaning the figural representation varies between different pieces...

These six, matching, 19th century, coffee spoons are a statement in design and technique.

Made by Gorham, whose "lion, anchor, G" emblem and the word "Sterling" are imprinted on the reverses, they are 4 7/8" long, and relatively very heavy at 4.37 the group.

Finished in a satin matte gold on all surfaces, they have blue (it may read black in the above composites, but it is a deep blue), yellow, and white enameled handles, executed in an Arabesque with rosettes design...

George Blanchard, along with sons Porter and Richard, represent a dynasty within the realm of American Arts & Crafts silversmithing.

With family roots in Gardner, Massachusetts, George originally worked with Arthur Stone. Porter went on to establish one of the most well-known silver workshops in California, where the family also founded the California Society of Arts & Crafts.

The "B09 in an oval" that appears on this 6 3/16" long, .87 T...

King(s), or English King as identified by Tiffany for its line of flatware in this style, was a pattern with English origins that was produced by numerous American manufacturers in many variants.

This example, a 6 3/16" long, .96 T. oz., serving spoon, is marked for Phildadelphia's Peter Krider and follows standard conventions for the pattern...

Dating circa 1870, this jelly or small preserve spoon measures 6 5/8" long and weighs .77 T. oz.

It is marked J.C. Kelley, along with "Sterling," for the Philadelphia jeweler in business 1849-77.

The pattern is an engraved leaf and grass design presented in an Aesthetic manner on a convex Antique Tipt handle with a mid point crossed ribbon...

This master butter knife measures 7 1/4" long and weighs 1.0 T. oz.

Straightforward in design, it has a (Fiddle) Tipt handle set at a right angle to a scalloped edge, pointed end, blade.

Architectural in manner and ruggedly plain, it has flat surfaces throughout. The handle tapers to a square, solid, block where it joins the blade (this strengthens the piece at this natural stress point)...

Offered in both sterling silver and silver plate, Harlequin was a floral series issued by Reed & Barton circa 1890 and continued in production for nearly a century.

These eight pieces are from an original, old, set of 5 1/8" long, 4.56 T. oz. the group, 5 o'clock spoons marked with R&B's "eagle, R, lion" emblem and "Sterling."

The bowls all have the same soft satin very pale gold surface and are engraved with "HVR" monograms in flowing script lettering...

Originally associated with Herman Marcus as Starr & Marcus, Theodore B. Starr established his own firm in 1880. His work as a jeweler was renowned and he also produced silver hollowware (see Old Friends item 5551f) as well as some flat ware.

This 6" long, relatively weighty at 1.2 T. oz., sturdy sauce ladle marked "Sterling" and "Theodore B...

A 7 5/8" long, 1.7 T. oz., item, this piece is marked "W.J. Behan," along with "925 Sterling."

W.J. Behan is an elusive name to document, at least as relates to silver.

It is most associated with William J...

Introduced in 1889, Coligni stands alongside other enduring Gorham patterns such as Versailles, St. Cloud, and Cluny that originated at the hand of renowned designer Antoine Heller.

Heller was a classicist much of whose work reflects the Beaux Arts style. This mode is very much evident in Coligni which is a multi-motif line that incorporates draped, romantic figures arrayed amid opulent background imagery.

This example is a very large, 9 5/8" long, 4.6 T. oz., serving ...

Among Gorham's oldest full line patterns, New Tipt was introduced in 1871.

Decidedly distinct from a standard Tipt design, it incorporates period Greek and/or Egyptian Revival motifs such as palmettes, reeds, and beading, set on a broad, pointed end, handle with a tubular shank.

This example is a 5 5/8" long, .7 T. oz., early pastry or pickle fork.

This has an Old English letter "B" monogram on the handle backside, and is in flawless estate condition, free of...

An expressive pattern from renowned Gorham designer Antoine Heller, Old Medici features a variety of figures and imagery drawn from the Italian Renaissance period.

This example, a 7 1/4" long, 1.54 T. oz. preserve or jelly spoon portrays a matronly looking woman in festooned garb. She is carrying a tray laden with fruit with a basket or other container hanging below this.

Additional details include a gargoyle, a pair of doves with raised wings, and leafy tracery.

Most references...

One of Wendt's less commonly found patterns, Osiris was issued in 1870, and, as the name implies, is derivative of the Egyptian Revival mode popular in the period.

It features a lined handle with a fan, i.e. palmette, end. This in turn is framed by two acanthus leaves at the point where the handle turns tubular.

This example is 5 7/8" long, relatively substantial weight 1.0 T. oz., teaspoon that was retailed by carriage trade New York City jeweler "Howard & Co.," as st...

This 6 15/16" long, 1.25 T. oz., place, aka oval soup or dessert, spoon speaks through time in multiple voices.

First, the pattern which is Ruby by John Polhamus (later Shiebler) is a superb expression of the Greek and Egyptian Revival modes popular in its 1870 period.

It features a central palmette set atop something akin to a papyrus leaf. There is a rosette flanked by ivy leaves situated on the pointed tip end. These elements are surrounded by addition...

A commanding piece in a dramatic pattern, this ice cream server, aka ice cream knife, measures 9 3/4" long and weighs a substantial 4.1 T. oz.

Made by Whiting, the pattern is Heraldic, issued in 1880.

Appropriate to the name, the imagery features a medieval helmet prominently set at the top of the handle. The remainder of the design incorporates a dense array of high relief, scrolling acanthus leaves.

There is a flowing script "EAW" monogram engraved in the shield reserve on the ...

An early production example of Gorham's Strasbourg flatware, this 6" long, .8 T. oz., sugar spoon is marked with the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and "Pat. 1897."

One of Gorham's enduring patterns, the design features French scroll margins with a shell detail at the handle end.

This has a shell-shaped bowl that is finished in a bright gold wash on the interior and has decorated shoulders. This latter detail is only found on older pieces; newer items have plain sho...

The Baltimore Museum of Art volume Baltimore Silver notes that Andrew Ellicott Warner "is the best known of a family of silversmiths which included his father Cuthbert, brother Thomas, and son Andrew Ellicott Warner, Jr."

This example of his work is a 7" long, weighty at 1.3 T. oz., place or dessert spoon.

The marks on this, "A.E. Warner" along with the peculiar to Baltimore "11" assay stamp (midway between coin and sterling silver), is one of seven documented in the above reference...

Established in Jacksonville in 1868, Greenleaf & Crosby eventually evolved into Florida's premier fine jewelry house.

Their offerings included a variety of Florida themed souvenir items and table implements, many of them sourced from Gorham, which is the case with this early 20th century, 8 3/4" long, orange knife.

It has a filled handle in an orange blossom, bud, and leaf design. This is stamped "Sterling" and with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem on the ferrule at the join with t...