Catalog: Silver: Sterling

Solid silver, this child's dish measures 4 1/4" across, stands 1 5/8" high and weighs 2.6 T. oz.

Marked on the underside "International" alongside the "C in a crescent" emblem of the Watrous division of that company, and "Sterling," it is identified as a model number "608/1" child's bowl with a likely early 20th century date.

Well-made, it has a sturdy applied upper rim, a rounded lower edge, and a flat bottom with a brushed finish on the underside...

Gorham issued a little known, often unrecognized and often unmarked, design named Imperial in coin silver in the 1850s and then re-employed the name for a different pattern in 1891, as found on this listing.

The later design incorporates a double lined border handle with a knob top. The central portion of the handle has a raised feature that appears to be, appropriate to the line name, a fleur de lis or the feathers in the Prince of Wales's badge...

A choice period piece dating from the third quarter of the 19th century, this item is marked "English Sterling," along with model number "404."

Although without any other identifier, "English Sterling" was a short-lived term generally only used by makers John Wendt and William Gale, both New York City, and often appears on pieces retailed by Ball, Black & Co., also New York City.

A solid silver master salt dish, this is cauldron shaped, with a bowl that measures 2 1/8" across...

A stand out Renaissance Revival design, Gorham's Raphael dates from 1874.

It features a dense arabesque background surrounding a central bird with upraised wings. There is a shield-shaped reserve area, which in this instance is engraved with an Old English "H" monogram.

This example is a lengthy, 9 5/16", and weighty at 3.34 T. oz., berry or other serving spoon, such as casserole in contemporary usage or a rice spoon in Southern custom...

Measuring 4 7/8" long and weighing just under 1.0 T. oz., this sardine fork has a 2 1/2" by 1 1/2", seven tine serving end with a pierced heel.

The pattern is Nuremburg, issued by Alvin in 1903.

The design incorporates the face of a horned, devil-like, figure masked in the detail of the overall pattern. This image is presumably meant to suggest the grotesque medieval gargoyles for which the German city of Nuremberg in known...

This 6 3/8" long, just over 1.0 T. oz. (32 grams), sugar spoon was hand made by Old Newbury Crafters, whose "ONC" mark and the word "Sterling" appear on the backside. It likely dates prior to 1955, the time when ONC began the practice of including individual craftsmen's symbols alongside other identifiers.

The pattern is Panel Antique or possibly the similar Moulton...

Issued in 1900, Alvin's Majestic is a multi floral pattern that features one of eight different flowers on each piece.

This example is the larger of two sizes of sugar tongs available in the line. It measures 5" long and weighs a robust 1.3 T. oz.

The flower is iris, which appears at the top and mid portions of the handle, and impressively, on the talon form grips...

Designed by Antoine Heller, renowned for his Beaux Arts figural patterns such as Versailles, Fontainebleau and Mythologique, equally commanding St. Cloud is by contrast non-figural.

Its leaf and anthemion subject, with tight, circular, elements reminiscent of fern fronds suggests Aesthetic influences, which is in keeping with its 1885 date of introduction.

This item is a 6" long, just under 1.0 T. oz. (30 grams), ice cream spoon...

The longest master salt spoon that Kirk made in its flagship Repousse pattern, each of these two, matched, examples measures 3 3/4". They weigh a relatively heavy .96 T. oz. the pair.

Never monogrammed, they have plain backs save for the marks, which are "S. Kirk & Son," which Rainwater dates 1932-61, along with "Sterling."

In spite of their considerable age, they are in exceptionally fine condition, showing no evidence they were ever used...

Model number "A9969," as stamped on the underside, along with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, the word "Sterling," and the name of the retailer, Boston's "Bigelow, Kennard & Co.," this flat-bottomed, oval tray measures 8 1/4" long by 5 1/2" wide and weighs a relatively heavy 6.8 T. oz.

A highly decorative item, the uplifted and rounded walls have a 5/8" wide banded rim, which has a beaded margin bordering a chased design of repeating urns, rosettes, acanthus leaves and fan...

Designed to reach deep into a narrow mouth container, a horseradish scoop or spoon generally has a relatively long and narrow handle and a paddle-like end.

This example made by Towle in its 1893 Canterbury follows that form and is fully original, i.e. not made up or custom as many such pieces currently available are. It measures 6 1/4" long, weighs an unexpectedly heavy .5 T. oz., and has the requisite cupped bowl with a rounded end.

As befits the name, Canterbury is a statel...

This 7" long, very heavy at 2.28 T. oz., fork is notable for several reasons.

Evolving from the immediately preceding 17th century English Trefid style with a three-lobed handle tip, this is a turn of the 18th century Dognose piece with a single, extended, slightly upturned, knobbed end.

Scarce items, Dognose forks are all the more so relative to spoons.

This has an interesting, and telling to anyone versed in such things, crest on the handle backside that portrays ...

An American variant upon the English Kings pattern, Dominick & Haff's Charles II features a convex shell on the handle front with a honeysuckle ornament and a heavily beaded border. The backside has a concave shell on the end with the same beaded border as the front, and is otherwise plain.

There is a lined script "R" monogram engraved in the area between the shell and honeysuckle.

This example is a 6 1/8" long, 1.1 T. oz., sol...

The smaller of two sizes of lettuce forks that Durgin produced in its Louis XV pattern, this piece measures 7 7/8" long and weighs approximately 1.0 T. oz.

It has three tines joined to a plain, cupped, heel. The outer two are splayed.

Issued in 1891, the design is French Rococo in manner with rocaille embellishments set in high relief.

This was originally finished with an overall gold wash, i.e. vermeil, but much of that has been polished away.

Never monogrammed, it is ...

Robust, this pair of ice tongs measure 7 1/8" long and weigh a substantial 2.9 T. oz.

Well suited to their function, they have a cupped and pierced shell grip at the end of one arm, and a highly articulated claw or talon grip on the flanking arm.

The pattern is Gorham's Buckingham which bears a strong resemblance to the company's companion and immensely successful Chantilly line that was introduced fifteen years earlier.

It could be argued the two patterns are variants of ...

Gorham's numbered series were specially designed and produced items made to a higher standard than typical line pieces.

This late 19th century example of such work is No. 412, which is a 5" long, weighty at 1.5 T. oz., bon bon spoon.

The handle is cast, which technique enables a level of detail not achievable in a typical die struck item. Casting also produces a unique finish, which in this instance is softly grained.

The pattern on 412 incorporates flowers and acanthus le...

A firm with a long chronology in Albany, New York, the origins of Hall, Hewson & Brower traced to 1810, with the last configuration of the firm ending in 1898.

The company operated under several names in the above span of years, two of which, the three part "HH & B with an eagle" emblem of Hall, Hewson & Brower, and "S.D. Brower & Son," are present on this 8 1/2" long, 1.35 T. oz., serving spoon.

It is also marked "Sterling 925," which would be unexpected in the circa 1850 period of this w...

George Sharp's Ball pattern is arguably the most well known of any number of 1860s designs that incorporated a sphere, cube, orb, or other similar form, usually surmounting a tubular or faceted shank.

It was produced in a wide variety of pieces, from large servers to items as small as a master salt spoon or this, a 5" long, .3 T. oz., nut pick.

It is an early piece, marked "Patent 1863 Pending" and "Bailey & Co.," for the Philadelphia retailer with whom Sharp was closely asso...