Catalog: Silver: Sterling

This piece is fully hallmarked for sterling silver, London, 1891-92 and the partnership of "J.T. Heath" and "John Middleton," operating as "Hukin & Heath." This firm was renowned for producing items inspired by famed English designer "Christopher Dresser."

This 10 3/4" tall silver and cut glass claret jug is in full conformity with other examples of such Dresser items from this source, and as such is an important example...

Impressive on multiple counts, the most immediate feature of this chalice or goblet is its commanding size.

It stands 8 1/8" tall, has a top diameter of 3 7/8", sits on a 4" wide foot, and weighs 12.7 T. oz.

Made by Gorham, it is stamped on the underside with the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," model number "935," and date letter "O" for 1882.

A presentation piece, it is a study in decorative embellishment...

Rooted in Moorish design and dating from the encompassing 1870s Renaissance Revival period, Whiting's Arabesque features a standing griffin with widespread wings set against a vine, leaf, and rosette background, all of which are quintessential elements of this design motif.

This ensemble is an ice cream set comprised of a server along with eleven (alas one of the no doubt once twelve has been lost to the group) individual spoons...

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...

Soup ladles in the Victorian era were characteristically large and this example is dramatic validation of this convention.

It measures 14" long and weighs 8.1 T. oz.

The capacious helmet-shaped bowl is 4 1/2" long by 3 1/2" at the widest, and 1 1/2" at the deepest (see image 2). It has a bright gold finish on the interior.

Made by Gorham, whose "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," "Pat. 1864," and the name of the retailer, "Geo. W...

This wine funnel is a two piece item consisting of a 3 1/2" diameter, 1 3/8" high, strainer basket, and the actual fitted funnel that is 3 1/2" long. The two pieces together weigh 3.3 T. oz...

A matched pair, this 9" long fork and 8 7/8" spoon could be used in combination as a serving set or individually.

Heavy items, the fork weighs nearly 3.6 T. oz., and the spoon close to 3.4 T. oz., for just under 7.0 T. oz. combined.

The pattern is Gorham's Coligni. These are early, original issue, items marked with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G," "Sterling," and "Copyrighted '89" on the backsides...

It is unusual to find an intact set of twelve ice spoons along with their original serving knife, aka slice, and even more so to have the set in such pristine condition as this group.

Made by Frank Smith, whose early "S in a circle" mark and "sterling" are imprinted on the backside of all pieces, along with the name of the retailer, "Worcester & Co.," Lowell, Massachusetts.

The server measures 10" long and weighs 2.7 T...

One of several specially designed, numbered, oyster, aka shrimp or seafood cocktail, forks that Gorham presented in its 1886 catalogue (see enlargement 2), No. 10 features a ball top with twisted stems.

This offering is for a full set of twelve matched pieces, all in flawless, original condition.

Each one measures 5 7/8" long, while the group weigh 4.7 T...

Gorham produced a line of specialty, cast, flatware, pieces of which were identified by a number preceded by an H designation. Items included large and small bon bons as well as a series of exceptionally large serving spoons, and perhaps other items.

This example is model number H156, as identified on the backside, which is also stamped with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem and the word "Sterling." Immensely scaled, it measures 10 1/4" long and weighs an exceptionally heavy 5.5...

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.

They...

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...

True estate items, this group is being offered entirely as found on behalf of a direct descendent of the original owner.

Approximately 100 years old, the three large pieces--mirror, brush, and synthetic tortise shell comb--are marked with the Simpson, Hall, Miller division of International Silver's "helmet" emblem, along with the word "Sterling," while the two smaller pieces--nail file and shoe horn--are marked "Sterling Handle." (Please see both sets of images.)

This is an exceptional set...

One of the most expressive of renowned Gorham designer Antoine Heller's patterns, Medici aka Old Medici features figures and imagery drawn from the Italian Renaissance period.

Most references date the pattern to 1880, although Charles Carpenter in his benchmark Gorham Silver places it about 1883.

This piece is a large, 13" long, nearly 7.0 T. oz. (215 grams), all silver soup ladle.

The intricacy of the design shows to full advantage at this essentially massive scale...

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 ...

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.

Large, the round bowl has a diameter of 4 7/8", a maximum span of 6 7/8" to the end of the "Chippendale" style handle, stands 1 5/8" high ...

Design number "610" produced by Gorham, this 7 1/4" long, 1.5 T. oz., confection (as identified in an 1892 Gorham catalogue) spoon was a special production item.

The tip of the handle features a rampant, i.e. standing, lion, set atop a columnar handle. The lower section of the handle just above the join with the bowl, portrays a stately looking, classical, female figure draped in flowing robes.

The bowl is fig-shaped, and imprinted in the center with an embossed floral cluster. The lowe...

The quality of design and execution evident in this 7 1/2" tall, weighty at 6.8 T. oz., solid silver muffineer aka sugar shaker or castor bespeaks the reputation of its maker and the jeweler who retailed it.

Redlich & Co., whose "lion" emblem appears on the underside, traces to George Shiebler through one of its two cofounders, Adolph Ludwig, who was a designer with the latter firm.

Grogan & Co., also imprinted on the underside, was a carriage trade Pittsburgh jeweler, with it and Redlich ...