Catalog: Silver

An prominent name among contemporary British metal workers, Michael Allen Bolton (1938-2005) produced signature jewelry, flatware, and small items in silver.

There is ample biographical information about him available online, along with illustrations of his products.

One UK source notes these details,

"He exhibited successfully at the Goldsmith's Company 'Loot' exhibitions from 1975 to 1981 and in their 'Contemporary Silver Tableware' exhibition in 1996...

A purveyor of fine quality antique jewelry and decorative artifacts, as well as (hand crafted) reproduction English sterling silver, James Robinson is a prestigious New York City firm with a history dating to 1912.

This 10" long, weighty 2.7 T. oz., meat skewer, sometimes identified as a letter opener, is an item from this highly touted source, stamped for London, Sterling, a letter date of 1982, and a script "JR" for the firm...

One of the last American companies to produce fully hand worked silver, "Old Newbury Crafters" items show the skill of the individual maker in every piece.

That is the case with this 8 1/2" long, 2.6 T. oz., solid silver, serving serving spoon in the company's 1939 Oak Leaf pattern.

Modernist/Deco in style, the handle has straight, tapered edges, with a tip that is surmounted by a representational oak leaf flanked by what are presumably two acorns...

A liturgical spoon of a form that traces to the earliest centuries of the Christian church, notably the Coptic Orthodox tradition, this near miniature 3 5/8" long, .26 T. oz. (8 grams), silver piece features a long, narrow, faceted handle with a pointed tip.

This is attached to an ovoid bowl with a curved device.

Such replica pieces were inspired by items found in what is identified as the Traprain Hoard of ancient artifacts unearthed in East Lothian, Scotland...

Harry Osaki, Pasadena, California, emerged after World War II quickly to become a highly regarded metalsmith and designer who produced both jewelry and flat and hollow ware.

A modernist, his work was hand fashioned, following after the Arts & Crafts movement that arose earlier in the 20th century.

This example of his work is an 8 1/2" long, 2.73 T. oz., solid silver, salad of other serving fork.

It has a plain, tapered, handle with sharply angled corners and a straight across end...

Born in 1897, James Brett Hamlin's life encompassed nearly the full span of the 20th century as he lived until 1994.

A silversmith and pewterer with a specialty in jewelry, he studied and worked in New York City until settling in Maine about midpoint in his life, and where he remained active until about 1980. One source describes him as a "true modernist."

This 5 7/8" long, nearly 1.3 T. oz., gravy ladle is an apparently rare example of his flatware work executed in sterling silver...

Introduced in 1951, Rondo was made by Gorham. Both the pattern and the company name, along with the word "Sterling," appear of the backside of this 8 1/4" long, weighty at 2.5 T. oz., all silver tomato server in the pattern.

A clean design, French with a modernistic flair, this has scrolled margins which are expanded into a rosette on the handle end.

The blade is large, has scalloped edges, a pierced surface, and a slightly cupped heel...

A New York City company which operated in the 1940s and 1950s until its trademark was taken over by Towle, Mueck-Carey produced silver wares such as this baby cup.

In like new condition, without any dents, bends, or splits, and showing a brilliant finish, it stands 2" high to the rim, is 2 3/8" across, with a maximum reach of 3 1/2" to the end of the handle, and weighs 1.3 T. oz...

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...

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...

The Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers by Dorothy Rainwater indicates that "The Kalo Shop" was founded in 1900 by Clara Barck Welles and "went on to become the largest and most influential producer of handwrought silverware and jewelry in the midwest."

Rainwater further notes that "Mrs. Welles retired in 1940." Given that this 10 1/8" long, 3.6 T. oz., serving spoon is engraved on the backside, "AS HCM" over "Feb. 14, 1939," it traces to the founder's working years, which le...

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 ...

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...

Standing 6 3/8" tall on a rimmed base that is 2" in diameter, and weighing just over 3.5 T. oz., this shaker is hallmarked for sterling, London, and 1932-33.

The maker's stamp, which appears on the wall of the body and the sleeve of the cap, is some rubbed. It is shield form and appears to end with "LD" or "LtD."

A sugar sifter aka muffineer, it is baluster style, with a tall, attractively pierced, fitted cap that is surmounted by a flame finial.

Never monogrammed or inscribed, it is a ...

An early production example of the 1810 flatware pattern introduced in 1930, this 8 1/4" long, weighty at 2.3 T. oz., all silver (not partly stainless steel) cold meat fork is marked with the "Native American profile" emblem of the Wilcox & Evertsen division of International Silver, along with "Sterling."

The pattern is colonial in style, featuring a fiddle shaped handle with a tipped backside and distinct flanking shoulders off the bowl.

The serving end has four symmetrical, plain ...

A sugar shaker, aka muffineer, this solid silver piece stands 6 1/2" tall on a 2 1/2" diameter footed base and weighs 3.5 T. oz.

It is hallmarked on the upper portion of the wall for London, sterling, 1938, and maker "CE," who is documented but unidentified.

It is counter stamped on the sleeve fitting with a "lion" and "C."

Baluster form, it has a widened lower body with slender upper portion. The foot is tiered, as is the top of the lofty cap that is surmounted by a finial that ...

Made by Reed & Barton, whose "eagle R lion" mark is imprinted on the underside, along with "Sterling," and model number "N 583," this box measures 3 1/2" in diameter and stands 2" high.

It is fitted with an original, removable, cardboard liner that has a cloth base and purple "velvet" interior. The silver apart from this weighs 4.0 T. oz.

The bottom is flat and the walls are entirely smooth and straight sided, while the top is faintly domed and is acid etched in an intricate floral and ...

The origins of medicine spoons trace to a device patented in England by Charles Gibson in 1827.

This expression of the form, made by Gorham in the early decades of the 20th century, evolved from the much earlier Gibson one, although it is different in construction, and in actuality as much a novelty or collector's item as it is a utilitarian piece.

Solid silver, it is comprised of two different sized bowls, one the size of a tablespoon, the other the size of a teaspoon, with each hinged to...