Catalog: Silver

This 8 3/8" long, 2.0 T. oz., item is a superb example of mid 19th Boston silver work in terms of form, execution, and condition.

An Olive pattern, which was particularly popular in Boston in the period and produced with slight variation by several makers, it is marked "lion, F&H, bust," for manufacturer "Farrington & Hunnewell."

It is a hotcake, aka pancake or waffle, lifter...

A 7 3/8" long, 1.1 T. oz., preserve spoon, this 19th century piece is marked "Sterling" without a manufacturer's identification.

Essentially flat-handled with a shaped margin, raised central oval, and bright cut engraved detailing, the style suggests maker Fessenden of Providence, Rhode Island.

The rounded end, shallow, bowl, has flanged and notched shoulders, a central raised vee, and is wriggle work engraved in a leaf motif set against a matte ground.

The handle front is engraved "E.C...

Founded in Providence, Rhode Island, by William B. Fessenden (who had a prior working history in Boston with various and New York City with Whiting) in 1858, the firm that bore his name was one of numerous silver manufacturers located in the Providence to North Attleboro, Massachusetts corridor, all anchored by Gorham. Given this concentration of industry, there was a body of skilled workers in the area available to Fessenden, which enabled it to produce quality items from its onset...

Dating circa 1840, this 6 1/2" long, .7 T. oz., Tipt aka Fiddle Tipt spoon is stamped "F...

Made by the mid 19th century Boston silver manufacturer Farrington & Hunnedwell, this 5 15/16" long, .77 T. oz., coin silver sugar spoon was retailed by Worcester jeweler Benjamin Goddard, whose name, along with the maker's "F&H" mark, appears on the handle backside.

Very much in the manner of its 1860s period, and engagingly so, it has a twisted stem and a flat, shaped-edge, handle that is bright cut and wriggle work engraved in a period design...

At 6" long and weighing 1.0 T. oz., this example of Gorham's Versailles pattern is an early issue, old style, ice cream spoon, marked "Copyrighted," "lion, anchor, G," and "Sterling" on the backside.

Its distinguishing feature is the shell bowl with scalloped edges and a ribbed interior. This is finished in a matte gold on the front except for the heel, which along with the entire backside, has a bright gold surface...

This pair of coin silver tongs are generously sized at 6 1/4" long and weigh 1.2 T. oz.

Each arm is stamped "F. [for Foster] Tinkham," born in Middleboro, Massachusetts, in 1803, and documented working in New York City in 1840, the approximate date of this piece, as a jeweler and watchmaker. He had returned to Massachusetts by 1855.

The arms are Fiddle shaped, which is a style consistent with their period...

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...

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...

Made by Frank Smith, Federal Cotillion, was introduced in 1901 the year the Victorian era ended and the Edwardian one began, which likely explains the original name of the pattern, Edward VII.

A nearly identical design to Whiting's King Edward, also dating from 1901, the pattern is a stately interpretation of a traditional English Kings.

This example is a 5 3/4" long, just over 1.1 T. oz., sugar spoon...

French in origin, this piece is stamped with a (miniscule) "boar's head" guarantee mark on the inside (left, with the handle facing up) edge of the bowl, with a corresponding "bigorne" counter stamp on the backside, indicating is to an 800 silver standard (something less than American coin silver).

The maker's mark is on the flanking edge of the bowl and reads "N V in a caret," with a "star" below the V and a "star and crescent" above it...

A finely crafted piece rendered in neoclassical French Empire style, this item serves a dual function.

It is firstly a 4 3/4" by 3 1/2" by 13/16" high, hinged, oval box. The hinge is on the short end, with a lip for opening on the opposite end.

It is made of 950 fine, i.e. first standard, silver (slightly higher than sterling) and marked with a "Minerva head" on the lid edge, underside of the cover, and on the lip of the base.

It also has a small, hard to discern, "caret" maker's mark i...

This 8 3/8" long, .45 T. oz., item is an example of American silver design following after a much older English form, namely a mote, aka skimming, spoon.

As this does, motes spoons typically have a pierced bowl on one end and a pointed or spear tip on the other.

Most commentary about their purpose indicates mote spoons were originally tea related, used for filtering loose leaves, with the point serving to clear a spout of clogs.

This 8 3/8" example was made by FS Gilbert, North Attlebor...

A not readily found pattern, Frank Smith's 1912 George VI aka Ridgefield is, appropriately, a regal looking design that features a variety of raised acanthus leaves and scrolls set on a shaped handle with double lined margins.

The handle backside is less elaborate than the front, but still quite detailed.

This example is a 7 5/8" long, 1.77 T. oz., cold meat fork.

The serving end has four, slender and splayed, tines with scrolled bases, all joined to a deep, ...

This piece measures 7 1/2" long, weighs 1.2 T. oz., and has a 2 3/4" by 1 3/4" oblong bowl with a central groove in the interior and rounded corners.

It was made by Frank Smith, likely in the 1880s, and is stamped with his early "S flanked by scrolls" emblem, the word "Sterling," and the name of the retailer, "C.E. Wright" on the reverse.

A preserve or jelly spoon, it has a rounded end "Antique" handle with a plain back. It is engraved on the front with hawthorne branches and flowers, with...

A popular motif from the 1880s, engraved versions of "Lily," actually "Lily of the Valley" with Aesthetic detailing, were produced by multiple manufacturers.

This matched set of eight, 5 15/16" long, 4.0 T. oz. the group, oyster, shrimp, or simply seafood, cocktail forks were made by Frank Whiting whose "W in a circle" and "Sterling" are imprinted on the reverses.

The handles are an "Antique" pattern with rounded ends and tipt backsides.

The fronts have satin matte finishes, which sets...

Note: while the above image shows six of these forks, this listing is actually for eight identical, all original, pieces.

Made by Frank Whiting, this set of forks is marked with the company's "W in a circle" emblem, "Sterling," and the number "2" on the backsides.

Measuring 5 3/4" long each and weighing 4.0 T. oz. the group, they are oyster, shrimp, or seafood cocktail forks.

Each piece has three tines, one of which is hooked, all joined to cupped heels with subtly notched should...

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. oz., teaspoon was an early mark of the partnership,...