Durgin "Empire" Sterling Silver Ice Cream Knife or Cleaver
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$225.00
Issued in 1895, Durgin's Empire draws from classic French design sensibilities. It incorporates a crown, cornucopia, torches, a crossed ribbon wreath, and other festooning on the handle front and back on this server, although place pieces have simpler laurel and acanthus leaf and ribbon detailing on the reverses.
This item is a quite remarkable ice cream knife. It measures 10 1/8" long, has a hollow handle, and a solid silver, flat, blade that can only be described as a cleaver. It measures 6 1/4" by 2 1/4" and constitutes the bulk of the item's 6.0 T. oz. total weight.
The piece was retailed by Philadelphia's renowned "Bailey, Banks & Biddle," as stamped on the blade, along with Durgin's "D" emblem and "Sterling." The handle is marked "Sterling" and "Patent."
Never monogrammed, this remains in very fine condition. The blade is without bends, and has a mirror-like finish that shows only a few surface flecks. The handle fits tightly with the blade, is free of splits or dents, evidencing only a few shallow dings on the edges.
