Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art: Metals: Silver (236)

A rare and elegant boxed set of six sterling silver citrus spoons in Paye & Baker's "Orange" pattern. The handles are decorated front and back with oranges, orange blossoms and foliage. Paye & Baker primarily made souvenir spoons, and this particular pattern was usually associated with Los Angeles, considered a very exotic location at the beginning of the 20th century. These spoons are the only set we've seen made as citrus spoons. The sharply-pointed deep bowls retain their original matte gilding. Each spoon is fully hallmarked.

• Origin: America, ca. 1900.
• Dimensions: spoons, 5 1/2" long.
• Weight: 158.4 grams.
• Condition: excellent; gilding intact; box has considerable age-appropriate wear and discoloration.

An uncommon silver tastevin, the bottom inset with a Mexican silver coin featuring the likeness of King Ferdinand VII of Spain, the last Spanish emperor to rule over Mexico. The coin is dated 1821, the year Mexico became independent of Spain. The tastevin is constructed in classic French style, with a coiled snake handle, but it lacks the embellishments usually seen on French examples. The bowl is simply decorated with a hammered surface. The tastevin probably dates to the reign of the Emperor Maximilian, who ruled Mexico’s Second Empire (1864-67). Maximilian was established as emperor by the French Emperor Napoleon III, and French decorative arts became very popular among the wealthy of Mexican society.

• Origin: Mexico, ca. 1864.
• Condition: excellent.
• Dimensions: 9 x 11.5 cm (3-9/16 x 4-9/16 in).
• Weight: 112.0 grams.

An elegant classic-style French silver tastevin of traditional form. The bowl is decorated with raised "perles", concave "cupules" and elongated "godrons" for assessing the depth of color in both red and white wines. The curved sides help concentrate the aroma, so only a very small amount of wine has to be poured to judge quality. The looped handle allows the tastevin to be worn suspended from a chain. Tastevins with round thumbpieces are generally from the Paris region. The handle is marked for first standard silver (950/1000 pure silver) and also has partially obscured master silversmith's mark.

• Origin: France, ca. 1900.
• Dimensions: 2 11/16" diameter (excluding handle).
• Weight: 37.0 grams.
• Excellent condition; two small dings on bottom, mostly hidden by the design and two very small (1/16") dings on the upper rim.

A boxed set of sterling silver demitasse spoons by Paye & Baker. The set comprises two each of three different floral themes, all worked in the same intaglio style with glossy flowers and foliage against a stippled background. Two of the spoons are decorated with a pattern of wild roses, two with morning glories and two with pansies. The edges of the stems and handles are shaped to match the patterns. The bowls are finished with matte gilding. The backs are hallmarked by Paye & Baker and are marked "Sterling". The company made only a small range of products, but their Art Nouveau motifs were expertly designed.

• Origin: America, ca. 1900.
• Dimensions: 4" long.
• Weight: 38.8 grams.
• Condition: spoons, excellent condition, typical light fading of gilding on bowls; box has typical discoloration and wear.

A very nice small-size silver plate wine taster in the classical style. The bottom features the typical convex bottom surrounded by concave "godrons" adn "cupules." intended to create high and low spots to better appreciate the color of the wine as light is reflected through it. The open shape also allows the bouquet to develop quickly so the wine can be tested easily. The snake handle is generally seen on tastevins from the region of Bourgogne. The tastevin bears an unidentified maker’s mark.

• Origin: France, ca. 1890.
• Dimensions: 2 1/4" diameter excluding handle.
• Condition: excellent, no dings, sharp detail.

A lovely set of twelve sterling silver demitasse spoons presented in their original fitted velvet and silk box. The design features a scroll of acanthus leaves along the stem with an asymmetrical shell at the handle. The backs are stamped “Sterling” (prior to 1915), American silver was not required to bear a maker’s mark. The pattern is nearly identical to Knowles’ “King” pattern. The spoons are presented in their original velvet and silk fitted box from Hamilton & Diesinger of Philadelphia (1895-1900).

• Origin: America, ca. 1895
• Condition: spoons are excellent except one which has a tiny ding right at the tip of the bowl; sharp detail; no monogram; box is functional, but has significant wear. One of the 2 latches is broken at the top of the latch.
• Dimensions: spoons, 3-7/16” long
• Weight: 77.2 grams

A very good first standard (950/1000 pure) silver small-size tastevin by the highly regarded Dijon silversmith Marc Parrod. This example retains the classic round shape with a convex bottom, but the usual "godrons" and "cupules" gare replaced by repoussé grape clusters alternating with raised "perles". Each grape cluster is accented with stylized vines. Parrod was particularly noted for this unique variation. The handle is in a rather unusual shape slightly suggestive of the double snake handles sometimes found on tastevins from the Bourgogne region. These smaller tastevins are less common than the larger ones. Smaller tastevins from the Bordeaux region were often used for tasting Cognac, so perhaps the smaller Burgundian versions were used for some other spirit, as well as wine. The bottom and handle are stamped with first-standard silver marks and with Parrod's mark.

• Origin: Dijon, France, ca. 1903-1944
• Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms, sharp detail
• Dimensions: 2-1/4” diameter (excluding handle)
• Weight: 25.8 grams

A very good first standard (950/1000 pure) silver small-size tastevin by the highly regarded Dijon silversmith Marc Parrod. This example retains the classic round shape with a convex bottom, but the usual "godrons" and "cupules" are replaced by repoussé grape clusters alternating with "cupules". Each grape cluster is accented with stylized vines. Parrod was particularly noted for this unique variation. The handle is in the traditional form of two snakes grasping an apple, alluding to the the Garden of Eden snake and reminding the drinker of temptation. These smaller tastevins are less common than the larger ones. Smaller tastevins from the Bordeaux region were often used for tasting Cognac, so perhaps the smaller Burgundian versions were used for some other spirit, as well as wine. The bottom and handle are stamped with first-standard silver marks and with Parrod's mark.

• Origin: Dijon, France, ca. 1903-1944
• Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms, sharp detail
• Dimensions: 2-1/4” diameter (excluding handle)
• Weight: 24.6 grams

A classic second standard (800/1000 pure) silver tastevin from the Loire Valley of France. The origins of tastevins can often be identified by the tastevin’s shape. In this case, the bowl is rather shallow and completely without decoration. The handle is formed in the shape of a thin, curvy snake, but is worked without extra decoration such as scales or details to the head. This example is rather early, as is evidenced by signs of hand hammering and the small lathe mark in the middle of the bowl. The bottom is stamped with the original owner’s name, P. Roux. These classic tastevins from the Loire Valley are charming for their simplicity. Stamped with French silver marks and an unidentified maker's mark.

• Origin: Loire Valley, France, ca. 1840
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 2-7/8” diameter (excluding handle)
• Weight: 29.9 grams

French Silver Louis XVIII Burgundian Style Wine Taster Tastevin An unusually heavy first standard (950/1000 pure silver) French tastevin decorated in the classic Burgundian style with punchwork grape clusters and a coiled snake handle. The grapevines are also accented with engraved flowers. The bottom has the center pinpoint found in tastevins from this period and is finished simply with a ring or shallow godrons around the edge to help reflect light through the wine. The snake is engraved with scales and has an unusual arrow-shaped tail. The rim is engraved “A. Chantal” for the original owner. The tastevin has the “tête medecin” mark for silver and the silversmith’s mark for Charles-Marie Guidée (Paris).

• Origin: France, 1819-1838
• Condition: very good, a few small flat areas from 200 years of use
• Dimensions: 3-5/8” x 4-3/4” x 1-5/16”
• Weight: 121.2 grams.

An elegant second standard (800/1000 pure silver) French tastevin. Rather than the typical “perles,” "coupules," and fluted “godrons”, the bowl is decorated with repousse grape leaves and berries in the 18th century style. This treatment is sometimes seen in tastevins made by Marc Parrod, one of the most influential makers of tastevins in the early 20th century. The handle is in the traditional form of two entwined duck-headed snakes grasping an apple in their mouths, thought to represent the snake and apple from the Garden of Evil, thus reminding drinkers of temptation and sin. The tastevin is fully hallmarked and has an illegible maker’s mark, possibly Parrod's.

• Origin: France, ca. 1910
• Condition: excellent, sharp detail
• Dimensions: 3-5/16” x 4-1/4” x 15/16”
• Weight: 55.3 grams

A lovely set of six sterling silver and plique-a-jour enamel cocktail picks by acclaimed Norwegian silversmith and enamelist Johan G. Kjaerland. Kjaerland worked in Bergen, Norway, and was particuarly well-known for his excellent plique-a-jour enamels. This is the first set of cocktail picks we've seen in plique-a-jour. Each is hallmarked appropriately.

• Origin: Norway, ca. 1900
• Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, gilding intact
• Dimensions: 3-11/16" long
• Weight: 16.7 grams

An elegant second standard (800/1000 pure silver) French tastevin. The bowl is engraved with repousse grape clusters and leaves in the 18th century style, but also with the more traditional raised “perles” and “coupules” seen in 19th century examples. The combination of the two is quite unusual. The handle is in the form of two snakes grasping an apple between their jaws—an element thought to stem from the Garden of Eden and intended to remind drinkers of temptation. The tastevin bears regional hallmarks for second standard silver and an unknown maker’s mark (J ancre de marine P). The pinpoint in the bottom of the bowl is a lathe-mark and suggests a date of the mid-19th century at the latest. The rim is engraved with the name of the original owner, “Ane [Antoine] Mouly-Chambon de Chas.”

• Origin: France, Burgundy region, ca 1840
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 3-1/8” x 4-1/4” x 1-5/32”
• Weight: 118.4 grams

An elegant second standard (800/1000 pure silver) French tastevin. Rather than the typical “perles” and fluted “godrons”, the bowl is decorated with repousse grape leaves and berries in the 18th century style. This treatment is sometimes seen in tastevins made by Parrod, one of the most influential makers of tastevins in the 19th and 20th centuries. The single snake handle, thought to represent the snake from the Garden of Eden, thus reminding drinkers of temptation, has an unusually well-detailed head. The tastevin is fully hallmarked and has an illegible maker’s mark, possibly Parrod’s.

• Origin: France, ca. 1925
• Condition: excellent, sharp detail
• Dimensions: 3-5/16” x 4-1/4” x 15/16”
• Weight: 58.8 grams

An set of twelve English sterling silver coffee spoons and a matching sugar tong in an elegant rococo pattern by silversmith Joseph Rodgers. The handles are lightly monogramed with an “H.” The bowls are a bit larger than typical demitasse spoons, so they could easily be used for tea service, as well. The set is presented in its original fitted case lined with royal blue velvet and silk. The interior of the lid is embossed with the retailer’s stamp for William Batty & Sons, one of England’s finest watchmakers and jewelers outside of London at the time.

• Origin: Sheffield, England, 1910
• Condition: excellent; interior of case is excellent; case exterior is mostly good, but with bookbinding tape at the hinge side
• Dimensions: spoons, 4-5/16” long; tong 4-1/2” long
• Weight: 206.4 grams.

Handsome pair of sterling silver ice tongs in the "John Winthrop" pattern by International Silver Co. This is one of the classic American Colonial patterns developed during the early 20th century when people were first beginning to be interested in American antiques. Curiously, the simple design was also a perfect match for the upcoming Art Deco styles of the 20s and 30s. Ice tongs were an uncommon serving piece and are very difficult to find today. The tongs are marked with International's older hallmark.

Origin: America, ca 1911. Condition: excellent, no dings, period "S" monogram. Size: 6-3/4" long. Weight: 63.0 grams.

An elegant second standard (800/1000 pour silver) French tastevin. Rather than the typical "perles" and fluted "godrons," the bowl is decorated with repousse grape leaves, berries and shells in the 18th century style. This treatment is sometimes seen in tastevins made by Parrod, one of the most influential makers of tastevins in the 19th and 20th centuries. The single snake handle, thought to represent the snake from the Garden of Eden reminding drinkers of temptation, has an unusually well-detailed head. The tastevin is fully hallmarked and has an illegible maker's mark, possibly Parrod's.

• Origin: France, ca. 1925
• Condition: excellent, sharp detail
• Dimensions: 3-1/4" x 4-1/4" x 15/15"
• Weight: 55.9 grams

A rare French silver (950/1000 pure silver) tastevin from the reign of Louis XVI. This classic example features a classic design of angled “godrons” (grooves) accented with raised “perles” (pearls). The lack of deeply recessed “cupules” suggests that this wine taster was specifically intended for use with white wines. The center of the bottom has the expected tiny lathe mark where the vessel was raised from a solid block of silver. The handle is formed as a coiled snake in the traditional manner. The edge is engraved with the name of the original owner, Monsieur Robert. The tastevin bears the charge and discharge marks for Paris (1789) and an illegible master’s mark.

• Origin: France, 1789
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 3-1/16” x 3-7/8”
• Weight: 72.9 grams