Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art: Metals (281)

Elegant sterling silver sauce ladle by Baker-Manchester Co. The lobed bowl has matte gilding and the rare feature of a pouring spout. The reverse is marked with the company's hallmark.

Origin: America, circa 1898. Condition: near mint, no monogram. Size: 5-1/4" long.

John C. Moore period Tiffany & Co. sterling silver child's fork decorated with the nursery rhyme "Cock Robin & Jenny Wren." The fork shows the likeness of Mr. Robin wearing a tuxedo and Ms. Wren demurely peeking over her fan. The back is marked "Tiffany & Co. Sterling". The back also bears the letter M designating manufacture between the years 1875 and 1891.

Condition: excellent; usual wear to outer tines; no monogram. Size: 6-1/4" long.

Sterling silver sugar spoon with very fine decoration of a peacock amidst trailing foliage. The bowl is parcel gilt and is decorated with bright-cut engraving. The reverse is marked "Sterling". Before 1916, many American silversmiths did not mark their name on flatware.

Origin: America, circa 1885. Condition: excellent, period monogram "B" on reverse side. Size: 5-5/8" long.

Superb early Gorham lady’s purse, the exterior decorated in the Aesthetic taste. The surface is matte-finished and accented with areas of matte-finished and glossy parcel gilding. Each side features a triangular area of engraving representing what appears to be a bough of olive branches with olives. The purse’s beveled edges are glossy and are decorated simply with rows of bright-cut engraving. The purse opens with a push on the thumbpiece to reveal an interior divided into three compartments and lined with the original teal blue silk shantung. The purse retains its original chain. The inside rim of the purse is marked with the earliest form of Gorham’s lion-anchor-G hallmark, along with the pattern number “210”, “Sterling” and the date letter for 1871.

Origin: America, 1871. Condition: excellent, a small ding in the engraved area on one side (visible in raking light), all original, the silk lining with almost no wear. Size: 3-1/2” wide, 2-1/2” high, 1-1/2” thick, 11” chain. Weight: 68.0 grams.

A gorgeous boxed set of 12 sterling silver demitasse spoons in the “Wild Rose” variation of the “Vine” pattern. The spoons have gilt bowls in the elongated shape often seen in Tiffany demitasse spoons. The bowls enhanced with soft matte gilding. Each is stamped with the Tiffany mark used 1873-1891. The spoons are presented in their original fitted box lined in “Tiffany blue” silk and embossed with the company’s logo. The box includes Tiffany’s original Paris location, dating it to the period 1878-1910

The “Vine” pattern was most likely created by Edward C. Moore, Tiffany’s chief designer, and was introduced in 1872. The design included a variety of floral and vegetable elements including wild roses tomatoes, gourds, irises, wheat sheaves, etc. They with different appearances, the designs were intended to be used together—a reference to the Japanese decorative concept of mismatching that became popular in Europe and America after Japan was opened to trade in the 1850s. Few pieces in the pattern were made after the mid-1880s.

Origin: America, ca 1880. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, gilding intact; box's hinge side has been reinforced with archival bookbinding tape. Dimensions: spoons, 4” long. Weight: 132.8 grams.

Lovely pair of sterling silver sugar tongs with opaque turquoise and white enamel decoration. The quality of these tongs is apparent from the ornate and elegant piercing of the tips. Stamped on the inside “Sterling 1212” and hallmarked by the H. H. Curtis Co. (North Attleboro, MA, 1891-1915).

Origin: America, circa 1900. Condition: excellent, no missing enamel, no monogram, faint lemony gilding. Size: 3-1/4” long.

Beautiful set of six sterling silver seafood forks in terrific Art Nouveau pattern by Joseph Seymour. Each piece is covered from the tip of the handle to the very beginnings of the tines with curves and stylized chrysanthemum-like blossoms in the Japonaise style. The tines are nicely curved and barbed. The backs are hallmarked by Seymour.

Origin: America, ca. 1885. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monograms. Size: 6-1/8” long. Weight: 87.5 grams.

A fine sterling silver gravy ladle in the 1892 “Richelieu” patterns by Tiffany & Co. This is one of Tiffany’s great early patterns and is very sought after today. It is distinguished by shell motifs at the handle and pendant bellflowers that lead down the stem. The flattened bowl is elegantly gadrooned to match the scalloped edge. The back is marked with Tiffany’s hallmark in use 1891-1902.

Origin: America, ca. 1895. Condition: excellent, sharp details, no monogram. Size: 7-3/8” long. Weight: 83.5 grams.

A very nice Imperial Russian enameled silver spoon by Gustav Klingert. The bowl is beautifully decorated in five shades of opaque cloisonné enamels and in translucent red and amethyst. The design I modified floral pattern with a Persian-style reserve. The handle is finished in a fish-scale enameled pattern. Exposed areas of silver are stippled and gilt. The interior of the bowl is engraved “Moscow”, indicating that the spoon was sold as a souvenir to an American or English visitor. The handle is fully hallmarked with the city mark for Moscow and Klingert’s maker’s mark. The date mark is obscured, but the assay master Lev Oleks was active only between 1890 and 1896.

Origin: Moscow, 1890-96. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, gilding intact. Size: 4-7/32” long. Weight: 15.9 grams.

Victorian brass figural picture frame in the form of a medieval knight's shield with a halbeard and lance. Cut from heavy-gauge brass, this frame shows great originality and design sense. The back has a hinged easel.

Origin: England, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent. Size: 8" x 5".

Elegant Victorian sterling silver serving dish with intricate repousse and pierced sides. The sides are finished off with a cyma-curve border punctuated at compass points with baroque shell motifs. The bottom is fully hallmarked for London, 1891-92, and has the maker’s mark “WC”. The piece is quite heavy and is of the very good quality.

Origin: England, 1891-92. Condition: excellent, no dings, no monogram. Size: 9” x 6-1/2” x 1-3/8” high. Weight: 177.5 grams.

Ornate Victorian sterling silver pie server by Gorham. The pattern is very similar to "Dresden", but is not an exact match. The handle is covered with various motifs, including shells, flowers, scrolls, and foliage. The bowl is very nicely scalloped and elegantly decorated with engraving to match the handle. The original gilding has faded to a soft lemon shade. Pie servers are not very common and are quite useful for all sorts of pie, pastries or cakes, or even tea sandwiches. The back is marked with one of the earlier Gorham hallmarks.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: very good, light wear to details on the handle, no monogram, original gilding intact. Size: 9” long. Weight: 74.0 grams.

Lovely Louis XVI style sterling silver fish slice. The elegant spade-shaped matte vermeil blade is engraved with the crossed quiver and torch design originally popular in the late 18th century. The blade and handle are marked by the maker, Pot & Cie., and the handle is marked with a French silver hallmark.

Origin: France, ca. 1890. Condition: very good; a bit of discoloration on the blade and very light wear on the handle. Size: 12-1/2" long.

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

Fabulous 19th century sterling silver christening cup by Whiting Manufacturing Company--one of the America's most sophisticated silver companies. The entire surface is covered with repousse decoration of roses, lilies, and philodendron leaves. A reserve, just opposite the handle, is engraved "Lily". Cups such as these were used as presentation gifts for babies when they were christened. Most often, they were given by the godparents. Obviously, this particular cup was chosen because of the link between the child's name and the design that incorporates lily blossoms! The bottom is stamped with Whiting's hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no dings, period engraved "Lily". Size: 2-7/8" tall. Weight: 90.0 grams.

A lovely set of six sterling silver strawberry forks in Lunt’s 1893 “Navarre” pattern. This pattern was actually developed by A. F. Towle & Sons, which eventually was purchased by Lunt Silversmiths. The handles are beautifully decorated in an asymmetric pattern of volutes, acanthus leaves and flowers. The slightly splayed double tines retain their original matte gilding. The backs are marked with the A.F. Towle hallmark and the retailer’s mark “G. Frank”.

Origin: America, ca. 1895. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, original gilding, no monograms. Size: 4-25/32” long. Weight: 52.0 grams.

Heavy sterling silver serving spoon in Gorham’s wonderful 1888 “Versailles” pattern. This was a multi-motif pattern, meaning that each type of flatware in a service had a different handle design. This serving spoon shows a farmer in Classical dress carrying sheaves of wheat—quite a curious motif compared to the ornate scrolls and shell motifs that make us the rest of the design. The back of the handle is marked with Gorham’s older hallmark and also the mark for extra heavy weight—not often encountered, even in this high-end pattern.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: very good, no monograms, no dings or deep scratches, sharp detail, the bowl shows normal use but could easily be buffed. Size: 8-1/2” long. Weight: 80.25 grams.

Very rare pair of sterling silver salad servers in the 1888 "Rococo" pattern by Dominick & Haff. This is one of the company's most desirable patterns. The pieces are quite simply, enormous! The handles are beautifully decorated with an ornate floral pattern that is repeated at the top of the bowl and tines. The backs of the handles are simply decorated with a vine motif along the edges. The bowl and tines retain their original gilding. The backs are marked with Dominick & Haff's hallmark and the patent date.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, all original, no monogram, gilding intact. Size: 11-1/2" long. Weight: 276.0 grams.

A phenomenal Victorian sterling silver soup ladle in Whiting’s “No. 26” pattern. The top of the handle features incredibly detailed peony foliage. The twist stem leads to the fluted and scalloped bowl. At the junction of the bowl and stem, a full-blown peony blossom is delicately engraved into the silver. The bowl is parcel gilt. “No. 26” is an extremely rare pattern. It is always very finely made and exceptionally heavy, even by Whiting’s standards. The pattern is a multi-motif design, so each piece has a slightly different, but related, decoration on the handle. The back of the handle is engraved with the original owner’s name. The back is also marked with Whiting’s old hallmark and the pattern number.

Origin: America, ca. 1895. Condition: excellent, the original gilding is slightly faded. Size: 13” long. Weight: 210.0 grams.

An elegant first standard (950/1000 pure silver) French silver tastevin in typical 18th century Burgundian style. Rather than with the typical "perles" and fluted "godrons", the bowl of this tastevin is decorated with repousse grape leaves and berries in the 18th century style. This treatment is sometimes seen in tastevins made by Parrod, but the particular decoration is different than any other we've seen. Similarly, the handle, in the form of two duck heads grasping an apple is a very exaggerated variation of the usual form seen on tastevins from Lyon. The base is fully hallmarked and has an unidentified silversmith's mark "M tête grec D".

Origin: France, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 3-3/16" diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 72.3 grams.

Superb American coin silver soup ladle, the bright-cut flared handle narrowing to a twist handle that leads to the deeply scalloped bowl. Twist handle pieces are especially desirable, particularly when combined with other outstanding decorative elements. The back is stamped with the mark for Farrington & Hunnewell, silversmiths who worked in Boston beginning in 1835.

Origin: America, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent, no monogram or monogram removal. Size: 11” long. Weight: 150.0 grams.

Gorgeous sterling silver berry spoon in Durgin's 1891 "Watteau" pattern. The rococo design of the handle is wonderful on its own, but when combined with the decoration of the bowl, it's stunning! The back is hallmarked by Durgin.

Origin: America, ca. 1895. Condition: excellent, all original, period monograms on both the front and back. Size: 7-1/2" long.

A fine Victorian sterling silver sugar sifter with a medallion handle, possibly by George Sharp. Rather than the usual relief medallion, the handle features an applied medallion of considerable depth and detail looking straight forward. The medallion is surrounded ornate engraving that extends the full length of the handle. The engraving, as well as the overall outline of the handle, are very similar to known George Sharp patterns. Sugar sifters were used in the 19th century to break apart large pieces of sugar. Today, it could be used to serve vegetables or anything else that might need to be drained. The back is marked “Sterling” but does not have a maker’s mark.

Origin: America, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, all original, no monogram. Size: 8-1/8” long. Weight: 76.0 grams.

A set of six sterling silver demitasse or coffee spoons in Gorham's early (1870) "Swiss" pattern. The design is similar to Gorham's other early sterling patterns, with a decidedly classical decoration of anthemion leaves. The bowls have a matte finish which contrasts nicely with the handles. The backs are engraved with a period 3-letter monogram "LBE". The backs are marked with Gorham's early hallmarks.

Origin: America, circa 1870. Condition: excellent, no dings, sharp detail. Size: 4-9/32" long.

Exceptional American coin silver melon spoon in the Grecian taste. Although simply marked "Coin" this spoon could easily be the work of Gorham, Coles, or other makers of similar repute. The matte finished bowl is decorated with repousse lobes highlighted with bright cut engraving; the handle solely with bright cut engraving.

Origin: America, New England or Mid-Atlantic region; circa 1860. Condition: excellent; no monogram. Size: 8.25" long.

A very finely-made coin silver pastry or cake server, the handle decorated with a spray of flowers in the Aesthetic style. The blade has ornately shaped sholders and wonderful bright-cut engraving. The back of the handle has a period 3-letter monogram "MSS" and is marked "Pure Coin Pat. App. For". The retailer's mark is "Hutchinson & Connell".

Origin: America, ca. 1860. Condition: excellent, a very slight bend at the very tip of the blade and light surface wear, sharp details, traces of original gilding on blade. Size: 8-7/8" long. Weight: 70.0 grams.

A magnificent sterling silver claret spoon by Dominick & Haff. This example is strikingly decorated in a pattern representing three different varieties of chrystanthemums. The decoration appears to be loosely based on Dominick & Haff's "#10" pattern, though this is much more ornate. The area around the flowers is intricately pierced in the rococo style. The back bears Dominick & Haff's hallmark and the pattern number "32".

Claret spoons were produced for a short time at the end of the 19th century. Despite being named for the famous red wine, their function really had nothing to do with wine. Small fruits and berries, perhaps soaked in an alcohol or other liquid, were often served from tall, narrow pitchers of cut glass, porcelain or silver. The long claret spoon was used to remove from the fruit from the pitchers. Today, the spoon could be used to serve sangria as well as various desserts based on fresh fruit.

Origin: America, ca. 1980. Condition: nerly mint, period "BBS" monogram. Size: 17" long. Weight: 113.0 grams.

An uncommon set of six nut picks, the mother of pearl handles attached to the silverplate picks with sterling silver ferules. The ferules are decorated with ropetwist borders flanking an ornate acanthus leaf pattern. In the Victorian era, fresh nuts would have been served alongside and cheese and fruit as a dessert course. The ferules are marked "Sterling".

Most sterling silver flatware services before 1900 had mother of pearl cutlery instead of knives that matched the rest of the service. Mother of pearl pieces such as a nut picks are considerable less common than knives.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, no plating loss. Size: 5-1/4".

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.

A rare sterling silver pickle fork in Towle’s 1887 “Pomona” pattern. The long handle is decorated with a cornucopia overflowing with peaches, pears and grapes amidst foliage. The handle twists before leading into the matte gild three-tined fork. This piece would have been used for pickled vegetables, but could now be used for a variety of foods. The long size is much more difficult to find than the shorter version. The back is stamped with Towle’s hallmark and the patent date.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, original gilding, period two-letter monogram. Size: 9” long. Weight: 28.0 grams.

A phenomenal Victorian sterling silver cheese scoop in Whiting’s “No. 26” pattern. The tip of the handle features a gorgeous full-blown peony blossom and bud. The twist stem leads to the deeply curled bowl. “No. 26” is an extremely rare pattern. It is always very finely made and exceptionally heavy, even by Whiting’s standards. The pattern is a multi-motif design, so each piece has a slightly different, but related, decoration on the handle. The back is marked with Whiting’s old hallmark and the pattern number.

Cheese scoops were used to serve blue or soft cheeses. The implement insured that the diner could have a quality serving from deep inside the cheese, rather than just a slice off the less desirable outer surface of the cheese.

Origin: Ameica, ca. 1895. Condition: excellent, the original gilding on the bowl has faded to a very pale lemony yellow, sharp detail, original 3-letter monogram. Size: 8-9/16” long. Weight: 73.0 grams.

Fabulous brass and copper picture frame in the Aesthetic Japonaise style. The basketweave pattern of the brass frame is detailed with raised copper decorative elements that include a crane standing in a stream, bamboo and cherry blossoms. The back has an easel. The frame is 3.5" x 2.75". The oval opening with glass is 2.25" x 1.5". Circa 1870.

A wonderful sterling silver trout set in Towle's 1884 "Arlington" pattern. The handles are decorated in the repousse style with a profusion of roses and foliage. The decoration lends itself to being mixed with many of the repousse patterns from the Baltimore area. It is the blade of the trout knife, wonderfully decorated with an engraved trout leaping into the air after biting a lure (the entire casting rod in the background), that really sets these servers apart. Complete Victorian services included fish sets, but trout servers are extremely uncommon. They are a bit smaller than regular fish servers and have a slightly different shape. Towle, in particular, seems to have been fond of the form. The backs are stamped with Towle's hallmark and the retailer's mark "H. G. Shupp".

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, light surface wear, a small bend at the tip of the knife's upper lip. Size: fork, 8-1/8" long; knife, 10-1/4". Weight: 140.5 grams.

A very handsome sterling silver gravy ladle in John R. Wendt’s “Medallion” pattern. Wendt’s version was one of the earliest designs to use classical profiles as the primary decorative element. The medallion, depicting the goddess Pallas Athena, is supported by a reeded stem that leads to the oval bowl with flared edges. The back is stamped with the retailer’s mark for D. H. Buell & Co., and with the “925” that is often found on early Wendt pieces.

Origin: America, ca. 1865. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monogram, no dings. Size: 7-3/8” long. Weight: 76.5 grams.

Lovely sterling silver bowl by Gorham. The bowl is basically formed in the traditional Revere style, but has a folded over rim enhanced with an Art Nouveau border of waterlilies and lilypads. With Gorham's usual attention to detail, the waterlilies are presented in several stages of development from early bud to full bloom. The bottom is marked with Gorham's hallmark along with date mark for 1898.

Condition: very good; the decorative detail is very crisp; the interior of the bowl shows light scratching from normal use; there is one pinpoint ding on the bottom of the bowl; retains lemony-tinted gilding in and near the decorative areas; no monograms or removals. Size: 6.5" diam.; 2.25" high. Weight: 8.8 troy ounces.

A very good sterling silver wine bottle or decanter coaster by Gorham. The flared lip is heavily decorated with a floral scrolled border in the Rococo style. The repousse decoration is finely done. The bottom of the coaster is fully hallmarked with one of the older Gorham hallmarks, the design copyright date 1889, the pattern number 325 and the date symbol for 1891.

Origin: America, 1891. Condition: excellent, one pinpoint ding visible on very close inspection, no monogram. Size: 6-3/4" diameter. Weight: 135.6 grams.