Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art: Metals (281)

Very rare sterling silver oyster ladle in Whiting's classic 1880 "Bead" pattern. The simplicity of the handle decoration is relieved by the ruffled edge of the bowl. It's simplicity enables the pattern to work with a wide range of other American Colonial-inspired patterns. The oyster ladle form is quite rare, as only the most complete silver services ever had such serving pieces. Hallmarked with Whiting's early hallmark and "Pat Appd For" (indicating an early date).

Origin: America, 1880. Condition: excellent, no monogram, sharp detail, a pinpoint ding in the bowl. Size: 10-1/2" long. Weight: 120.0 grams.

Nice sterling silver sugar spoon in Whiting's classic 1880 "Bead" pattern. Whiting's designs are valued because of the small details such as the scalloped edges of the bowl. The reverse is marked with Whiting's old hallmark.

Origin: America, circa 1880s. Condition: excellent, no monogram.

Lovely sterling silver berry spoon dating from the reign of Queen Victoria. The gilt bowl is finely and elegantly decorated with a repousse pattern featuring grapes, pomegranates and apples. Both sides of the handle are decorated with bright-cut floral engraving. Clearly hallmarked for Birmingham, 1870 with the sovereign's head and the maker's mark "FE" in conjoined circles.

Origin: Birmingham, England. Condition: excellent; no monograms or removals. Size: 8-5/8" long.

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.

Superb sterling silver tongs in the "Kings" pattern. These are of the finest workmanship, exhibiting crisp detail on a very heavy blank. Fully hallmarked for London, 1842, with the Victoria head duty mark. The maker's mark is "WE" in conjoined circles.

Origin: London, England, 1842. Condition: virtually mint, period monogram "JJ". Size: 6".

Very rare sterling silver fish slice in the 1869 “Tiffany” pattern by Tiffany & Co. The pattern is characterized by a classical simplicity heightened with engraved strapwork in the Persian taste. The entire surface has an unusual matte finish. The pattern was modified slightly in later years and was called “Beekman”. The back is stamped “Tiffany & Co. Sterling Pat. 1869.”

Origin: America, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monogram. Size: 12” long. Weight: 134.5 grams.

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.

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.

A classic 19th century 2nd standard (800/1000 pure silver) tastevin, inset at the base with a 1669 coin bearing the likeness of King Louis XIV surrounded by "Louis XIV by grace of God King of France and Navarre." The obverse of the coin can be seen from the bottom of the tastevin. The coin is surrounded by the typical pattern of "perles" and elongated "godrons" designed to create reflections in the wine to better judge its color and clarity. The handle is formed as a pair of intertwined snakes grasping an apple in their mouths as an allusion to the Garden of Eden. The tastevin is stamped with French silver marks and with an illegible maker's mark.

• Origin: France, ca 1840.
• Conditions: very good; a slight flattening to the rim opposite the handle; coin has significant wear as expected of a 350 year-old coin.
• Dimensions: 3-3/8 xx 4-1/4" x 7/8".
• Weight: 95.0 grams.

A fine mid-19th century French silver tastevin (wine taster), the base inset with an 1810 Italian silver coin from the reign of Emperor Napoleon I as King of Italy. The bottom edge of the bowl is decorated with curved, scalloped "godrons" which were intended to reflect light through white wine to judge clarity. This tastevin does not have the "cupules" ("ovoides") specifically intended to deepen the color of red wines. The sides are decorated with grapevines and clusters of fruit. The handle is formed as a coiled serpent--as style particularly popular in Burgundy. The whole is raised on a circular ropetwist foot. Napoleonic coins are rarely seen in tastevins, and this piece probably dates to the Second Empire when Napoleonic items were viewed with some nostalgia. Fully hallmarked.

Origin: France, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent, sharp detail. Size: 3" diameter excluding handle. Weight: 72.3 grams.

An outstanding Restoration period French silver wine taster in the 18th century style typical of Lyon. With the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, many old styles from the ancien regime once again came into fashion, and this tastevin, building on decorative elements typical of the 1770's, is a perfect example. Tastevins with snake-form handles were particularly popular. Those with a pair of snake heads that somewhat resemble bird's heads flanking a sphere are typical of silver from Lyon. The punchwork decoration of grape clusters surrounded the bowl is also a typical 18th century design. The tastevin is completely handmade and was raised on a lathe in the traditional method, as is evidenced by the pinprick in the middle of the bowl and the remnants of hammer marks. The outer rim is engraved "F. Porcheret-Billard". Stamped with 2nd standard "tete de Minverve" hallmarks.

Origin: France, ca. 1840. Condition: excellent, sharp detail. Size: 3-1/2" diameter, excluding handle. Weight: 113.4 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.

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.

A classic 19th century French silver tastevin of traditional form and the bottom inset with a silver coin from the reign of Louis XV. The sides of the tastevin are decorated with the traditional raised "perles", recessed "cupules" and elgongated "godrons" for viewing the depth of color in a wine. The coin, dating to 1734, depicts the profile of the king surrounded by the legend "Louis XV, by grace of God, king of France and Navarre." The obverse of the coin, with sharp detail, can be seen from the bottom of the tastevin. The taster is completed with a handle in the form of a pair of snakes grasping an apple. In this example, the snakes' heads are shaped somewhat like ducks' heads, a characteristic of a certain group of tastevins from the Burgundy region. Stamped with an unknown maker's mark with the initials "EE".

Origin: France, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent, sharp detail to the tastevin, typical wear to the front of the coin. Dimensions: 3-1/4" x 4-1/8" x 7/8". Weight: 82.0 grams.

A lovely pair of imperial Russian spoons, the backs of the bowls decorated with finely engraved scenes depicting portions of the Arsenal and the State Historical Museum on Moscow’s Red Square. The handles are finished in the traditional twist motif. The surfaces are gilt, and the engraving is worked through the gilding in some areas and more lightly in others, allowing a nice contrast of colors within the design. Each is fully hallmarked for Moscow, dated 1889 and with the maker’s mark for Ivan Alexeyev (1876-1912).

Origin: Moscow, 1889. Condition: excellent, gilding intact. Size: 5” long. Weight: 27.2 grams (the pair).

A very attractive French silver (1st standard=950/1000 pure silver) tastevin, the bottom inset with a 1785 silver coin showing the bust of King Louis XVI. This tastevin departs slightly from the traditional form, with the fluted “godrons” placed immediately around the coin and the sides finished with very nice repousse decoration of grapes, vines and leaves. The tastevin is finished with a single coiled snake handle. Tastevins set with royal coins seem to have been popular during various times in the 19th century when France was ruled over by a king or emperor. Tastevins with Louis XVI coins are not often encountered, however. The tastevin is stamped with French silver marks and with an unidentified master silversmith mark.

Origin: France, ca. 1860. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 7.9 x 10.5 cm (3-1/8 x 4-1/8 in). Weight: 105.4 gr.

A lovely first standard (950/1000) silver tastevin, the bottom inset with a 1658 silver coin depicting the youthful image of Louis XIV surrounded by text translated as "Louis XIV, by grace of God, King of France and Navarre." The sides of the tastevin a decorated with clusters of grapes and elegantly curved godrons in the style typical of Orfevre Parrod. Coin inserts, however, are unusual in Parrod tastevins. The handle is worked in a simplified snake motif typical of Dijon. The handle is stamped with Parrod's hallmark.

Origin: France, ca. 1850. Dimensions: 2-9/16" diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 59.3 gr.

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