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

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.

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.

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

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 delightful early 19th century French silver tastevin featuring a 1770 Louis XV coin and a wonderfully decorated handle. The handle decoration depicts a man seated atop a wine barrel grasping a wine bottle in one hand and a Cupid's arrow in the other. The design is completed with the legend "Vive l'amour et le vin" ("Long live love and wine."). This type of handle was developed in the early 1700s and was used mostly in the Burgundy region. The use of real silver coins as a decorative element is seen in tastevins dating from the mid-1700s onwards. The handle is stamped with 19th century hallmarks.

Origin: France, ca. 1840. Condition: excellent; 2 pinpoints to the bowl and a slight ding along the edge opposite the handle. Dimensions: 3-1/4 x 4-1/4 x 7/8 inches. Weight: 95.0 grams.

A fine pair of sterling silver sugar tongs in the classic “Kings” pattern. The design is very nicely worked and the tongs are generously sized. The inside of the tongs are fully hallmarked for London, 1837. They also bear the William IV duty mark. This mark, used in conjunction with the 1837 date mark, was used for only 22 days before being changed to the Victoria duty mark. The maker’s mark is that of either William Barber or William Barrett II.

Origin: England, 1837. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monogram. Size: 6” long. Weight: 59.0 grams.

A handsome pair of sterling silver sugar tongs from the reign of King William IV. The sides are decorated in a classical late Georgian shell and thread motif. The quality is very fine. The interior have pristine hallmarks for London, 1834-35, and the maker’s mark for William Eaton.

Origin: England, 1834-35. Condition: nearly mint, no monogram, sharp detail. Size: 6-1/8” long. Weight: 69.5 grams.

Outstanding pair of early American coin silver sugar tongs. The arms are cut in a modified fiddle shape and are decorated with superb applied fruit baskets. The claws are shaped as scallop shells. The end has a period monogram “BC”. These are undoubtedly the finest coin silver sugar tongs we’ve seen. The inside is marked with an unidentified pseudo-hallmark.

Origin: America, probably New England, circa 1815. Condition: excellent, sharp detail. Size: 6-5/16” long. Weight: 51.5 grams.

A pair of sterling silver berry spoons of the finest quality dating to the reign of George III. The quality of the repousse and bright cut decoration is beyond compare. The design of the bowl includes cherries, applies, pomegranates and foliage. The backs are clearly hallmarked for London, 1800 and for the maker Thomas Wallis. Excellent condition; no monograms or removals. 9" long.

A classic George III sterling silver wine coaster, the bombe sides with egg and dart decoration and the rim with gadrooning. The decoration is finely crafted. The turned wood base is centered with a silver escutcheon bearing an unidentified coat of arms (dancetty with three swords points down) impaling that of Ashby (ermine chevron and three leopard’s heads) tied with a ribbon. The coaster is clearly stamped with hallmarks for London and the second George III duty mark (1786-1821). The maker’s mark is rubbed, but consists of two pairs of initials, the lower pair being “CB”. The year mark is also illegible. Stylistically, the coaster most likely dates to slightly before or during the early part of the Regency Period (1811-1921). The bottom retains its original green baize fabric.

Origin: England, ca. 1810. Condition: excellent, no dings or cracking. Size: 6-1/4” diameter; 1-3/4” high.

English sterling silver berry spoon dating from the reign of George III. The lobed bowl is decorated with repousse apples, berries and foliage; the handle with bright cut engraving, both added later in the 19th century. (We are also offering another berry spoon by a different silversmith and with a slightly different shape, but with identical decoration. Certainly the two spoons were decorated by the same engraver and repousser.) No monograms or removals. The reverse is clearly hallmarked for London, 1812 and the maker's mark "IL" is possibly that of James Lloyd. Excellent condition; the vermeil bowl has faded to a faint lemon color. 8-5/8" long.

English sterling silver berry spoon dating from the reign of George III. The lobed bowl is decorated with repousse apples, berries and foliage; the handle with bright cut engraving, both added later in the 19th century. (We are also offering another berry spoon by a different silversmith and with a slightly different shape, but with identical decoration. Certainly the two spoons were decorated by the same engraver and repousser.) No monograms or removals. The reverse is clearly hallmarked for London, 1811 and an unidentified maker "SA". Excellent condition; the vermeil bowl has faded to a faint lemon color. 8-1/2" long.

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.

A nice coin silver rattail spoon by John Brown, active in Baltimore from 1799, after apprenticing in Philadelphia. The bowl is rather narrow, suggesting it was to be used as a pap spoon. The spoon must have been an early piece from Brown's shop, as the design is quite clearly drawn from late 18th century styles. The three-letter monogram in a bright-cut cartouche is also characteristic of the period. The back is marked with Brown's punch.

Origin: Baltimore, ca. 1800. Condition: a few small to moderate dings in the bowl. Size: 5-5/8". Weight: 11.25 grams.

Terrific pair of sterling silver sugar tongs dating to the reign of George III. The design (made by cutting reflective facets in the silver) is very nicely executed on this quality piece, and unlike many Georgian tongs, these are quite heavy.

The tongs are marked with the lion passant and the script hallmark "GS" for George Smith, entered in London in 1782. Since the tongs bear no other marks, they were probably made to order and the duty was never paid.

No monogram and in excellent condition. 5-5/8" long.

Extraordinary late 18th century German silver sugar scissors in the form of a circus monkey. The monkey is wearing a harlequin suit and a bonnet and is grasping two rings that, upon closer inspection, are serpents. Monkeys were very popular exotic animals and inspired wondeful tableware including Meissen figurines and assorted silver. Often they were shown wearing human clothing and performing human tasks. The tongs are fully marked with late 18th century German hallmarks.

Origin: German States, ca. 1775. Condition: excellent, all original, very little wear. Size: 4-1/2" long. Weight: 55.0 grams.

A phenomenal and extremely rare George III sterling silver footed wine bottle or decanter coaster retaining its original ruby glass liner. Bottle or decanter coasters of the period are typically formed as simple round collars over turned wooden bases, perhaps enhanced with a bit of engraving or a border. This example is much finer than most others, with its ornately hand-sawn pierced gallery and undulating rim, the whole raised on tall volute feet with scrolled terminals and acanthus leaf capitals. Laurel wreath swags complete the design. The stand is finished with a blown ruby glass liner, precisely cut to fit the silver (it aligns with the silver only if placed exactly correctly). The pierced gallery has a small reserve that appears never to have been engraved. The silver is fully hallmarked for London, 1774-75. As was the practice, the hallmarks were applied before the decoration was complete, and when the piercing was performed, the maker's mark and duty mark were obliterated. Only the edges of those two punches are visible amongst the piercing.

Origin: England, 1774-75. Condition: excellent, all original, no repairs, a few tiny fleabites on the rim of the glass liner. Size: 5-3/8" diameter; 4-1/2" high. Silver Weight: 322.0 grams.

Superb Georgian sterling silver swing-handle basket. The bottom of the basket is formed of a silver sheet stamped and pierced in an intricate grapevine motif. The sides, constructed of interwoven silver wire, rise from the base and are decorated with grape cluster appliqués. The rim suggests grape vines, as well. The swing handle is decorated at the top with another cluster of grapes and foliage. The whole is raised on acanthus leaf feet. The inside of the handle is hallmarked for Edinburgh, Scotland, 1795. The sovereign’s head duty mark is stamped, but there is no maker’s hallmark, suggesting perhaps that the basket was a commissioned piece. In its time, the basket would have been used for serving sweets or small fruits. The design was very fashionable the piece is well-executed, making it a choice piece of Scottish Georgian silver.

Origin: Scotland, 1795. Condition: excellent, very sharp detail, no dings, no monograms, all original. Size: 8-3/4” x 7-1/4” x 6-3/4” tall to top of handle. Weight: 398.0 grams.