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

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.

A lovely Victorian sterling silver sugar sifter in Whiting’s 1882 “Antique Lily Engraved” pattern. The simply-shaped handle is decorated with bright-cut engraving of foliage with a spray of lilies-of-the-valley cascading across the end. The bowl is matte gilt and pierced in a pleasant design that does not compete with the restrained decoration of the handle. Sugar sifters were used to sprinkle sugar over fruit during the dessert service, and are not terribly common. The reverse has a period inscription, “Wade”, and is stamped with Whiting’s hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1885. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, gilding intact. Size: 5-7/8” long. Weight: 25.0 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".

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 very rare sterling silver chamber stick in a repousse floral pattern by Shiebler. The overall floral decoration depicts buds and full-blown rose blossoms against a background of leaves. Areas between the leaves are finished with a stippled texture. The knop of the candle socket and the bobeche are plain and make a nice contrast to the elaborate decoration. The thumbpiece is accented with a fan-shaped element that is suggestive of Shiebler’s more Aesthetic-style pieces. The bottom of the bobeche is stamped with Shiebler’s hallmark, the pattern number 1174, and the retailer’s mark “J. E. Caldwell & Co.”

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, a small rim ding and a couple of pinpoints on the bobeche. Size: 6” diameter; 3-1/2” tall. Weight: 211.0 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 wonderful set of 10 sterling silver egg spoons in Tiffany’s rare 1872 “Vine” pattern in the “Wild Rose” variant. “Vine” was made in several variations, all of which depicted flowers and fruit that grown on vines. The elongated rounded bowls nicely complement the wavy handles decorated with sinuous wild rose vines. The backs are fully marked with Tiffany marks used 1875-91.

Origin: America, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent, very sharp detail, no monograms. Size: 4-1/16” long. Weight: 107.5 grams.

A very pretty sterling silver berry or casserole spoon by Durgin. The handle is nicely engraved in an ivy pattern, while the gilt bowl is engraved with a flock of butterflies. The back is stamped with Durgin's earliest hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, no monogram, sharp detail, gilding faded to pale lemon. Size: 9" long. Weight: 59.0 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.

Spectacular and rare sterling silver souvenir spoon by Tiffany & Co. The spoon commemorates Commodore George Dewey's 1898 victory at the Battle of Manila during the Spanish-American War. The handle is decorated with a bust of Dewey encircled by a laurel wreath. The wreath is tied with a ribbon which cascades down the stem of the spoon and bears the words "Manila May 1st 1898". The stem is further decorated with seaweed, four stars signifying Dewey's rank, and an anchor. The reverse of the handle is decorated with the laurel wreath and ribbon encircling the coat of arms of the state of Vermont and has Dewey's birth year. The stem is marked "Tiffany & Co. Sterling". All in all, this is one of the most spectacular souvenir spoons by Tiffany we've ever seen!

Origin: America, 1898. Condition: normal light wear, period 3-letter monogram on reverse of handle. Size: 5-7/8".

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.

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.

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.

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.

An oustanding sterling silver centerpiece basket by Gorham. The sides and handle are decorated with extremely ornate bright-cut engraving in a swirling foliate pattern. The motif is repeated to great effect in the gilt feet that raise up the basket. The intersection of the handle and feet is finished with an applied classical lion mask. The surfaces are finished in an acid-finished matte texture. The reeded border and the feet are enhanced with matte gilding, while the interior is finished with highly polished gilding. The centerpiece is an excellent example of Gorham's work for an elite market in the years immediately following the Civil War. The bottom is stamped with Gorham's hallmark, the date mark for 1871, and with Gorham's retail location at Union Square in New York.

Origin: America, 1871. Condition: very good, the interior has some small dings and light wear to the gilding visible in raking light only when the centerpiece is empty. Weight: 737.0 grams. Size: 7-1/4" x 10-1/4" x 8-1/4" tall.

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.

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 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.