Catalog: Vintage Arts: Decorative Art: Metals: Silver (188)

A very handsome set of twelve sterling silver coffee spoons in a hammered Arts & Crafts design reminiscent of Georg Jensen. The design is very well-conceived, with the arching rows of beads echoing the slightly round indentations left by the hammering process. The spoons are just a bit larger than traditional demitasse spoons, but certainly smaller than teaspoons. The backs are stamped with the guarantee mark of Christian Frederik Heise, who was assay-master in Denmark from 1904 until 1932. They also bear the year mark for 1926. The spoons are presented in their original silk-lined fitted box.

Origin: Denmark, 1926. Condition: excellent, period monograms on the backs of handles. Size: 4-3/4” long. Weight: 149.0 grams.

A very handsomely decorated set of 12 sterling silver demitasse spoons. The handles are finely decorated with a cast and pierced stylized bellflower. The swirling character of the finial design nicely contrasts with the more angular line of the lower handles and the oval bowls. The backs are fully marked with Swedish hallmarks for 830 silver, including the town mark for Norberg.

Origin: Sweden, ca. 1940. Condition: excellent, all original, no monograms. Size: 4-1/16" long. Weight: 92.0 grams.

An elegant sterling silver small letter opener in Kirk’s “Repousse” pattern. The wide end is beautifully decorated with a pattern of roses and foliage against a stippled background. The flat edge is marked off so it can be used as a ruler. The back is marked with the Kirk hallmarked used 1932-61.

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent, very light wear to the first few 1/16” makers on the ruler at the pointed tip. Weight: 26.5 grams.

A beautiful set of six silverplated scallop shell dishes by Tiffany & Co. The dishes are worked with wonderful detail—even the feet have a decorative treatment similar to snail shells. These dishes are perfect for butter, mints, nuts, or even individual servings of cocktail sauce. The bottoms are marked “Tiffany & Co/Makers/Silver-Soldered”.

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent, no plating wear. Size: 3-13/32” x 4-5/8” x 1-3/16” high.

A remarkable sterling silver bonbon spoon by Watson. The detail is easily equivalent to work by Tiffany, Whiting or the other great Victorian silversmiths. The bowl is decorated fully with grape leaves, clusters of fruit, and delicate tendrils finished with intricate piercing. The handle, designed as knarled grape vine, widens into a large cluster of fruit surrounded with foliage at the tip of the handle. The back of the handle is also decorated to match. The back is marked with Watson’s old hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1905. Condition: excellent, all original, sharp detail. Size: 6-3/8” long. Weight: 64.0 grams.

A handsome set of four sterling silver salt dips with cobalt blue glass liners. The silver walls are intricately pierced in the 18th century style and are raised on scrolled feet. The salts have fitted cobalt blue glass liners. The salts are fully hallmarked for Birmingham, 1934 and have an unidentified maker’s mark “WA” in a shield.

Origin: England, 1924. Condition: excellent, no dings, cracks or chips. Size: 2-3/16” x 1-11/16” x 1-1/4” tall. Silver Weight: 74.0 grams.

Lovely pair of sterling silver short candlesticks, the sockets with an engraved design and flaring outline suggestive of a tulip blossom. The design has a nice Art Deco feel and is really much more interesting than the typical short candlesticks of this type. The bottoms are marked “Sterling” but have no maker’s mark.

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent, the bottom edge of one stick has a few truly pinpoint-sized dings (not really visible except when upside down). Size: 4-3/8” tall; 3-1/2” diameter at base.

A terrific pair of Art Deco sterling silver tension-hinged sugar tongs or “nips” by W. & S. Sorensen. The twisted upper handles are decorated with gilt crown-shaped finials and the tong ends repeat the twisted pattern of the upper handles. The tongs could be used for sugar cubes, candies, or even olives. Hallmarked by Sorensen. The tongs are very well made and are quite heavy.

Origin: Denmark, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent, all original, traces of original gilding intact. Size: 4-3/8” long. Weight: 30.5 grams.

Elegant sterling silver basket of sterling silver, pierced to reveal a cobalt blue glass liner. The neo-Gothic style piercing is accented with a tiny band of beading just below. The basket is raised on a foot. The swing handle is unadorned. The bottom is hallmarked by Redlich.

Origin: America, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent, no dings or cracks, no monogram. Size: 5-1/2” tall to top of handle; 4-1/4” diameter. Silver Weight: 122.5 grams.

Phenomenal Art Deco cocktail shaker and six matching cocktail glasses by Gorham. The gently curving surface has a quilted appearance created by deeply incised vertical and horizontal lines. The spout and handle are attached to the body with a cobweb-like decorative device. The cocktail glasses are raised on tall stems with knops decorated to match the bowls. The same decorative element is repeated where the stems meet the flaring bases. The interiors of the bowls retain the original gilding. The bottom of each piece is fully hallmarked for Gorham with the year mark for 1928. The shaker is marked with the pattern number GA 13825 and the glasses with GA 13826.

This set was featured in Gorham's 1929 catalogue under the heading, "Sterling Splendor: Eminently Indispensible Silver Necessities of the Luxurious Modern Home." The set was the most expensive shaker offered by Gorham and cost the equivalent of a car or a small farm. Partly as a result of its sellling price, this set is one of the rarest cocktail shakers ever made. Gorham produced silver in the Art Deco and modernist style for only a short period (1926-29) under the guidance of famed silversmith Erik Magnussen worked there. Though it has been attributed to Magnussen (Visakay), it was probably not one of his designs since none of the very few examples are signed by the designer.

Origin: America, 1928. Condition: excellent; shaker has no dings, deep scratches or monograms; two of the glasses have a small flat ding on the edge of the weighted base. Size: shaker, 12" tall; glasses, 5-1/8" tall. Weight: 2,064 grams.

A terrific set of 12 Art Deco silverplated knife rests. The design on the ends combines severely linear elements with bas-relief details—the ultimate in Art Deco styling. Each “porte-couteau” is marked with unidentified French hallmarks.

Origin: France, ca. 1920. Condition: excellent. Size: 3-1/8” long.

Astounding set of 12 Art Deco sterling silver swizzle sticks with star-shaped ivory finials by Jean Puiforcat, one of France’s most important silversmiths. The silver is beautifully gilt to accent the natural color of the ivory. The swizzle sticks are presented in their original red felt-lined fitted box marked “Puiforcat Orfèvre Paris”. Puiforcat is extremely high-end and articles that bear the Puiforcat mark are always of the absolute finest quality and rarity.

Origin: France, ca. 1935. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 4-5/16” long; ivory stars, 1-1/16” diameter. Weight: 130.5 grams.

PLEASE NOTE: This item cannot be shipped outside the United States.

Sterling silver pastry server in Georg Jensen’s 1927 “Viking” pattern (also called “Nordisk”). This is one of the rarest Jensen patterns, and was designed by the master himself. It is beautifully crafted of the heaviest silver and combines traditional Scandinavian motifs with an Art Deco sensibility. The reverse is stamped with the hallmark used until 1930. This pattern has been out of production for many years, and is extremely hard to find.

Origin: Denmark, 1927-30. Condition: excellent, sharp detail. Size: 7-1/2” long. Weight: 70.5 grams.

A set of six sterling silver coffee spoons by Asprey & Co. Each spoon has a brownish-black bakelite “coffee bean”—a decorative device popular in England during the Art Deco period. Each spoon is fully hallmarked for Asprey, 1931. The spoons are presented in their original silk- and velvet-lined fitted box, the lid of which is imprinted “Asprey/166 Bond St/London”.

Origin: England, 1931. Condition: excellent, all original, no monograms. Size: 3-7/8” long. Weight: 43.0 grams.

Pretty sterling silver sardine fork in Manchester's 1951 "Amaryllis" pattern. The design is somewhat similar to Chantilly, and has a very Victorian feel. The fork could be used for sardines, as well as for a variety of hors d'oeuvres. The back of the handle is stamped with Manchester's hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1951. Condition: excellent, no monogram. Size: 5-1/2" long. Weight: 23.5 grams.

Very fine pair of George VI sterling silver master salt dishes. The salts are raised on paw feet surmounted by lion masks. The everted rims are gadrooned. The salts retain the original cobalt blue glass liners. The salts are identical, but were made in different years by the same silversmith. One has the date mark for 1936 and the other for 1939. The only difference is that glass liner in one is a little thicker than the other.

Origin: London. Condition: excellent, all original, no dings or monograms. Size: 2-7/8" diameter; 1-1/2" tall. Weight: 202.0 grams (silver only).

Handsome pair of large cobalt glass oval open salt dishes in pierced sterling silver holders. The bottoms are hallmarked by Watrous.

Origin: America, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent. Size: 3-3/16" x 2-1/4" x 1-1/16" tall.

Very nice set of eight sterling silver cocktail picks with rooster finials brightly decorated in translucent basse-taille enamels. The engraved decoration underneath the enamel lends realistic feathery details to the roosters. The exposed areas of silver are gilt. The backs are marked "925S Norway Sterling."

Origin: Norway, ca 1950. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage. Size: 3-13/16" long. Weight: 29.5 grams.