Twelve American Coin and Sterling Silver Salt Cellars

Including:

An Assembled Set of Four Coin Silver Salt Cellars, ca. 1855, three by Gorham and one by Eoff & Shepard, for Ball, Black & Co., New York, New York, with hemispherical bowl with molded rim and raised on three stepped pad feet, two with gilt interior and engraved "Read", h. 1-1/4", dia. 2-3/4"; 8.96 total t. oz.

A Near Pair of American Coin Silver Salt Cellars, third quarter 19th century, by George Sharp (1819-1904) for Bailey & Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pedestal form, oval with upswept ends and raised on a conforming foot, the interiors gilt, monogrammed "ESH", h. 2-1/2", l. 3-7/8", w. 2-1/4"; 4.14 total t. oz.

A Pair of Wood & Hughes Coin Silver Salt Cellars, third quarter 19th century, New York, New York, pedestal form, the saucer-shaped bowl with conical collar and vertically reeded band, with reeded triangular stirrup handles en suite, raised on a steep double-domed pedestal, the interior gilt and fitted with a cobalt glass liner (one lacking), h. 2-1/4", dia. 2-5/8", 4.24 total t. oz.

A Pair of American Sterling Silver Salt Cellars, fourth quarter 19th century, by Black, Starr & Frost, New York, New York, model #250, pedestal form, the octagonally paneled bowl with waisted and molded rim and gilt interior, raised on a conforming pedestal foot, h. 2-1/8", dia. 3"; 4.61 total t. oz.

A Pair of Durgin Sterling Silver Salt Cellars, first quarter 20th century, Concord, New Hampshire, model #206, oval trencher form, with molded basal edge, monogrammed "MGMacF", h. 1", l. 3-1/8", w. 2-1/2"; 3.22 total t. oz.

25.17 total t. oz. (weighable silver)

Literature: Catherine B. Hollan, Philadelphia Silversmiths and Related Artisans to 1861 (McLean, VA: Hollan Press, 2013), pp. 9-10 & 182-183.
Margaret K. Hofer et al., Stories in Sterling: Four Centuries of Silver in New York (New York: D. Giles, 2011), pp. 158 & 336
Dorothy T. Rainwater, Martin Fuller & Colette Fuller, Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers, 5th ed. (Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 2004), pp. 31.
Margaret K. Hofer et al., Stories in Sterling: Four Centuries of Silver in New York (New York: D. Giles, 2011), pp. 178-179 & 312.
Charles S. Parsons, New Hampshire Silver (Exeter: Adams Brown, 1983), pp. 96-97.


Notes: The Gorham examples matching the Eoff & Shepard piece have no model number, and are not illustrated in Tompkins' catalogue. The Eoff & Shepard example, however, is clearly an original mate to one of the Gorham salts, and dates them with reasonable precision, suggesting that the design was one of Gorham's earliest.

Gorham/Eoff & Shepard Set: In generally very good condition; no dents, breaks or repairs, and only some light wear consistent with age. Faded gilding and some surface scratches on the bowl interiors.

Sharp Near Pair: In overall very good condition with no issues noted beyond some light surface wear consistent with age. Note that while identically marked and monogrammed, one salt is slightly wider and has a less oblate foot than the other. The gilding is slightly worn in one cellar, and significantly in the other.

Wood & Hughes Pair: One cellar has a shallow 1/2" long dent on the edge of the foot making it slightly out-of-round, and both cellars show fading to the gilding and spoon scratches on the interior. Otherwise no issues noted beyond light surface wear commensurate with age and use. Liner has a 1/4" chip and a few other tiny frits on the interior rim.

Black, Starr & Fronst Pair: In overall very good condition with no issues noted beyond surface wear consistent with age and use, including fading to the gilding.

Durgin Pair: In generally very good condition with minimal surface wear. Traces of gilding on the interior.