Antiques

Item Description

This item includes two coin (90%) silver tablespoons in the Hourglass variation of the King pattern made by Thomas Fletcher, Philadelphia, PA and sold by L. Veron & Co, Philadelphia between 1828 and 1841.

This is your chance to own a piece (or two!) of American history!

Information about American Coin Silver:

This term describes the solid silver tableware made in the U.S. from Colonial times until the late 19^th century.  While “sterling silver” contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper and other metals, “coin silver” generally contains between 80% and 90% silver.  Occasionally coins were melted down to provide the silver, but just as often, raw silver was mixed with copper to form the alloy or other previously wrought flatware (spoons, etc.) and hollowware (teapots, etc.) were melted down for the same purpose.  Until the 1820’s almost all the silverware was hand-hammered from bars or plates.  As the 19^th century progressed, steam driven stamping machines and lathes were used to help the silversmith form the objects.

Most families first bought teaspoons for use with china tea sets or, perhaps, tablespoons for the ever-present soup course.  Silver forks did not appear in great numbers until the 1840’s.  Full sets for the dining table were rare until the 1870’s.  Teaspoons, often of mixed patterns, were kept in glass “spooners” for use at the tea table.  Tea or breakfast knives of coin silver appeared in the 1840’s, as did butter knives.

Today these beautiful relics of yesteryear are as useful as ever.  Generally costing less than modern or plated silverware, they can be used for their original purposes today.  Collect a number of antique teaspoons and put them in a “spooner” for Thanksgiving pie and coffee.  Buy a small ladle and use it for serving ketchup in a polite manner.  No more ugly ketchup bottles on the table!  Set your holiday table with two glass master salt cellars and coin silver salt spoons.  Serve mustard and horseradish in antique or modern condiment jars with a coin silver spoon made just for that purpose.  Buy an entire dessert set in a matching pattern from different makers (sometimes called a “Harlequin” set”) and have an elegant dessert party.  The uses are endless and are limited only by your imagination.

Item Special Note

SHIPPING/PICK UP: A winning bidder who is present at the Care Affair gala will retrieve this item prior to checking out for the evening. 

This item will be shipped to a winning bidder who is not present at the Care Affair gala, with shipping & handling costs charged as a separate transaction to the credit card registered with Bidding For Good. If a bidder wins multiple items, we will make every effort to ship the items together. 

FEES: A credit card processing fee of 2.5%, or 3.5% for AmEx, will be added to the amount of the winning bid and charged to the credit card registered with Bidding For Good.

PLEASE NOTE: We have described the items as accurately as possible, based on the descriptions and values provided by the donors.  All items are sold as is.  If you have any questions, please contact info@care-affair.com. 

THANK YOU FOR BIDDING!