Set of 11 Coin Silver Tablespoons, mostly Robert Wilson, NYC, c. 1800-1810.
From the same service as the dessert spoons, this set is a rare and early example of American coin silver flatware in the 'old english' pattern. Although matched by 3 separate
makers, they are practically identical.
The set consists of 7 spoons marked 'RW', made by Robert
Wilson who is listed in New York City Directories as working from 1803-1810. It appears there were two Robert Wilsons, father and son. Father (1766-1824), worked in New York and then
Philadelphia (after 1814). His two sons, Robert and William, became the famous silver company R&W Wilson of Philadelphia (working 1824-70?). As Robert I was born in 1766, it is entirely possible he was working
before being listed in the directories in 1803 when he was 37 years old. (Please refer to American Silver at Winterthur, p. 446, by Ian M. G. Quimby and Marks of American
Silversmiths in the Ineson-Bissell Collection, p. 449, by Louise Conway Belden.)
There is also 1 spoon marked 'G. W & H' for Gale, Wood and Hughes listed in New York c. 1835-45. The 3 other spoons are English sterling by the late eighteenth century spoon
maker Richard Crossley, London, with a date mark of 1796-97.
The crests on all the spoons are depictions of a falcon with spread wings. The crest on the English and G.W&H spoons are identical and depict a falcon with spread wings holding a
twig in its beak. The crest on the RW spoons vary slightly and does not have the twig as part of the crest. These tablespoons measure from 8.5 inches (Crosley) to 9.25
(Wilson) inches long, weigh 23.5 total troy ounces and are in excellent antique condition - great tips, very little dinging to the bowls.
We speculate this set originated with the English spoons and was added to by American silversmiths as the family grew, acquired more wealth and could afford more silver. This
accumulation over time was common and these matched, nearly identical spoons tell a better tale than many sets.
Our Price: SOLD
Item code: F18
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