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L726
This is a rare service of 'Medallion' pattern flatware. 119 pieces in total, it primarily consists of pieces by Gorham with additional items by John Wendt.
The Gorham pieces include:
12 luncheon forks
12 dinner forks
12 soup spoons
12 dessert spoons
12 flat handled luncheon knives with a quarter twist
12 tablespoons
22 teaspoons
1 ice spoon
They are all marked with Gorham's trademark and 'STERLING/ PAT. 1864'.
The Wendt pieces include:
8 ice cream spoons
1 pair of sugar tongs
1 master butter knife with a quarter twist
2 pc long-handled salad serving set
John Wendt didn't stamp his pieces with a maker's mark. The ice cream spoons are stamped with the NYC retailer 'BALL, BLACK & CO/ PATENT/ 925'. The tongs are stamped with the Philadelphia retailer 'BAILEY & CO/ PATENT/ 925' and the butter knife and salad set are stamped 'JE CALDWELL/ PATENT/ 925'.
There is also a set of 12 mother-of-pearl handle dinner knives.
This magnificent service is all monogrammed on the back 'MWJ' for Matilda Walker Jayne.
Provenance: Matilda Walker Jayne was the daughter of Dr. David Jayne and married James M. Bullock in 1867(1). Dr. Jayne made a fortune in the medicinal tonic market of the early 1800s. One of his patented medicines was Indian Tonic and Expectorant Vermicide. About 1850 he hired famous local architects to construct a 10-story building in the 200-block of Chestnut Street, Philadelphia and about 1860 at Chestnut and 19th streets, a home colloquially known as the "Marble Mansion". Even after his death, Dr. Jayne's Medical Almanac continued to be printed until 1930 when by that time over 500 million copies had been distributed. (See here, and here.)
By descent in the family.
This rare service comes in the original fitted box with a silver nameplate engraved 'MWJ' along with a key and tag which reads 'Special ORDER No 26522 J.E. CALDWELL PHILA'. Roughly half the teaspoons and half the tablespoons have been lovingly restored and/ or reinforced where the bowl joins the handle. The original box has been refinished and relined. Otherwise, the pieces are in excellent antique condition with a total weight of 141.35 troy ounces.
Endnote:
