Shiebler Antique Sterling Silver Serving Fork, NYC, NY, c. 1890s

Showing splendid floral, foliate, and scroll details, this exuberant serving fork is a wonder.  Featuring a fleur-de-lis at the top, the handle contains a series of flowers. The tines are made of more flowers with scrolling rococo details.

Made of many small cast pieces soldered together, this server (more a cabinet piece in reality) displays design and craft virtuosity.  The fact that it was made is nearly as remarkable as its survival.

The unique construction reveals the difficulty of creation. The back of the tines shows the original wire used to support the piece. These conform to the decoration and are hand finished on the front in the small areas they can be seen.

Few pieces better display the efforts that George Shiebler's shop undertook to achieve their creative genius. The amount of work to cast and finish so many small pieces and then assemble them is remarkable and is a testimony to the talents of the silversmiths who worked there. 

This amazing server measures 10.3 inches long and weighs 3.95 troy ounces. It is marked with Shiebler's trademark, "STERLING," and "4124." Originally parcel-gilt, the fork retains traces of that gilding. Otherwise, it is in exceptional antique condition.