Fletcher & Gardiner Antique Coin Silver Flatware Service, Philadelphia, PA, 1820-25

A spectacular service by one of America's leading silver manufacturers and most important silversmiths at the time, this rare service is in the 'Fiddle Thread and Shell' pattern. This single-struck design (meaning it only appears on the front) consists of a lovely shaped handle with a bold shell at the top. The reverse is engraved with a script-style 'R' monogram. Flatware is rarely seen by this company and to have a service this large is extraordinary.

This 94 piece service consists of:

18 Dinner Forks
24 Table Spoons
24 Dessert Spoons
24 Tea Spoons
04 Master Salt Spoons

Thomas Fletcher and Sidney Gardiner ran the most important silversmithey of the young republic, receiving commissions to make the most significant presentation silver of their day, including: The DeWitt Clinton Urns (Erie Canal, now at the Met), The George Armistead Punch Service (Commander at Fort McHenry, now at the Smithsonian), The Isaac Hull Urn (Commander of the Constitution, now in the Naval Historical Foundation's collection), etc.

Provenance: By descent through the Rotch family of New Bedford, Massachusetts. William R. Rotch married Caroline Stockton of Princeton, NJ on July 17, 1820.

This wonderful coin silver service is stamped on the back 'F&G'. All pieces are in excellent condition with 1 old repair on a spoon bowl.