Whiting Antique Sterling Silver Nautical Design Bowl with matching English Bowl, NYC, NY, c. 1880s and London, 1888/89

These striking bowls come alive with sea life. Exceptional, hand-chased compositions of various shells and seaweeds and two crabs on each create a stunning nautical display. The beauty of various flowing seaweeds and seashells with naturalistic cracks and imperfections is heightened by the extraordinary details and use of partial gilding. Both have hammered interior surfaces that shimmer in a lovely honeycomb design.

Almost unbelievably, this is a matched pair. The English bowl is made to match the Whiting one, and the quality of the match is exceptional. Only the slightest differences in the details of chasing and construction can be detected. - and it takes work. Differentiating the two is a real exercise in connoisseur-ship!

Provenance: Private Collection.

One of these bowls is marked with Whiting's trademark and by the NYC retailer 'THEODORE B. STARR' along with their star mark and 'STERLING/ 1050.' The other example bears London sterling hallmarks with a date mark for 1898/99. It is also marked 'GOLDSMITHS/ & SILVERSMITHS COMPANY Ltd/ 112 REGENT St. LONDON.' Both the Whiting and Goldsmiths bowls also bear scratch marks 'W. B111' and 'W. B201' respectively. They measure just over 8.75 inches in diameter by 1.25 inches high, weigh a combined 29.40 troy ounces, and are in excellent antique condition.