Essex by Towle

What a lovely solid looking pattern. Essex was introduced by Towle in 1890. The terminal has a motif of scrolls, the stem is slim and delicate, leading into a beautiful shoulder on the different pieces.

Sugar Spoon  (5 7/8 inches)




Old Style Pickle Fork (5 7/8 inches)



Cream Ladle  (5 inches)

Cheese Plane

The Cheese Plane is another cheese serving piece. Most have a stainless plane. You will see that all the examples I show are from Towle. Other companies list the piece in the patterns, however I could not find an example of it. I noted that the oldest of these Towle patterns only go back to the mid-1930's which make me think this may be a piece added later on since Towle has patterns dating back to the 1800's. 

Candlelight by Towle (8 3/4 inches)



French Provincial by Towle (9 1/8 inches)



Old Lace by Towle (9 1/4 inches)



Fontana by Towle ( 5/8 inches)

Contour by Towle

I generally prefer the older more decorative patterns, however, I thought it worth my time to share this pattern with you. Contour was introduced by Towle in 1950. One  source said it was 

"the first American sterling pattern to manifest post-World War II organic modernist design and the only production-line American flatware included in the Museum of Modern Art's Good Design exhibitions." I did find some discrepancy among sources as to who was the designer. One source said it was designed by Collin B. Richmond and another gave the design credit to Robert J. King.

The design is quite clean and simple, for whomever credit should go to. 

Bon Bon Spoon (4 7/8 inches)

Short Handle Pickle/Olive Fork  (6 1/4 inches)

Hollow Handle Knife  (8 3/4 inches)

Pierced Table Serving Spoon  (8 3/4 inches)

Essex by JB and SM Knowles

An exquisite pattern by JB and SM Knowles, Essex was introduced in 1889. The design includes a heavy pattern of scrolls and floral motif.

Sorbet Spoon (5 1/2 inches)




Teaspoon  (6 inches)

New Tipt by Gorham

Gorham introduce New Tipt in 1870.  The pattern has an interesting design with a motif rising from the base of the terminal up into an otherwise flat blank oval terminal. The stem is very slim. 


Large Solid Pie Knife (8 5/8 inches)




Pierced Sugar Serving Ladle (5 3/4  inches)



Fork (6 7/8  inches)



Small Fish Serving Fork (8 3/8 inches)

Number 2 by Duhme

Number 2 by Duhme is a unique pattern. It was introduced in 1885. Personally, I would think the odd design of the terminal which goes down a good third of the stem would be uncomfortable in one's hand.

Fork (6 3/4 inches)




Large Cheese Scoop 



Gumbo Soup Spoon (6 5/8 inches)

Sucket Fork

I have found random references to a Sucket Fork, but can only find one example of this utensil. The piece's purpose is for eating "Sweet meats". 

Lap over Edge (Insect/Foliage Motif) by Tiffany





This piece below, which looks incredibly similar, in Persian also by Tiffany, is referred to as a "Combination Olive Fork and Spoon". 





And, even though both of these examples are by Tiffany, I could find no reference to either such a piece in Hood's book on Tiffany. 

San Lorenzo by Tiffany

A stately pattern, San Loranzo was introduced by Tiffany in 1916. It is one of their lesser known patterns. From the terminal to the shoulder  the stem is a straight line gently getting smaller as it reaches the shoulder. The stem has a simple rectangular border around it and the terminal features a nice blank crest suitable for monogramming. 

Grapefruit Spoon (5 3/4 inches)


Individual Salt Spoon  (2 1/4 inches)




Individual Salad Fork (6 3/4 inches)

Florence by Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon introduced its Florence pattern in 1905. The design has a beaded edge around the terminal, simple lines down the stem, and a beaded edge as the stem joins the shoulder. The tip of the terminal has an embellishment that I can only describe as a "flouish of feathers". 

Salad Serving Spoon (8 3/4 inches)






Cream Soup Spoon (6 3/8 inches)

Cheese Fork

Another cheese serving utensil. The Cheese Fork can be found in most patterns. It usually has two tines.


Versailles by Gorham (5 1/2 inches)



Louis XV by Whiting (5 1/8 inches)



Francis I by Reed and Barton (6 1/4 inches)



Les Six Fleurs by Reed and Barton ( 5 3/4 inches)