Desk Accessories

Edwardian sterling silver bulldog paperclip. A sweet beast with furrowed brow, floppy ears, and endearing saggy jowls. Birmingham, England maker’s stamp for Gorham and English import marks with 1905 date letter. Very good definition, deep patina, and taut spring.

Dimensions: H 1 3/8 x W 3 1/4 x D 3 5/8 in. Weight: 5.7 troy ounces. #BN888

Edwardian sterling silver double inkwell on stand. Made by Graff, Washbourne & Dunn in New York, ca 1910. Rectangular stand with 2 square bottle wells and tubular pen rest. Three-sided gallery rail with pierced scrollwork and scrolled egg-and-dart rim. Corner leaf-mounted scrolled supports. Each bottle: Rectangular clear glass with tubular well. Facets and diaper cut to underside. Sterling silver collar ring and hinged cover.

Hallmark includes no. 955 and retailer’s stamp (T. Kirkpatrick... Click for details

Edwardian sterling silver and cut-glass inkwell on stand. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1900.

Inkwell: Clear rectilinear glass with urn well and diaper cut to underside. Short neck with color and hinged cover with engraved flower-and-scroll wreath (vacant) and applied bead-and-reel. Stand: Square has deep well engraved with interlaced script monogram. Shoulder has same flower-and-scroll border and bead-and-reel rim. Hallmarks have date symbol and nos. D645M (inkwell) and B912M (stand). ... Click for details

Midcentury Modern sterling silver ashtray. Made by Spratling in Taxco, Mexico. Urn with 3 horizontal cradles and 3 ball supports. Three rows of circles applied vertically to exterior. A funny, anthropomorphic design, suggestive of a headless human. 1940s hallmark. Condition: Good with nice patina. Minor dents, especially on supports.

Dimensions: H 2 1/4 x W 3 x D 1 7/8 in. Weight: 2.4 troy ounces. #BN789, BN790 & BN791

Antique sterling silver letter opener. Cast terminal in form of Indian chief with feathered headdress and intense, gaunt face. A nice piece of turn-of-the-century Native Americana. Hallmarked “Sterling 97”. Very good condition with strong definition.

Length: 10 1/2 in. Weight: 6.4 troy ounces. #BN881

Art Nouveau sterling silver letter rack. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1901. Three shaped and open descending arches mounted to rectangular base. Front and back have bracket supports. Chased leaves and flowers. A pretty turn-of-the-century desk accessory. Hallmark includes date symbol, no. B1626M, and retailer’s stamp Shreve, Crump & Low. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 5 7/8 x W 6 1/2 x D 2 1/4 in. Weight: 7.8 troy ounces. #BN712

Art Nouveau sterling silver letter opener. Made by Graff Washbourne & Dunn in New York. Shaped and tapering handle and curved blade. Handle front chased with Wagnerian female profile, her long tresses entwined with tendrils and flowers. Back plain. A dense and fluid fin-de-siecle design that bespeaks the symbolic potency of Woman. Hallmark includes no. 730. Excellent condition with strong definition.

Length: 11 3/8 in. Weight: 5.4 troy ounces. #BK177

Art Nouveau glass and sterling silver inkwell. Made by Gorham in Providence. Rectilinear clear glass block bulbous well. Sides have carved ornament: Fluid scrollwork and stylized flowers. Short neck in sterling silver collar surrounded by squarish same mount and hinged cover. Engraved interlaced script monogram and interlaced scrolls, flowers, and leaves. Hallmark includes no. D788. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 4 1/4 x W 3 1/2 x D 3 1/2 in. #AW242

Edwardian glass and sterling silver inkwell. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Rectilinear clear glass block engraved with ferns and flowers. Short neck has sterling silver collar with hinged square cover. Hallmark includes pattern no. 17360 (first produced in 1909) and director’s letter m (1907-47). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 4 3/8 x W 4 x D 4 in. #BN657

Large sterling silver ashtray in Bamboo pattern. Made by Baldwin & Miller in Newark, ca 1950. Shallow bowl with notched rim and applied golf club. Single cigarette cradle. A fun novelty from the tobacco-friendly midcentury. Hallmark includes pattern no. 13600. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 3/4 x W 7 3/8 x D 6 1/2 in. Weight: 6.5 troy ounces. #BP696

Exotic sterling silver match safe. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1884. Hinged cover has ring and underside strike. On front and back is a head of a Japanese oni, a folkloric figure. Hallmark includes no. 390 and Japanese date letter. Very good condition with deep patina.

Dimensions: H 1 7/8 x W 1 1/4 x D 1/4 in. #BN361

Novelty sterling silver postage stamp envelope. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1890. Envelope engraved with script direction and franked with an enameled George Washington 2-cent that is canceled "New York / Dec 25 / 10 AM / 90". A second cancellation on back. Script presentation engraved on flap interior “Papa from Gladys”. The envelope contains a leather-bound booklet with thin translucent leaves for holding stamps.

A poignant period piece with a nice Christmas association.... Click for details