Lot 80
North America, New York City, ca. 1910 to 1923 CE. A collection of five 18 karat gold teaspoons, each stamped with a detailed crown low on its handle, and in the form of the Faneuil pattern. Each has three stamps high on the handle on the back: "Tiffany & Co.", "Makers" and "18 Kt. Gold" with a mark after that. Gold Tiffany's flatware is incredibly rare, because it was always made as a special commission, designed not to be eaten from - the gold was too soft - but as a display item. Teaspoons and coffee spoons were sometimes made of gold as keepsakes, and the crown may have been to mark a special occasion with personal significance to the commissioner. Size of each spoon: 4.35" L x 0.85" W (11 cm x 2.2 cm); weight of each: 19.8 g; total weight of all five: 99 g.
Tiffany & Co. rose to prominence in the late 19th century, winning awards for metalworking that had previously only been awarded to Europeans. Newark, where they made their flatware from 1894 onward, was the American center for gold refining and the jewelry industry, providing easy access to gold for Tiffany's designers. Some of these custom pieces were incredibly impressive. For example, one commissioned in the early 20th century by Elbert H. Gray, the founder of US Steel, was a full dinner service for eighteen, consisting of 566 total pieces and weighing 270 pounds, all in 18 kt gold! That service was so large that it had to be hidden after the Gold Reserve Act of 1934 passed, which forbade the ownership of large quantities of gold. These golden spoons would have been a prestigious item, reminding their owners of an important anniversary or moment.
Provenance: private Boulder, Colorado, USA collection
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#123624
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| $300 | $999 | $50 |
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| $200,000 + | $25,000 |