A Group of Silver and Silver-Plate Flatware

Various Makers, Late 19th Century

comprising a set of eight sterling silver teaspoons in a bird pattern, by J.E. Caldwell & Co., Philadelphia, PA, engraved with monogram, "ERB," marked; a sterling silver luncheon fork in the "Persian" pattern by Tiffany & Co., New York, NY, engraved with monogram, "CHM," marked; a sterling silver serving spoon by Gorham Mfg. Co., Providence, RI, marked; a set of six coin silver tablespoons by Bailey & Co. (1848-1878), New York, NY, engraved with monogram, "AKB," marked; a set of twelve coin silver dinner forks by Bailey & Co. (1848-1878), New York, NY, engraved with monogram, "AKB," marked; a mixed set of twelve silverplated dinner forks by Isaac S. Williams & Co., Philadelphia, PA, seven engraved with monogram, "TSS," and five engraved with monogram, "TDS," marked; and a silverplated serving ladle by Isaac S. Williams & Co., Philadelphia, PA, engraved with monogram, "TSS." (41 items total).

24 forks, six serving spoons and two sauce spoons (41 items total).

Length 8 1/4 inches (tablespoons), Total weight: 42.225 oz. t. (sterling and coin silver only)

Property from the Buck Family Collection, Philadelphia

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

William "Bill" Clifton Buck (1928-2023) was a successful businessman, avid sportsman, and leader within the Philadelphia community. Bill attended Lafayette College, where he majored in Economics, and later joined the family business, Smith Kline and French (later GlaxoSmithKline). Alongside his brothers, he founded and expanded The Drug House and later established TDH, a venture capital firm that invested in major companies such as ESPN and Staples. Bill married Laura Thomas (1931-2024) in 1954, and they enjoyed a vibrant 68-year marriage. Together, they were active philanthropists, supporting numerous organizations and causes in Nantucket, Vero Beach, and Philadelphia, including the Barnes Foundation and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In addition, Bill’s lifelong passion for baseball led him to become a partner in the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981, and he cherished the team's successes, including the 2008 World Series win.

“Bucktucket,” their beloved Nantucket residence, offered an impressive backdrop for the couple’s collection of Nantucket art. The furnishings of Bucktucket, a traditional cedar-shake house, and of the couple’s Villanova residence seamlessly blended their varied interests into an inviting and cohesive aesthetic. Bill and Laura loved discovering just the right things to fill their homes, meeting artists and dealers along the way. Their collection is marked by several spectacular pieces, including fine period furniture, maritime painting, scrimshaw, sailor’s valentines, wool-work pictures, ceramics, and folk art, offered within this single-owner sequence.