A Group of Eight Coin Silver Fiddle-Back Serving Articles

Various Makers, Philadelphia, PA, First Half 19th Century

comprising a soup ladle by Samuel Williamson (1772-1848), engraved with monogram to handle end, "TRB," and monogram to handle underside, "JFBR," marked; a tablespoon by George Russell, circa 1825, engraved with monogram, "AH to ACV to LBS," marked; and a set of six teaspoons by Richard & William Wilson (active 1825-1846), engraved with monogram, "AMK," marked.
10.76 ozt gross
Length 12 inches.

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.

To request further details about this lot, please email [email protected]

Please contact the Auction Specialist for details.

Sam Cowan

Associate Vice President, Head of Sale, Interiors Interiors

[email protected]312 280 1212

Sam Cowan is the Associate Vice President, Head of Sale, Interiors
Interiors by Freeman's.

Sam has spent his life in the auction industry, accompanying his father, Wes Cowan to auctions, trade shows and eventually to his own eponymous auction house, in the mid-1990s. He joined his father’s auction house, Cowan’s, full-time in 2012 in the Arms and Armor department and as a fine and decorative arts specialist, a department where he would ultimately become director. Sam has an interest in 20th century design, pottery, early advertising, historic Americana and antique firearms. He is a licensed auctioneer in three states and is a featured appraiser on The Antiques Roadshow.

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A Group of Eight Coin Silver Fiddle-Back Serving Articles

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