American Sterling Silver Cream Ladle

American Towle Old Colonial Cream Ladle

M2049. American Towle Old Colonial pattern monogrammed vermeil sterling silver cream ladle. First issued in 1895, Towle's Old Colonial pattern reflects a Neoclassical influence from Colonial America, presented with a flanged fluted bowl, recalling architectural columnar shafts, dipping from a handle molded with two elongated beaded “C” scrolls enclosing a slender waisted lower shaft, and the upper shaft rounding between two small beaded “C” scrolls underlying an ogee-molded end punctuated with two beaded serpentine-scrolls flanking a paneled urn having a dramatic flame finial cut-out between the scrolls to suggest a “broken pediment” recalling the Early American case furniture.

The flame finial is repeated at the base of the handle, asymmetrically enclosed in two “C” scrolls. The back surface of the handle simplifies the design from the front, eliminating the body of the urn and the basal flame finial figure; but, adding two small rosettes punctuating the termini of the beaded serpentine-scrolls, as well as a large beaded half-shell dropping on the back surface of the head. the ladle is personalized by three initials, “E H S” engraved in ornate cursive on the reverse of the handle at the end.

Attributed to Towle Silversmiths in Newburyport, Massachusetts, dating after 1893. The back surface of the handle at the base is molded in relief with two indications of the silver standard, the fraction “925/1000” and the word “STERLING,” accompanied by a trademark composed of a right-side profiled rampant lion nested inside of the script initial “T.” Good condition. Measures 5 ½" long. $55.00
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