posted 11-26-2008 09:23 AM            

I thought I'd give folks a little puzzle to ponder while digesting the Thanksgiving fixings (at least those of us who are celebrating Thanksgiving this week).

I purchased these spoons separately at two different yard sales, and thought when I found the 2nd that I had a matching pair. One was marked Aurora on the back, and the other Rogers & Bros, but I thought perhaps the Aurora was a pattern name. But then I looked at them more closely, and found that there were a number of differences.

Unfortunately, the bird in one of the spoons is somewhat worn, but I think you can pick out the subtle differences. I have come up with 15; I will post them at the end of the weekend, but meanwhile, see how many you can find!

posted 11-26-2008 01:37 PM            

Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

Just some thoughts to add. Rogers did make a multi-motif pattern with birds similar to your spoons, the pattern name given is called Unique. There also was a Silver Plate company named Aurora that started in 1869 in Aurora, Ill. It eventually was taken over down the road by Rogers.

posted 11-29-2008 01:12 AM            

The Aurora Historical Society has investigated the firm, and I did what I could to help. The main output was hollow ware, generally smaller table items. The styles are usually Eastlake types. Very nice, well made silver.

On flatware, there are two schools of thought. One is that their flatware was made for them by Rogers etc. Davis and Diebel state this as a fact, but I have my doubts. The other is that they bought dies from the Eastern firms when patterns were being discontinued. I lean towards that idea. From the items I have handled, there frequently is a slight difference between the Aurora and the Eastern patterns.

So, what I believe happened is that Aurora bought old dies, and had them recut slightly to make them sharper. Then produced the flatware.

posted 11-30-2008 04:04 PM            

1. One has a monogram (OK, that one isn't really a pattern difference, so it doesn't count)

2. The threading on the Rogers spoon has two even bands, and the Aurora spoon as a thinner inner band.

3. The daisies at the top of the spoon are different.

4. There is an extra little flower on the top of the Rogers spoon.

5. Each spoon has a black-eyed susan flower but the Rogers flower is bigger.

6. The fern leaf in the upper left side of the spoon is upright on the Aurora and drooping on the Rogers.

7. On the outside of the upper floral bands, the Rogers has double threads and the Aurora has triple threads.

8. The flowers in the upper bands are different.

9. The fan on the Rogers spoon is slightly larger.

10. The bellflowers hanging from the fan bottom are different.

11. The bird on the Aurora is bigger than the bird on the Rogers.

12. The branch that the birds are standing on are different.

13. The flower stems above the bird are different.

14. The Aurora bird's tail has longer feathers.

15. The flower branched in the middle of the spoons have different flowers.

16. The lower band on the Aurora handle is larger than that on the Rogers.

posted 11-30-2008 07:10 PM            

Walter and David Edward Mulholland were award-winning silversmiths who bought the company in 1915. The company was called Mulholland Brothers. Then in 1924 it became the Mulholland Silver Co. It went out of business in 1934.

jersey