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It is a piece by Whiting; the sterling stamp is the quality mark; the 6612 is possibly the model number. As for value that would not be proper on the forum.

what kind of restoration were you considering?

A little tall for a place card holder, most likely a menu holder for a formerly set table.

A match box would be the logical conclusion.

Most likely a punch cup, would have been part of a set.

The hoof would have been from a dead animal, maybe a prized racehorse or from another source.

With those 2 "bumps" on the front I would say it is for a cloven-hoofed animal like an elk or moose.

Here in the US monograms (closest we have to family crests) are typically up-side-down to the user. Odd indeed.

It looks like someone removed a dent from the bottom.

Spot on as usual Cheryl.

Country of origin is only required when exporting items to certain countries (like the US of A), and is not required for inner-country sale.

I concur Cheryl. It is very odd for Tiffany to place a pin finding atop their maker's mark. When I looked at this the other night all I could come up with is anemone for the flower but the foliage is incorrect, something Tiffany would be unlikely to contemplate let alone manufacture. It would be ver...

Made by Towle, it appears to be a bread basket.

That appears to be an American model/stock/set number, odd there is no marker's mark.

Thanks Cheryl! I have always called my service "Audubon" but will now rename it as all the pieces were collected prior to 1920.

I like that ratcheting lever better than the modern ones with direct rotati0n blade. it would be easier on everyone's fingers.

Being a jeweller, they are still in use today. Initials R.C.

Hi Joerg, Without going into any detail on individual values I follow this rule of thumb: 1. If it is mass manufactured and worn it is scrap. 2. If it was hand forged and worn it has character, and worth saving. 3. If it is worth saving, keep it as original as possible. Straightening fork tines is c...

Trev, That ups my assessment of the second engraver. To line a background like that and to do the interiors of the letters needs either a fool or a very skilled hand. One slip and you have ruined the item. The font still looks to be of a later date. I typically associate later Georgian with more ope...

Curiouser and curiouser! I read the engraving as by 2 distinct hands. The body of decoration is simplistic and in certain areas almost crude. The uniformity of depth of the lines and weakness of design is sharply contrasted with the lettering. The lettering was by a more practiced hand showing a ref...