Oct 9, 2025 10:00 EST
American Paintings / American Silver
156
American Assembled Silver Plated “Antique Egyptian/Scarab” Pattern Flatware Service
Including Rogers and Smith Silver Co., second quarter 20th century
Comprising:
Sixteen dinner forks
Ten cocktail forks
Eight cake forks
Nine dinner knives
Eight tablespoons
Eight dessert spoons
Eight teaspoons
Eight demitasse spoons
Serving spoon
Gravy ladle
(77)
Provenance: Commissioned for the Cafe de l'Opera, New York, 1909
The Café de l'Opera in New York City was a short-lived but extravagantly ambitious restaurant opened in 1910 to great fanfare at Broadway and West 41st Street. Encompassing all eight floors of the building and staffed by over 750 employees, it was hailed as the most lavish dining establishment in the city at the time. Over $1.25 million dollars ($30 million today) was spent in the renovations to create an exotic Babylonian inspired space that resembled a grand movie set.
Amongst its most opulent features was a custom silver plated flatware service originally commissioned from Smith Silver Co., which was designed in an ornate Egyptian motif featuring scarab beetles—a symbol of rebirth and luxury. The restaurant reportedly stocked over 200,000 pieces of silverware, a staggering number that reflected its grand vision.
Sadly, the Café de l'Opera shuttered just four months after opening due to financial overreach, and much of its exquisite silver service was sold off to pay creditors.
$800 - $1,200
Including Rogers and Smith Silver Co., second quarter 20th century
Comprising:
Sixteen dinner forks
Ten cocktail forks
Eight cake forks
Nine dinner knives
Eight tablespoons
Eight dessert spoons
Eight teaspoons
Eight demitasse spoons
Serving spoon
Gravy ladle
(77)
Provenance: Commissioned for the Cafe de l'Opera, New York, 1909
The Café de l'Opera in New York City was a short-lived but extravagantly ambitious restaurant opened in 1910 to great fanfare at Broadway and West 41st Street. Encompassing all eight floors of the building and staffed by over 750 employees, it was hailed as the most lavish dining establishment in the city at the time. Over $1.25 million dollars ($30 million today) was spent in the renovations to create an exotic Babylonian inspired space that resembled a grand movie set.
Amongst its most opulent features was a custom silver plated flatware service originally commissioned from Smith Silver Co., which was designed in an ornate Egyptian motif featuring scarab beetles—a symbol of rebirth and luxury. The restaurant reportedly stocked over 200,000 pieces of silverware, a staggering number that reflected its grand vision.
Sadly, the Café de l'Opera shuttered just four months after opening due to financial overreach, and much of its exquisite silver service was sold off to pay creditors.
American Silver
With wear from use; some with engraving to terminals
Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact and our Organization shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. Please contact the specialist department to request further information or additional images that may be available.
See our 'Buying at Doyle' page for more information.
Auction: American Paintings / American Silver, Oct 9, 2025
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Auction of American Paintings & Prints on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 10am in New York
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
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We Invite You to Contact Us for Complimentary Auction Estimates of Your Collection
NEW YORK, NY – Doyle will hold an auction of American Paintings & Prints on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 10am in New York. The sale will present works from the late 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, including fine examples of portraiture; still lifes; nautical paintings and Hudson River, Western and regional landscapes. Also offered will be a selection of Audubon, Currier & Ives and topographical prints.
American Silver – Thursday, Oct 9 in New York
American Silver will be exhibited and auctioned concurrently with American Paintings & Prints. Showcased will be a wide array of silver spanning the 18th through 20th centuries, with notable examples by prominent makers from the colonial era to the modern period. Read More
American Furniture & Decorative Arts – Friday, Oct 10 in Boston
Doyle Boston will host our semiannual auction of American Furniture & Decorative Arts! The inaugural ‘Americana in Boston’ auction will feature an outstanding selection of 18th and 19th century American furniture and decorative arts. Read More
SALE NOTICE
This sale will be presented as a live auction event conducted by an auctioneer. Place your bids conveniently using the following convenient methods:
- In Person
Experience the excitement of a live auction! We invite you to bid in person with a paddle in our saleroom. For information, please email client.services@Doyle.com - Absentee Bids
Enter your absentee bids directly into the online catalogue until 8am on the morning of the sale. For information on Absentee Bids, please email bids@Doyle.com - BidLive! Online Bidding
Use your computer or mobile device to place bids in real time as the auction progresses with our online bidding platform, BidLive! Read More - Telephone Bids
Your completed Telephone Bid Form must be received by 4pm on the evening before the auction. Download the Telephone Bid Form - We are available to guide you through the entire bidding process and answer any questions you may have. Please contact us at bid.live@Doyle.com
PAYMENT
Please note that all purchases are subject to a Buyer's Premium
Payment can be made in the following ways:
· By credit card (an additional 3.5% fee will be charged)
· By wire transfer. For instructions, please email client.accounts@Doyle.com
PICKUPS & SHIPPING
For information, please contact client.accounts@doyle.com
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
REQUEST AN ESTIMATE
See our Conditions of Sale.
