William A. Cooke, Petersburg and Norfolk, Virginia.

This huge fifteen inch ladle is the first piece marked by this maker that I have seen.
No examples of his mark is shown in Cutten nor in Belden. Cutten suggests that W.A. Cooke was the son of William Cooke, silversmith of Petersburg.
The early finless form of this ladle strongly suggests that it was produced as early as 1810, and certainly before 1820. Thus, W.A. Cooke may have been a relative of Wm. Cooke, but likely not his son.
Cooke was later in business with Andrew White in both Petersburg and Norfolk. White died and W.A. White took his son as a partner. That partnership seems to have dissolved by 1838.
This magnificent ladle is perhaps the most important piece of Cooke silver extant.

SOLD