$5.2m bid smashes previous record for American silver

John Ward, head of Sotheby’s New York silver department, said it was the piece of American silver that had it all: “Large size, great condition, beautiful design by an idiosyncratic maker, fresh provenance, and a great story.”

The toast of this year's Americana Week in New York was the spectacular $5.2m (£3.33m) achieved at S…

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