Seven coin silver tablespoons in the rare Knot pattern, marked W.H. Calhoun in rectangle (William H. Calhoun, working Nashville, 1835-d. 1865) with small S-shaped engraved mark also present. Monogram RF. 8"L. 11.225 oz troy. Circa 1860. Note: while there are a few extant examples of coin silver flatware in the Knot pattern, it is rare, and these are the only known examples of Knot flatware bearing Calhoun marks. The scarcity of other pieces in this pattern (which dates late in Calhoun's career) and additional small engraved symbol next to the rectangle bearing Calhoun's name raises the possibility he may have been the retailer of these spoons, not the maker, although his retailed works typically exhibit an incuse mark. The pattern itself may likely have been inspired by the Gordion Knot of Greek legend, which came to symbolize a problem that could only be solved by bold, extraordinary action and may have been symbolic of attitudes around the time of the Civil War. A very unusual example of one of the first decorative flatware patterns being sold in Tennessee. Condition: Light wear/loss of definition to pattern on backs of spoons;