Up for bid is a scarce set of 12 small tea forks in the Orientalist ARABESQUE pattern by Whiting, introduced in 1875. The forks are 6 1/4 inches long and together weigh 360 grams. They are really more like youth fork size, and may have been intended as salad forks.  The forks are monogrammed “L” on the handle fronts.  The spoons are marked “G.W. RUSSELL” and “PAT.1875” with the Whiting trademark and “STERLING" as shown. 

Condition on the forks is fair.  They were buffed at some point, so they are overly shiny and “new” looking.  The pattern has lost some detail, but it is not drastic.  A rare set in a great old pattern!