Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar

The Story Behind this Blog

Being from the South, Silver is a very big part of my life. It doesn't have anything to do with wealth. Although those with more money - old money, tend to have more of it. New money tend not to spend their money on Silver. They do not have the appreciation for the warmth of the metal, the beauty of the patina, the story it tells of the generations past who have used it. A true southern girl comes of age when she chooses her silver pattern, long before she chooses her mate. If she is smart, she chooses that of her mother, grandmother, or favorite great aunt who in their benevolence will pass their silver on to her. It is the pieces in those sets, the pieces on our tables, along with the pieces we find in the corners of the displays in antique stores that prompted me to start this blog. They are beautiful, they are odd, but what are they, and what in the hell do you do with them?

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Priscilla and John by Westmorland

It is always interesting to learn the provenance of a pattern's name. In the case of Westmorland's Priscilla and John ((1940), my guess is that this pattern was named for the characters in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1858 poem "The Courtship of Miles Standish". Priscilla is known to literary history as the unrequited love of newly widowed Captain Miles Standish. According to the poem, Standish asked his good friend John Alden to propose to Priscilla on his behalf, only to have Priscilla ask, “Why don’t you speak for yourself, John?”

Individual Salt Spoon ( 2 3/8 inches)

Butter Spreader (HH) (6 1/8 inches)

Casserole Spoon (9 inches)

Two Piece Baby Set

Monday, April 23, 2018

Bottle Opener

The sterling Bottle Opener is a very practical piece. It up-scales your bar anytime you are entertaining.

Rondo by Gorham (1951) (5 1/2 inches)

Du Barry by International (1968) (7 1/4 inches)

Silver Masterpiece by International (1970) (6 1/2 inches)

Candlelight by Towle (1934) (5 3/4 inches)

Friday, April 20, 2018

Flora by Reed and Barton

In 1890, Reed and Barton introduced their Flora pattern. The design is an intricate one of flowers and swirls decorating the handle from terminal to the shoulder of the piece.

Demitasse Spoon (3 7/8 inches)

Fork (7 1/8 inches)

Salad Serving Spoon (9 inches)

Cake Server (9 3/8 inches)

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Empire by Reed and Barton

Reed and Barton's 1892 Empire pattern is a lovely example of Victorian sterling.

Table Serving Spoon (8 3/8 inches)

Fork (7 3/8 inches)

Old French Hollow Knife ( 3/4 inches)

Monday, April 16, 2018

Empire by Buccellati

Buccellati's Empire pattern was introduced in 1970. For a relatively newer pattern, this design is more of an older one with detail. "Empire" is a popular name for sterling patterns. There are also Empire by Ercuis, Whiting's Empire (1892) , Durgin's Empire (1895) and, Empire by Towle (1894), Empire by Shreve or Durgin.

Sauce Ladle (with spout) (7 1/8 inches)