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?

Monday, January 18, 2010

Olympian by Tiffany

The Olympian pattern designed by Tiffany is an incredibly unique work of silverware. Dr. Hood describes it best.

HISTORY OF OLYMPIAN PATTERN "Tiffany Silver Flatware 1845-1905 When Dining Was an Art"

“The style is Academic Beaux-Arts. The patent application credits Edward C. Moore, but there is good reason to believe F. Antoine Heller also contributed. The pattern was first introduced at the Expositiion Universelle, Paris, 1878. Olympian is a multi-motif pattern with seventeen (17) different handle decorations depicting subjects and stories from classical mythology. The motif varies with whether a piece has a flat or hollow handle.

Each design is elaborate, and though sharply carved, can be seen to best advantage when the background is oxidized, as are all pieces offered in this listing. On the obverse of each piece, the design covers the entire handle and has an unusual horizontal orientation.

Although the concept of seventeen (17) different handle designs in one flatware service was original, the idea of depicting a finely detailed scene horizontally over the entire flatware handle just as if it were a frieze was not.”





There are lovely pieces within the pattern.

(Kidney shaped conch spoon)





(Gravy Ladle)




(Cheese Scoop)










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