Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2010-03-07

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?

Friday, March 12, 2010

Hors d'Oeuvres Pieces

Hors d'Oeuvre pieces are not that common. They are more readily found in Tiffany patterns. Also, there is no standard, you will find forks, knives, and spoons - in various sizes.

(Hors d'Oeuvres Set shown in Francis I by Reed and Barton)

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(Hors d'Oeuvres Fork shown in Blossom by Jensen 3 3/4 inches)

(Hors d'Oeuvres Fork shown in Holly by Tiffany 5 1/4 inches)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Cheese Knife

The Cheese Knife is an elegant piece. Sometimes it is referred to as the cheese server. However in some patters the Cheese Server its own piece that resembles a pie server.

(Cheese Knife shown in Madame Royale by Durgin 7 1/8 inches)

(Cheese Knife shown in Cambridge by Gorham 7 3/4 inches)

(Cheese Knife shown in St. Dunstan by Tiffany 7 3/8 inches)

Monday, March 8, 2010

Wm K. Vanderbilt by Tiffany

This is a private one-of-a-kind silver pattern that was designed for William K. Vanderbilt by Tiffany in 1884. One description I found stated that the flat pieces have an Olympian woman and a stag while the hollow handles have an Olympian man and a lion. Another catalog said the forks and spoons were decorated with the Vanderbilt Coat of Arms on the front. The back of the pieces had Vanderbilt's monogram (WKV) "entwined" with a stag's head. The knives have a scene of Hercules and a lion on the front with his monogram above a lion on the back.

The Sothebys Catalog stated that "This pattern, one of only about ten private few patterns produced by Tiffany in the 19th century, was made for William Kissim Vanderbilt and his redoubtable wife, Alva."

In 2005 Sixty-five pieces of the set (13 dinner knives, 13 dinner forks, 13 dessert knives, 13 dessert forks, and 13 dessert spoons), sold for $42,000 (est. $25,000/35,000).

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