Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2010-04-18

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, April 23, 2010

Individual Asparagus Servers

We have seen the Asparagus Servers in various patterns. But there are some patterns that offer Individual Asparagus Servers for the place setting. Here are a few examples.

(Shown in Lancaster Rose by Gorham 4 inches)

(Shown in King Richard by Towle )

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Joint Fork

The Joint Fork is an utensil designed to hold the joint of bone while carving meat.

(Shown in Pompadour by Birks) (10 inches)

Monday, April 19, 2010

Love Disarmed by Reed & Barton

They just don't make patterns more intriguing than this. Reed and Barton is said to have based this design on Shakespeare's Sonnet 154 about disarming cupid. The handle is graced with Venus, the goddess of love, and her son Cupid, with a background of vines and flowers. It was first introduced in 1899 during the Art Nouveau movement. It was discontinued in 1928, only to be reintroduced in 1970.

I found a quote describing it that said: "It was design genius on the part of Reed and Barton to so perfectly capture the story of disarming Cupid in sterling silver. While we are not sure who the voluptuous figure of Cupid’s conqueror in the Love Disarmed pattern was intended to be, we surmise it is either Venus, Diana, or a nymph. Most likely she is hiding Cupid’s quiver of arrows with her left arm while she holds his bow away from him with her right…"

Cheese Scoop (6 1/4 inches)

Oyster Fork (5 5/8 inches)

Large Solid Cold Meat Serving Fork (10 3/8 inches)

Orange Spoon (5 1/2 inches)

Large Solid Fish Serving Knife (13 14/ inches)

Baby Food Pusher