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 30, 2010

Place Knives

Let's just review the Knives one COULD have at a place setting. Of course, no one would use all of these knives at one time. But it interesting to think of the combinations.

Dinner Knife (9 1/2 - 10 inches) (Shown in Buttercup by Gorham)

Dinner Knife

Luncheon/Dessert Knife (8 1/2 - 9 inches) (Shown in Buttercup by Gorham)

Place Size Knife

Dessert/Tea/Breakfast Knife (7 - 8 7/8 inches) (Shown in Duke of York by Whiting)


Steak Knife (8 3/4 - 9 inches) (Shown in Buttercup by Gorham)

Steak Knife

Fish Knife (7 1/2 - 8 1/16) (Shown in Buttercup by Gorham)

Trout Knife
Junior/Tea/Breakfast Knife (7 - 7 9/16) (Shown in Buttercup by Gorham)

Junior Knife

Fruit Knife (6 3/8 - 6 13/16) (Shown in Chantilly by Gorham)

Fruit Knife

Orange Knife (7 3/8) (Shown in King George by Gorham)


Butter Spreader (6 1/8 - 6 5/16) (Shown in Buttercup by Gorham)

FH Butter Spreader

Caviar Knife/Spade (Shown in Unknown Austrian Sterling Pattern)

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Serving Spoons

Sterling is such a work of art, even the utilitarian Serving Spoon can be a beauty. Take these examples.

Shown in Wave Edge  by Whiting

Click to Enlarge



Shown in a Tiffany pattern







Monday, April 26, 2010

Queen of the Flowers by Unger

I never could find any more about this lovely pattern. It was designed by Unger, showing a lady's face with flowers and introduced in 1904.