Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2010-06-20

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, June 25, 2010

Pastry Forks

Pastry Forks, sometimes called Pie Forks, are often ornately decorated. Here are some delightful examples.

Beekman by Tiffany (6 1/8 inches)

Broom Corn by Tiffany (6 inches)

Cherry Blossom by Blackinton (5 5/8 inches)

Duke of York by Whiting (6 inches)

Pattern unknown by Frank Smith (5 3/4 inches)

Grecian by Gorham (6 inches)

Number 1 by Whiting (6 7/8 inches)

Patrician by Seymour (5 1/2 inches)

Saint James by Tiffany (6 1/2 inches)

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Berry/Casserole Spoons by Durgin

Durgin produced some beautiful sterling pieces and I kept coming across lovely Berry/Casserole Spoons, so I thought I would share a few from some Durgin patterns.

Bouquet (1875) (9 3/8 inches)

Bug (1885) (9 1/8 inches)

Chrysanthemum (1893) (Designed by George A. Muller) (9 3/8 inches)

Iris (1900) (9 3/8 inches)

Scroll (1886) (8 5/8 inches)

Strawberry (1874) (9 1/8 inches)

Monday, June 21, 2010

Cat Tails by Durgin

And then there are those patterns that you stumble upon that are so stunning and artistic, that you have to stop and admire them. This is one of those.

The detail in Durgin's Cat Tails is unlike any pattern I have yet seen. The handle replicates a cat tail fresh from the bull rushes, while the tines of the forks and the prongs of the tongs are delicate woven works of arts. The bowls of the spoons and the ladles are distinctive lily pads. The pattern was introduced in 1898 by Durgin and designed by William E. Carlson. Some of the pieces can be found in gold wash.

Chocolate Spoon (4 1/8 inches)

Sauce Ladle (5 1/2 inches)

Strawberry Fork (4 7/8 inches)

Sugar Tongs ( 4 1/2 inches)