Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2010-07-04

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, July 9, 2010

Mango Fork

The elusive Mango Fork. I could find references to it in Mexican and Dutch silver and some references to it in American sterling. However, when I started researching into specific patterns, I could not find a photograph of an example of this piece in any pattern. Below are pictured a random silver mango fork and a group of various silver mango forks (patterns unidentified).

I will continue my search.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Horseradish Scoop

The Horseradish Scoop or Spoon is used by your dining guests to serve the condiment.

Alhambra by Whiting (6 inches)

Arlington by Towle (5 5/8 inches)

Anthene by Amston (5 5/8 inches)

Broom Corn by Tiffany

Cambridge by Gorham (6 5/8 inches)

Cantebury by Towle (6 1/4 inches)

Chippendale-Old by Alvin (5 5/8 inches)

Heraldic by Whiting ( 5 3/4 inches)

Savannah by Reed and Barton (5 7/8 inches)

Wedgewood by International

Monday, July 5, 2010

Apostles by Gorham

In 1885 Gorham introduced the Apostles pattern-small designed by Antoine Heller, which was a "flat" design. However, in 1890 Heller designed another pattern that Gorham introduced as Apostles-Large which is a set of 12 Teaspoons, each depicting one of the 12 disciples. The spoons are 6 5/8 inches long with a twisted designed handle. Gorham discontinued the pattern in 1974.

Phillip

Jude

Andrew

Barthalomew