Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2010-08-08

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, August 13, 2010

Lily by Frank Whiting

An Art Nouveau pattern, Lily was first introduced by Whiting in 1935. The design of the handle consists of tall leaves gracefully coming up the stem to the terminal (the end of the handle) where an open lily blossom sits in high relief. Then more leaves decorate the sides of the terminal with two more blossoms sitting atop. It is said to be the most sought after pattern by Whiting, which has since been bought by Gorham.

(Fork 7 1/4 inches)

(Master Butter Knife 7 inches)

(Berry Spoon 9 inches)

(Lettuce Fork 8 3/4 inches)

Cold Meat Fork (7 5/8 inches)

Jelly Cake Serve (9 inches)

Fried Oyster Server (8 1/4 inches)

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Tiffany, the pattern

In 1869 The Tiffany Company introduced its first sterling silver flatware pattern, and appropriately named it "Tiffany". It was designed by Edward C. Moore and described by Osteberg as 'basically a modified Greek double-scroll surmounted by a shell like antefix'. Rising from the stem were small honeysuckle blossoms which flared outward. The pattern was reintroduced in in 1956 as Beekman.

Salad Fork (7 inches)

Salad Serving Set (10 inches)

Buckwheat Server (9 1/4 inches)

Ice Tong

Waffle Server

Monday, August 9, 2010

Raphael by Alvin

This glorious art nouveau pattern was introduced by Alvin in 1902. Alvin is now a sub-division of Gorham. (But do not confuse this pattern with Gorham's Raphael pattern, which is a totally different pattern.)

Alvin's Raphael is described as a lady draped in sheer cloth. Her long hair flows around her down the piece of silver. Different floral designs including orchids, iris, and other flowers make each piece a little unique. For example, on the tongs she is standing under a daffodil with orchids on the pinchers.