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, September 3, 2010

English Servers

An odd piece, the English Server, is designed to serve everything from steamed vegetables to baked potatoes to sliced meat. It can also be used as aid in slicing small hams and roasts. The piece looks a lot like the silver Baked Potato Fork (See December 2, 2009), but it is a different piece.


Athene/Crescendo by Whiting (7 1/4  inches)





Candlelight by Towle (7 1/4 inches)





Champlain by Amston (7 1/8 inches)





Lansdowne by Gorham (7 1/2 inches)





Madam Jumel by Whiting ( 7 1/2 inches)





Trajan by Reed and Barton (7 1/4 inches)





Violet by Whiting (7 1/2 inches)


Wednesday, September 1, 2010

More Oyster Forks

I posted about Oyster forks earlier, but here are even more lovely examples of Oyster Forks as individual place pieces.



Shown in Cupid by Shiebler (6 1/8 inches)


Shown in English King by Tiffany


Shown in Laura by Buccellati (5 5/8 inches)


Shown in Marechal Niel by Durgin (5 3/8 inches)


Shown in Saratoga by Tiffany (5 inches)



Monday, August 30, 2010

Magnolia by Durgin

Introduced in 1898 by Durgin, Magnolia is an absolutely gorgeous pattern with a magnolia blossom on the top of the handle. 



Bouillon Soup Spoon (5 1/2 inches)





Salad Fork (6 inches)


Salad Fork


Youth Tea Fork (6 1/8 inches)
Solid Youth Tea Fork