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, December 3, 2010

Strawberry Forks - Three Tines

Earlier, I did a post on two tine Strawberry Forks.  Here is the three tine variety. The three tine tend to be longer, from 4 3/4 to 5 1/4 inches. The tines are still long and slender but don't have the same elegant illusion as the two tine variety but are still a beautiful piece. Note the pattern Versailles offers a fork with both two and three tines.


Carnation by Wallace (4 5/8 inches)


Irian by Wallace (4 3/4 inches)




Clune by Gorham (4 5/8 inches)


Old King by Whiting  ( 5 1/4 inches)


Crystal by Frank Smith (4 3/4 inches)


Princess by Towle (4  3/4 inches)






Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Petit Four Servers (Part 2)

I touched on the Petit Four Servers in an earlier post. Here are some more lovely examples of this piece

Du Barry by International (5 1/8 inches)


Winthrop by Tiffany (5 7/8 inches)


Colonial by Gorham (5 1/4 inches)


Flemish by Tiffany (5 3/4 inches)


King Edward by Gorham
Petite Fours Server With Silverplate

Dauphin by Durgin


Romance of the Sea by Wallace
Petite Fours Server With Silverplate

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Florentine Patterns

Florentine is a popular name for patterns by different manufactures. Here are the different examples.





Florentine by Gorham (1901) designed by William C. Codman





Florentine by Kirk (1962)





Florentine by Wendt (1870)





Florentine by International (1962)





Florentine by Tiffany (1900) designed by Paudling Farnhaum)





Florentine Lace by Reed and Barton (1951)





Florentine Scroll by Lunt (1974)