Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2011-03-20

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, March 25, 2011

Old Style Pickle Fork

In researching the myriad of different types of pickles forks, I came upon the Old Style Pickle Fork. It is not found in all patterns. And, as I looked further, I found that often it looked very much like a salad fork or pastry fork. I did not take the time to go back and look into the different patterns to compare the pieces, however several times this piece was referred to as the "Old Style Pickle/ Pastry Fork" or "Old Style Pickle/Salad Fork".

This gave me enough pause to think that perhaps (as we have seen in prior cases) this is a piece with multiple names which can be confusing. My question is: with all the different types of Pickle Forks, why commandeer another piece in a pattern just to add another type?

Buttercup by Gorham ( 5 5/8 inches)

Cloeta by International

Intalglio by Reed and Barton (6 inches)

Mary Chilton Eng No. 1 by Towle (5 7/8 inches)

Oval Twist by Whiting (6 1/8 inches)

Raleigh by Alvin (6 1/4 inches)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Sugar Sifters

Another sugar utensil. The Sugar Sifter is usually found in the older patterns.

Mazarin by Dominick and Haff
Large Sugar Sifter

Louis XV by Whiting (5 5/8 inches)
Large Sugar Sifter

Imperial Chrysanthemum by Gorham (6 inches)
Small Sugar Sifter

Medici-Old by Gorham (7 1/4 inches)
Large Sugar Sifter

Rococo by Dominick and Haff (6 3/4 inches)

Large Sugar Sifter

Monday, March 21, 2011

Dauphin by Durgin

Dauphin issued in 1897 by Durgin is an excellent example of the exquisite artistic work this company produced. Yes, it may be too ornate for some people, but there are plenty of simple patterns for them. I'll take the results of these artists' talents any day. This is what makes Durgin one of my favorite sterling companies.

Individual Fish Fork (7 3/8 inches)
Large Individual Solid Fish/salad For