Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2011-04-17

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, April 22, 2011

Bon Bon Spoons (Part 2)

Probably the quintessential utensil for the Victorians - the Bon Bon Spoon. Yes, I have posted about them earlier, but there are so many fine examples and every one is just another "over the top" piece in each pattern. (There are "scoops" and "spoons", but these are examples of the "spoons".) Although, I was rather surprised when I got my first one - they small, usually only only 4 inches long. But what they lack in size they make up in style. This is the one piece that the designer uses to showcase the beauty of the pattern.

Luxembourg by Gorham (4 1/2 inches)
Bon Bon Spoon Solid

Louvre by Wallace
Bon Bon Spoon Solid

Chrysanthemum by Kirk Steiff (5 1/2 inches)
Bon Bon Spoon Solid

Heraldic by Whiting (5 1/8 inches)
Solid Bon Bon Spoon With Design Bowl

BMS17 by Baker Manchester (5 1/2 inches)
Bon Bon Spoon Solid

Lily by Whiting (4 5/8 inches)
Large Pierced Bon Bon Server

Lily by Whiting (5 1/2 inches)
Bon Bon Scoop

Mythologique by Gorham (4 5/8 inches)

Bon Bon Spoon Solid

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Sets of Silverware

To get an idea of the prices of complete sets of sterling flatware patterns, here are some examples. All these prices include a chest. As a disclaimer, these are just random prices I have come across in various places. I am in no way, a silver appraiser, but the prices will give you an idea of the retail value of some of patterns. And, the range varies from $1,000 to almost $50,000.

Dauphin by Durgin (1897) ($36,000) 117 pieces