Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2011-10-16

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, October 21, 2011

Cocktail Spoon

I am not quite sure how the Cocktail Spoon is used, but I did two quite distinct designs. The second design I found frequently used in stainless more modern patterns, although Ivy by Gorham dates back to 1865.

Richelieu by Tiffany (6 3/4 inches)
Pierced Cocktail Serving Spoon

Chrysanthemum by Tiffany (7 1/2 inches)

Sculpture by Reed and Barton (5 3/4 inches)

Cocktail Spoon

Ivy by Gorham (5 1/8 inches)
Cocktail Spoon

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Relish Fork

An odd and rare piece, the Relish Fork is a serving piece with three splayed tines. The Chantilly piece was so different, I checked several sources to make sure it was accurate and all the sources I checked were the same. There were references to this piece in many Gorham patterns, but I could not find any examples, other than Chantilly.

Bead by Whiting (6 3/4 inches)