Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2011-11-06

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, November 11, 2011

Confection spoon

The Confection Spoon is a fairly small serving piece, usually shorter than 6 inches long. Most patterns have pierced bowls, but it comes in both pierced and non-pierced bowls. However at least one pattern, Old Colonial shown below , has both a pierced and a non-pierced piece.

Versailles by Gorham (5 14/ inches)
Large Confection Spoon

Luxembourg by Gorham (5 1/2 inches)
Large Confection Spoon

Cambridge by Gorham (5 3/4 inches)

Heraldic by Whiting (5 inches)

Old Colonial (Pierced) by Towle (6 1/4 inches)

Old Colonial (Not Pierced) by Towle (5 5/8 inches)

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Prong Roast Carving Fork

I found one of these among the items I inherited from a favorite aunt of mine and did not have a clue what it was. It was not with her silverware, so I wondered if it was some type of torture device. Upon research, I learned it was a harmless Prong Roast Carving Fork.

Trajan by Reed and Barton (10 3/8 inches)
Large Stainless-Prong Roast Carving F

Rococo by Dominick and Haff (12 3/8 inches)

Large Stainless-Prong Roast Carving F

Adolphus by Mount Vernon

Berain by Wallace (10 3/4 inches)

Stradivari by Wallace (10 1/2)

Violet by Wallace

Monday, November 7, 2011

Yetive by Mount Vernon

Yetive by Mount Vernon was introduced in 1896. An elaborate pattern with a flower on the terminal with leaves, stems and more flowers trailing down the stem.