Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2011-11-27

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 2, 2011

Medicine Spoon - Part 2

When I started looking for Medicine Spoons, I thought I would find small spoons that one would use for a child. I was wrong. There were a few that I showed in an earlier post. For the most part what I found, with the exception of the Tiffany patterns, were partially covered spoons. But each example was unique in its own way. I continue my search for more examples.

Irian by Wallace (3 3/8 inches)

WSC7 pattern by Webster (4 3/4 inches)

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Cheese Pick

The Cheese Pick is an unusual piece found in most of the older sterling patterns. Samples here very in length from 6 inches to 7 7/8 inches. All have teeth on the end of the slightly curved blade at the end. The number of teeth varying from two to four. Most are flat handled, however two examples here are hollow handled.

King George By Gorham (7 3/4 inches)
Individual Solid Cheese Pick

Imperial Chrysanthemum by Gorham (6 1/8 inches)
Individual Solid Cheese Pick

Luxembourg by Gorham (6 1/8 inches)
Individual Solid Cheese Pick

Mary Warren by Manchester (6 inches)

Frontenac by International (7 3/4 inches)

Royal Oak by Gorham (7 7/8 inches)

Monday, November 28, 2011

New Vintage by Durgin

New Vintage was introduced by Durgin in 1904. It is a fairly straightforward pattern with a scallop shell adorning the top of the terminal and a bunch of grapes draped beneath it surrounded on the sides by (what looks to me like) acanthus leaves wrapped around the edges. The stem is simple but elegant and the serving pieces I found were not particularly fancy.

Salad Fork (6 1/4 inches)

Fruit Spoon (5 3/4 inches)

Old Style Pickle Fork (6 1/8 inches)

Large Short Handle Chocolate Spoon ( inches)