Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2012-02-19

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, February 24, 2012

Various Tongs (Part 2)

A continuation of my earlier discussion of Tongs.

Bon Bon Tongs (Repousse by Kirk Stieff 3 1/4 inches)

Large Solid Sandwich Tongs (Meadow Rose by Wallace 5 3/8 inches)

Solid Bacon Serving Tongs (Chateau Thierry by Lunt 4 1/2 inches)

Large Ice Serving Tongs (Frontenac by International 6 1/2 inches)

Toast Tongs (Napoleon by Shiebler 3 inches)

Bread Tongs (Unknown pattern by Tiffany 7 1/4 inches)

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Gumbo Soup Spoon

Gumbo Soup Spoons are longer than their cousins the Cream Soup and Bouillon, and shorter than the Place Soup Spoon. The bowl is round like the Cream and Bouillon spoons. Just looking at a cream, bouillon, or gumbo soup spoon it would be hard to identify one from another.

Dauphin by Durgin

Cromwell by Durgin (6 7/8 inches)

Audubon by Tiffany (7 inches)

St. James by Tiffany (7 7/8 inches)

Monday, February 20, 2012

Cupid by Dominick and Haff

Gilbert L. Crowell, Jr. designed this pattern for Dominick and Haff and Cupid was introduced in 1891. It is a lovely pattern with the motif of cupid on the bottom of the terminal just below an area that is nice for engraving.

Orange Spoon ( inches)

Solid Bon Bon Spoon (4 5/8 inches)

Solid Toast Serving Fork (8 inches)

Sugar Tong (4 1/2 inches)