Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2012-05-06

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, May 11, 2012

Tea Caddy Spoon Part 2

I have posted twice on the Tea Caddy spoon. Once with a definition and once with examples. It is a small but lovely and functional spoon used for serving tea.

Louis XV by Durgin (4 3/4 inches)

Vine-Grapevine by Tiffany (4 3/4 inches)

Wave Edge by Tiffany (4 7/8 inches)

Hizen by Gorham (3 5/8 inches0

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Berry Serving Spoon (Part 3)

This is my third post on this beautiful serving piece, the Berry Spoon. But can you really see too many examples of this utensil. As I have said before, this is one of the pieces in a pattern the artisans use to really showcase the design of the pattern. Looking at this piece, you can get a better idea of the lines or definitions of the pattern.

La Marquise by Reed and Barton (8 7/8 inches)
Small Solid Berry/casserole Spoon

Princess by Shiebler (9 1/4 inches)

Princess Fushia by Frigast (8 1/4 inches)

Altair by Watson ( 9 inches)

Albany by Towle (9 inches0

Regent by Durgin (9 5/8 inches)

Monday, May 7, 2012

Miscellaneous Floral Pattern by Baker Manchester

Companies would release miscellaneous patterns, usually without a name just a number that were just one piece designed in a series. This is one such pattern by Baker Manchester of lovely Five O'Clock Spoons that is a series of floral designs. Each spoon is different. I can see this being handy when ladies were having coffee in that all the spoons were the same piece and pattern, but just a little different in design, as not to be confused.

BMS41

Plant Series - Non Floral

Goldenrod

Carnation

Chrysanthemum

Poppy