Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2012-06-03

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, June 8, 2012

Sugar Shovel

Another sugar serving piece, the Sugar Shovel is not a common piece and therefore one you may not recognize. It is not found in many patterns.

No. 38 by Towle (5 5/8 inches)

Duke of Windsor by Manchester (6 1/8 inches)

Webster by Knowles (5 5/8 inches)

Acanthus by Georg Jensen (4 1/4 inches)

JSK 12 by Knowles

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Chipped Beef Fork (Part 3)

As I mentioned in my earlier post on Chipped Beef Forks, they come in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. And, often patterns will have some combination of the three sizes. Here are some more examples.

Georgian by Towle ( Small 6 3/8 inches)

Old Newbury by Towle (Large 7 1/8 inches)

Old Newbury by Towle (Small 5 7/8 inches)
Note difference in design between the two sizes

Lily by Whiting (Small 5 3/4 inches)

Fairfax by Durgin (Medium 6 inches)

Monday, June 4, 2012

Arabesque by Whiting

Arabesque was issued by Whiting in 1875 and was designed by Charles Osborne. The pattern has an elaborate design of a griffon carved on the terminal around a blank medallion suitable for engraving. The stem in straight lines met two thirds of the way down with a square followed by a graceful design that flows onto the shoulder of the piece. Some of the shoulders and bowls have elaborate carvings on them

Ice Cream Spoon (5 1/2 inches)

Pastry Fork (6 1/2 inches)

Vegetable Serving Spoon (9 1/8 inches)

Solid Berry Casserole Spoon (9 1/4 inches)

Large Sugar Sifter (6 inches)