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?

Monday, December 30, 2013

Elegante or L'elegnate by Reed and Barton

Reed and Barton introduced Elegante  in 1900, then they reintroduced the same pattern as L'elegante in 1940 (or the names were reversed - I could not find out the exact order). Interestingly enough, from what I could find, it seems that R&B offered the pattern until 2005. The serving pieces were especially  lovely. The examples here are in a gold wash, not all the pieces have this treatment. But, I do find the gold wash shows the pattern detail better. The design is fairly simple on the terminal, one of scroll work with a slender stem only adorned with two small lines going down either side. The ornamentation is on the bowl or tines of the pieces. A truly striking pattern.


Large Chocolate Spoon (4 1/4 inches)
Large Chocolate Spoon



Large Berry Spoon (9 inches)

Large Solid Berry/Casserole Spoon

Macaroni Server (10 1/4 inches)

Solid Macaroni Server
Ice Cream Slicer  (11 1/2 inches)

Solid Ice Cream Slicer

Friday, December 27, 2013

Bon Bon Tongs Part 3

I have posted earlier on small tongs, such as Sugar Tongs and Sugar Cubes Tongs. Here are more Bon Bon Tongs. The sizes on these three tongs tend to overlap. I recently bought a pair of, what I thought were, Sugar Tongs, only to learn they were actually Bon Bon Tongs. Not that it mattered, I was happy with them. 

Stieff Rose  (3 inches)


Fairfax by Durgin (3 1/2 inches)



Frontenac by International (3 1/2 inches)


Lucerne by Wallace (3 1/8 inches)


 

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Ivy by International

This gorgeous pattern, Ivy, was introduced by Gorham in 1911. There are trails of Ivy on the terminal and on the shoulder of the serving pieces. 

Cold Meat Serving Fork - Medium Size (6 inches)
Medium Solid Cold Meat Serving Fork

Short Handled Pickle Fork (5 3/4)

Short Handle Pickle/olive Fork

Short Handled Olive Spoon (6 inches)

Pierced Bowl Short Handle Olive Spoon

Knife  (9 3/4 inches)

Old French Hollow Knife With Bolster

Monday, December 23, 2013

Antique Ivy or Ivy by Tiffany

One of Tiffany's older patterns, Antique Ivy also known as Ivy was introduced in 1870. Personally, I do not care for etched patterns because I think the designs are weak and I prefer heavier, more detailed designs. The terminal here is blank, suitable for engraving, with ivy trailing down the top half of the stem. From that point on there is no adornment at all. 


Pierced Table Serving Spoon  (8 3/8 inches)
Pierced Tablespoon (Serving Spoon)

Small Jelly Spoon (6 7/8 inches)

Small Jelly Spoon



Fork  (7 3/4 inches)

Fork



Friday, December 20, 2013

Eglantine by Gorham

A truly beautiful floral pattern from Gorham. Eglantine was introduced in 1870. The detail of the flowers and leaves is truly artful. Especially on the knife, note the pattern is as if the vine was wrapped around the handle giving it a three dimensional quality. And, to think this pattern was designed 143 years ago. 


Table Serving Spoon (8 7/8 inches)

Tablespoon (serving Spoon)


Cheese Knife  (8 3/4 inches)

Hollow Handled Cheese Knife With Silverplate Blade



Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Edgewood by International

International introduced Edgewood in 1909. And it is quite a lovely pattern with a very distinct design. It is a shame that most people today associate International with silverplate when their sterling was such beautiful work such as this. Note the very detailed leaves on the terminal and at the top of the stem. Vines trail down the stem to another leaf on the shoulder on the piece then a nice detail on some of the bowls of the pieces.

Lemon Fork  (4 7/8 inches)

Lemon Fork

Large Fish Serving Fork (8 3/4 inches)

Large Solid Fish Serving Fork

Large Casserole Spoon (9 inches)

Large Solid Berry/casserole Spoon

Sandwich Tongs  (5 5/8 inches)

Large Solid Sandwich Tongs

Monday, December 16, 2013

Angelo by Knowles and Mount Vernon

Angelo by Knowles and Mount Vernon (not to be confused with the Angelo pattern by Woods and Hughes) was introduced in 1910. The pattern has a heavy scroll type embellishment at the top of the terminal with a scroll pattern going down either side of the terminal. there is a suitable space for engraving on the terminal. There is additional scroll motif at the end of the stem.

Ice Cream Spoon  (5 5/8 inches)



Large Fish Serving Knife  (12 1/2 inches)






Butter Spreader  (6 3/4 inches)


Friday, December 13, 2013

Knickerbocker Etched by Gorham

Gorham introduced Knickerbocker Etched pattern in 1870. It is was is known as a "Multi Motif" pattern, as in there are different designs on the pieces. There is also a pattern by Gorham called Knickerbocker Etched - Game, that instead of floral motifs has that of wild game on it.

Fork  (7 1/8 inches)
Fork

Fish Serving Knife

Large Solid Fish Serving Knife

Tablespoon (8 5/8 inches)

Tablespoon (serving Spoon)

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Carmel by Wallace

Wallace introduce Carmel in 1912. Design has a midevil look to it at first glance. The edges have a hammered design. However, when I looked closer at the cross on the end of the terminal and on the top of shoulder I had a different thought. I am going to go out on a limb here, but the cross at the end of this pattern resembles the Apostles Cross and Carmel happens to be the name of a mountain in Israel. Take it as you will. I can find no history of this pattern or significance of the design. 



Large Gravy Ladle  (7 inches)
Large Gravy Ladle, Solid Piece

Small Sugar Tongs  ( 3 7/8 inches)
Small Sugar Tongs


Small Ice Cream Fork   (5 3/8 inches)
Small Ice Cream Fork

Knife  (9 5/8 inches)
Old French Hollow Knife With Bolster


Monday, December 9, 2013

Modern Victorian by Lunt

Lunt introduced Modern Victorian in 1931. It was designed by Frederick W. Koonz.   Koonz also designed American Victorian and Charles II for Lunt. This pattern is along the lines of American Victorian but with a little more design to the terminal and shoulder of the pieces.


Seafood Fork  (5 7/8 inches)

Cocktail/seafood Fork

Salad Fork  (6 3/8 inches)

Individual Salad Fork

Nut Serving Spoon  (4 7/8 inches)

Solid Nut Serving Spoon

Small Steak Carving Fork  (8 7/8 inches)

Small Steak Carving Fork With Stainless Prongs

Friday, December 6, 2013

Salad Serving Fork with Wooden Prongs

This is a very practical piece, that can be found in both old and new patterns. The Salad Serving Fork with Wooden Prongs (and usually accompanying Serving Spoon both wooden bowl). And, they are commonly fairly large pieces usually ranging around 11 inches in length.

Prelude by International (10 5/8 inches)



Etruscan by Gorham (11 1/2  inches)



Pointed Antique by Reed and Barton  (10 3/4 inches)



King Edward by Gorham (10 5/8  inches)


Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Cheese Cleaver (Part 2)

I posted on the Cheese Cleaver earlier. This is what one would call a "significant" piece in its weight alone.

Rose Point by Wallace 





Strativari by Wallace (6 3/4 inches)




Lady Hilton by Westmoreland  




Old Colony by Gorham (6 3/8 inches)




Monday, December 2, 2013

Beauvoir by Tuttle

Normally, I do not care for or write about, what I consider, newer patterns. Since this pattern, Beauvoir by Tuttle, was introduced in 1967 (and discontinued in 2003), I consider this a rather "modern" pattern. However, when I ran across the pattern, I was taken by it's design. It is unlike most mid to late 20th century designs.

It is an open design, with a garland that drapes from the sides of terminal down to the top of the stem. Both the top of terminal and the top of the stem have an embellished motif on them. The stem has lines that run down to a design that joins the stem and the shoulder nicely.

Short Handle Olive Fork  (5 5/8 inches)
Tuttle Beauvoir (Sterling, 1967) Short Handle Pickle/Olive Fork

Sugar Spoon  (6 1/8 inches)

Tuttle Beauvoir (Sterling, 1967) Sugar Spoon

Pierced Table Serving Spoon  (8 3/4 inches)

Tuttle Beauvoir (Sterling, 1967) Pierced Tablespoon (Serving Spoon)

Butter Knife  (6 1/4 inches)

Tuttle Beauvoir (Sterling, 1967) Modern Hollow Butter Spreader (Stainless)

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Plymouth Patterns

There are several patterns with the "Plymouth" name. All the design are simple in the style of the colonial era. Here are some examples.

Manchester's Plymouth (1933)
Individual Salad Fork

Watson's Plymouth (1905)

Pierced Nut Serving Spoon

Gorham's Plymouth (1911)

Small Tomato Server,  Solid Piece

Gorham's New Plymouth (1900)

Teaspoon