Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2013-01-06

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, January 11, 2013

Hamilton by Wallace

Hamilton was introduced by Wallace in 1911. It is a masculine and fairly simple pattern with a shield on the terminal with lines or perhaps rays of sun rising from above. Lines follow the stem down to the shoulder of the pieces.

I don't know, but my guess is that this was designed by someone different at the house of Wallace from whomever designed the feminine and elegant Caranation.

Preserve Spoon (7 1/2 inches)

Salad Fork (5 7/8 inches)
Individual Salad Fork

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Charles II by Dominick and Haff

Charles II was designed by Gilbert L. Crowell, Jr. and introduced by Dominick and Haff in 1894. A traditional pattern, Charles II has a scallop shell pattern fanned on the terminal, a leaf motif at the bottom of the terminal, a plain stem, and a small flourish on the terminal. Each piece is edged with a thick bead. There are patterns by Lunt and Tuttled also named "Charles II" but their designs are very different.

Egg Spoon (4 3/8 inches)