Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2013-02-10

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 15, 2013

Bonbon Scoops (Part 3)

Apollo by JB and Sm Knowles ( inches)
Bon Bon Scoop

Old Colonial by Towle

Paul Revere by Towle

Virginiana by Gorham

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Venus by International

Venus, the goddess of love, is a pattern introduced by International Silver in 1901. And, it is a pattern worthy a goddess with a rich detail on the edge of the terminal ending with a flourish at the top of the stem. A plain stem is embellished with a nice small flourish just before the shoulder. Each piece is treated differently after that. The Sugar Spoon has rich detail on the shoulder that follows onto the back of the bowl, while the other pieces have a rich detail on the edge of the bowl. Whatever the treatment, this is a beautiful pattern, very typical of the times.

Cream Ladle (4 5/8 inches)

Sugar Spoon (5 5/8 inches)

Sugar Shell (5 5/8 inches)

Sugar Shell Spoon

Small Chipped Beef Fork (7 inches)

Monday, February 11, 2013

Cupid by Shiebler

The pattern Cupid was introduced by George W. Shiebler in 1898. It has the likeness of Cupid in different poses on the terminal of each piece with an open medallion below suitable for engraving.

Fork (7 1/2 inches)

Dessert Knife (7 1/2 inches)

Teaspoon (5 7/8 inches)