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, April 26, 2013

Donatello by Amston

Amston introduced Donatello in 1912. The pattern has a busy design on the terminal that resembles bunches of grapes or hanging leaves. Although the terminal indents in, it is edged with a design that fills in the dip. The stem is plain, there is a simple embellishment on the the top of the shoulder and the shoulders of the serving pieces are edged with a design. The pattern strikes me as more modern that its Edwardian years.

Gravy Ladle  (6 1/2 inches)



Medium Cold Meat Serving Fork (8 1/8 inches)



Salad Serving Piece (9 1/8 inches)



Butter Spreader (6 1/4 inches)

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Wild Rose by Watson

Another pattern designed for Watson by  Eustace Crees & Charles S. Court, Wild Rose was introduced sometime between 1900 and 1905. This design is very much like their Orchid design for Watson. There is a wide open rose bloom on the terminal with a rose vine with leaves and buds gracefully trailing down the stem ending with three leaves delicately placed on the shoulder.

Fork (7 3/4 inches)



Knife (9 1/2 inches)



Fish Server




Pie Knife (8 5/8 inches)


Monday, April 22, 2013

Orchid by Watson

Orchid was designed in 1903 by Eustace Crees and  Charles S. Court for Watson. These two designers also collaborated on the patterns Olympia and Altair for Watson. The design of the pieces in this pattern has the heavy embellishment of an orchid bloom on the terminal with crossed vines training gracefully  down the stem and crossing one last time at the top of the shoulder.

Bon Bon Scoop (4 7/8 inches)



Confection Spoon (6 3/4 inches)
Confection Scoop

Large Cold Meat Serving Fork (7 3/4 inches)

Large Solid Cold Meat Serving Fork

Short Handle Olive Spoon  (5 7/8 inches)
Pierced Bowl Short Handle Olive Spoon in the Orchid (sterling, 1903, No Monograms) pattern by Watson Silver