Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2013-06-09

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 14, 2013

Individual Caviar Knife

The Individual Caviar Knife can easily be confused with the Flat Handled Butter Spreader. And, to complicate matters, there is no consistent size, even among patterns by one manufacturer, as you can see here by the examples of Caviar Knives in Tiffany patterns. No two are the same length.

Tiffany by Tiffany (6 1/4 inches)

Vine-Iris by Tiffany (5 1/4 inches)

Colonial by Tiffany (7 3/4 inches)

Japanese By Tiffany (5 5/8 inches)

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Oyster Forks (Part 5)

One of the neat smaller place forks in any pattern. The Oyster Fork (not ot be confused with the cocktail fork) in each pattern tends to be a little unique. I have posted on these several times before because they are so plentiful and so interesting.

Repousse by Kirk Stieff

Lafayette by Towle

Bridal Rose by Alvin

Imperial Queen by Whiting

Monday, June 10, 2013

Overcup Tea Strainer (Part 2)

I posted earlier on the Overcup Tea Strainer, an over the cup piece used to strain tea leaves when making a cup of cup. This is a very elaborate piece given there is a lot of area for the designers to work with.

Stieff Rose by Kirk Stieff

Romance of the Sea by Wallace (7 1/8 inches)

Old Master by Towle (7 1/8 inches)

Francis I by Reed and Barton (6 5/8 inches)