Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2013-08-25

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, August 30, 2013

Cheese Fork

Another cheese serving utensil. The Cheese Fork can be found in most patterns. It usually has two tines.

Versailles by Gorham (5 1/2 inches)

Louis XV by Whiting (5 1/8 inches)

Francis I by Reed and Barton (6 1/4 inches)

Les Six Fleurs by Reed and Barton ( 5 3/4 inches)

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Palmette by Tiffany

Charles B. Blake designed the pattern Palmette for Tiffany and it was introduced in 1947. Although, designed in the late 40's the lines are almost art deco in design. The terminal is decorated with a stylized palmetto motif with straight lines coming down the stem. The shoulder's design reflects the palmetto motif from the terminal.

Gumbo Soup Spoon (6 7/8 inches)

Round Bowl Soup Spoon (gumbo) in the Palmette (strlng, 1947) pattern by Tiffany & Co Silver

Round Bowl Soup Spoon (gumbo) in the Palmette (strlng, 1947) pattern by Tiffany & Co Silver

Flat Handle Butter Spreader (6 1/8 inches)

Flat Handle Butter Spreader in the Palmette (strlng, 1947) pattern by Tiffany & Co Silver

Pie Server (10 inches)

Pie Server With Stainless Blade in the Palmette (strlng, 1947) pattern by Tiffany & Co Silver

Solid Serving Fork (9 inches)

Solid Serving Fork in the Palmette (strlng, 1947) pattern by Tiffany & Co Silver

Monday, August 26, 2013

Marquise / Marquise Engraved by Tiffany

Tiffany Introduced Marquise in 1902. It was another design of Paulding Farnham. (Who also designed Renaissance , Richelieu, St. James, and Florentine for Tiffany.) This is a fairly simple design with the only decoration being the edging around the terminal and the stem. There is also another pattern which is an engraved variation called "Marquise Engraved".

Saratoga Chip Server (9 inches)

Pierced Saratoga Chips Server

Preserve Spoon (7 3/4 inches)

Short Handle Olive Spoon (6 1/2 inches)
Pierced Bowl Short Handle Olive Spoon

Teaspoon in Marquise Engraved (5 3/4 inches)

Teaspoon in the Marquise-Engraved (strl,1902) pattern by Tiffany & Co Silver

Queen Anne / Faneuil / Feather Edge / Reeded Edge by Tiffany

Tiffany introduced Queen Anne in 1875. The pattern was a very traditional 18th century pattern. They discontinued the pattern in 1904. Then 1907, they reintroduced the pattern as Faneuil. Hood's book on Tiffany Silver flatware refers to "Queen Anne Engraved", however I can find no other references or examples of that pattern.

There are several other variations of the pattern: Faneuil Engraved (1910), Feather Edge (1901), and Reeded Edge (1937). Of all these patterns, Faneuil and Feather Edge are still active.

Kidney Bowl Berry Spoon in Queen Anne (9 5/8 inches)

P0000104490S0038T2.jpg (600×216)

Small Sugar Sifter in Faneuil (5 3/4 inches)

P0000104457S0145T2.jpg (1524×668)

Place Soup Spoon in Faneuil Engraved (7 1/8 inches)

P0000104458S0002T2.jpg (601×148)

Large Berry Spoon Feather Edge (7 5/8 inches)

P0000104459S0008T2.jpg (588×92)

Flat Handled Butter Spreader Reeded Edge (5 7/8 inches)

P0000104492S0041T2.jpg (600×99)