Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2013-12-22

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, December 27, 2013

Bon Bon Tongs Part 3

I have posted earlier on small tongs, such as Sugar Tongs and Sugar Cubes Tongs. Here are more Bon Bon Tongs. The sizes on these three tongs tend to overlap. I recently bought a pair of, what I thought were, Sugar Tongs, only to learn they were actually Bon Bon Tongs. Not that it mattered, I was happy with them.

Stieff Rose (3 inches)

Fairfax by Durgin (3 1/2 inches)

Frontenac by International (3 1/2 inches)

Lucerne by Wallace (3 1/8 inches)

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Ivy by International

This gorgeous pattern, Ivy, was introduced by Gorham in 1911. There are trails of Ivy on the terminal and on the shoulder of the serving pieces.

Cold Meat Serving Fork - Medium Size (6 inches)
Medium Solid Cold Meat Serving Fork

Short Handled Pickle Fork (5 3/4)

Short Handle Pickle/olive Fork

Short Handled Olive Spoon (6 inches)

Pierced Bowl Short Handle Olive Spoon

Knife (9 3/4 inches)

Old French Hollow Knife With Bolster

Monday, December 23, 2013

Antique Ivy or Ivy by Tiffany

One of Tiffany's older patterns, Antique Ivy also known as Ivy was introduced in 1870. Personally, I do not care for etched patterns because I think the designs are weak and I prefer heavier, more detailed designs. The terminal here is blank, suitable for engraving, with ivy trailing down the top half of the stem. From that point on there is no adornment at all.

Pierced Table Serving Spoon (8 3/8 inches)
Pierced Tablespoon (Serving Spoon)

Small Jelly Spoon (6 7/8 inches)

Fork (7 3/4 inches)

Fork