Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2014-02-02

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 7, 2014

Corinthian by Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon introduced Corinthian in 1902. The design is a stately pattern with a fanned leaf motif on the tip of the terminal, base of the terminal and base of the stem.

Cold Meat Serving Fork ( 8 1/4 inches)

Medium Solid Cold Meat Serving Fork

Preserve Spoon (7 1/2 inches)

Butter Spreader (5 1/2 inches)

Flat Handle Butter Spreader

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Frontenac by International

Another pattern designed by John T. Clulee, Frontenac by International (1903) was, I think, Clulee's best work. Some sources I found show that the pattern was actually carried by International until 1974. The design has very detailed lilies on the terminal and part the way down the stem, with a vine gently flowing along the sides between the two blossoms and then twisting from the second blossom down to the shoulder. On the serving piece there are more blossoms, vines, and additional detail. A truly exquisite pattern.

Berry Serving Spoon (9 inches)

Large Solid Berry/casserole Spoon

Cucumber Server (6 5/8 inches)

Large Cucumber Server

Fork (7 1/2 inches)

Fork

Fish Knife (7 5/8 inches)

Individual Solid Fish Knife

Monday, February 3, 2014

Kings Court by Frank Whiting

Kings Court introduced by Whiting in 1895 (formerly known as Neopolitan) is another Rococo pattern with the fan motif on the tip of the terminal and the scroll work down the sides of the the stem. The design on the serving piece of this pattern is particularly attractive. For a Rococo piece, this pattern is a little "lighter" than some.

Salad Serving Fork (8 5/8 inches)

Orange Spoon (5 1/4 inches)

Berry Fork (4 7/8 inches)