Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2014-02-16

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 21, 2014

Rambler Rose by Towle

Harold E. Nock designed Rambler Rose for Towle in 1937. As best as I can tell, the pattern was not discontinued until 1937. The simple design has a row of rose buds and leaves that run down the stem of the piece from the terminal, starting in a pattern a third of the width of the stem. That pattern narrows until before it reaches the shoulder where there is no design. The very tip of the terminal is adorned with a tight blossom or two.

Salad Fork (6 5/8 inches)
Individual Salad Fork

Short Handle Pickle Fork
Short Handle Pickle/olive Fork

Bon Bon Spoon (4 7/8 inches)
Solid Bon Bon Spoon W/pierced Bowl

Hollow Handle Butter Spreader (6 1/8 inches)

Modern Hollow Butter Spreader (stainless)

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Old Rose by Fessenden

Another Rose pattern, this one, Old Rose by Fessenden. I found conflicting information about its introduction date, one source said 1910 another said 1900. Whatever the date, it is a lovely pattern, with so much more detail and soft lines than the newer patterns. There is a fan on the tip of the terminal with a rose blossom and buds on the terminal itself. The stem has a bead decor accented with the occasional leaf as if it were wrapped around the edge.

Large Sugar Sifter ( inches)

Pierced Nut Server
Pierced Nut Serving Spoon

Monday, February 17, 2014

Melrose by Alvin

I said before there are 100's of "Rose" patterns. Here is one more. Melrose by Alvin. The pattern was introduced in 1910. The design is fairly standard with a rolled edge from the terminal down the sides of the stem. And has some embellishments on the terminal using scrollwork that blends into the rolled edge design.

Strawberry Fork (4 3/4 inches)

Cracker Spoon
Pierced Saratoga Chips Server

Solid Petite Server (4 5/8 inches)

Pie Fork (6 1/2 inches)
Individual Pie Fork