Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2014-08-24

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 29, 2014

Italian by Tiffany

While Tiffany's Italian pattern has the same silhouette as Whiting's pattern of the same name, their pattern designed by Edward C. Moore in 1870 is a bit more ornate. Moore was also known for designing Tiffany's Richilieu, Japanese (aka Audubon/ Plantation), Saratoga (aka King/ King's/ Cook), Persian, Tiffany (aka Beekman), and Olympian patterns. The Italian pattern consists of a fan and plume as well as other features.

Egg Spoon ( 4 3/4 inches)

Large Pie Knife (10 1/2 inches)

Oyster Fork (5 3/4 inches)

Berry Scoop (9 1/2 inches)

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Italian by Whiting

An old pattern dating back to 1880, Whiting's Italian pattern is a simple design of a pointed oval terminal with a spray of ivy bunched at the top of the stem.

Tea Knife (7 1/8 inches)