Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2014-10-26

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, October 31, 2014

Devon by Reed and Barton

Devon, introduced in 1911 by Reed and Barton, is a fairly simple but elegant pattern with a leaf motif at the tip of the terminal. The edge of the end of the terminal is decorated with (what look to be) minute versions of the leaf motif also. A double line gracefully outlines the stem.

Cold Meat Serving Fork (8 5/8 inches)

Sugar Tongs (4 1/2 inches)

Long Handle Olive Spoon (8 1/8 inches)

Empire by Shreve or Durgin

The sterling world is full of "Empire" patterns. There is Whiting's Empire (1892) pattern. There is also Durgin's Empire (1895) pattern. And, Empire by Towle (1894). I also found references to Empire patterns by Reed and Barton, Mount Vernon, Ercuis, as well as Buccellati but could find no examples. However when I went to look at Empire by Shreve I found it was the same pattern as Empire by Durgin.

So if this looks familiar and you know Durgin's pattern, that would be the reason.

Pierced Pea Serving Spoon (8 1/2 inches)

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Dorothy Quincy by Reed and Barton

Just in case anyone asked Dorothy Quincy was the wife of one of our founding fathers - John Hancock. And Reed and Barton honored her with a sterling pattern in her name. So we have Dorothy Quincy introduced in 1912. It is a very feminine pattern with a design on the terminal that continues to the top of the stem.

Ice Cream Fork (5 inches)

Old French Hollow Knife (9 5/8 inches)

Sugar Tongs (3 3/4 inches)

Monday, October 27, 2014

La Touraine by Reed and Barton

La Touraine, introduced by Reed and Barton in 1895 is a pattern with a heavy beaded design. It is patterns like this that so represent the Victorian era with the substantial heft, serious design, and art work at the shoulder, midway up the stem, and on the terminal.

Toast Serving Fork (7 1/4 inches)

Master Salt Spoon (3 1/2 inches)

Crumber (12 5/8 inches)