Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2014-12-14

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 19, 2014

Bunkerhill by Watson

Bunker Hill, introduced by Watson in 1910, is a fairly simple pattern with a single line as an edge around the piece and a motif on the terminal that looks to me perhaps to be of fanned feathers and furled fronds, but I am just guessing having never a piece in person.

Lettuce Serving Fork (8 1/4 inches)

Strawberry Fork (4 7/8 inches)

Individual Sat Spoon (2 1/4 inches)

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

D'Orleans by Towle

Harold E. Nock designed D'Orleans for Towle in 1923. Nock was also known for designing Candlelight, Royal Windsor, Virginia Carvel, Chased Diana, and Rambler Rose for Towle. This pattern should not be confused with Orleans by Watson. Although the names are close the designs are not. This pattern is fairly plain with the main decoration being a motif in the center of the stem. The more one looks at the pattern the more one realizes there is to the design which more resembles a much older pattern.

Salad Fork (6/18 inches)

Tomato Server (7 3/4 inches)

Lemon Fork (5 1/2 inches)

Monday, December 15, 2014

Orleans by Watson

Orleans, introduced by Watson in 1915 is a unique pattern with a medieval design of leaves, shields, and fluer des lis. It has a wonderful shield in the terminal that is suitable for engraving.

Fork (7 inches)

Knife (9 1/8 inches)