Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2015-10-25

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 30, 2015

Mary Warren by Machester

The things they will name patterns after - Mary Warren was the name of the oldest accuser during the Salem Witch trials in 1692. Perhaps there is another not so "infamous" Mary Warren" that merited a pattern named in her honor, but for now that is all I could find. Manchester's Mary Warren pattern introduced in 1932 is of simple lines, those that normally are equated to colonial times.

Table Serving Spoon (8 1/8 inches)

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Fish Fork (6 1/8 inches)

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Gravy Ladle (6 1/2 inches)

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Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Jelly Cake Server (Pierced) (Part 3)

As I posted on this piece earlier, here are some more examples of the Pierced Jelly Cake Server. Most of these are fancy, elaborate servers (often very expensive - as the Old Orange Blossom example here that retails in the $1200 range.)

Stratford by International (8 1/4 inches)

Mary Warren by Manchester (8 1/4 inches)

Fleur De Lis by Alvin (8 3/4 inches)

Orange Blossom Old by Alvin (9 1/4 inches)

Monday, October 26, 2015

Fruit Series #1 by Watson

In 1903 Watson introduced its Fruit Series #1. The terminal and stem of each piece was very clearly decorated with the design of a fruit in deep relief. The art work is remarkable. In addition to the samples shown here (Strawberry, Orange, Grape, and Banana) there were also designs of Apple. Blackberry, Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Watermelon,

Cream Ladle (5 3/8 inches) Strawberry

Fruit/Orange Spoon (5 7/8 inches) Orange

Five O'Clock Spoon (5 1/2 inches) Grape

Teaspoon (6 inches) Banana