Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2015-11-22

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, November 27, 2015

Buckingham by Gorham

Gorham introduced their Buckingham pattern in 1909. The lines on the pattern are very similar to their most popular Chantilly pattern.

Salad Fork (6 3/8 inches)

Ramekin Fork (4 3/4 inches)

Olive Fork (5 1/2 inches)

Sugar Spoon (6 inches)

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Turkey by Tiffany

Tiffany's Turkey pattern is very ornate with the tail of a tom turkey fanned out at the top of the terminal. Fruits, grains, and vegetables grace the stem of each piece. As far as I can find this is one of Tiffany's incomplete patterns. That is - it is a pattern of the serving pieces only. I could find no individual place pieces. And Tiffany had several patterns they issued like this.

Pie and Cake Server (10 3/4 inches)

Roast Carving Fork (11 inches)

Gravy Ladle (7 3/8 inches)

Monday, November 23, 2015

Cranberry Server Part 3

More examples of the Cranberry Server, like I posted on earlier. The piece is a very similar to the Tomato Server, the differences being it has a solid spade instead of the Tomato Server's pierced one and usually has an up turned lip on one side.

Queen Elizabeth I by Towle (9 1/4 inches)

Stradivari by Wallace (8 3/8 inches)

Impero by Towle

King Richard by Towle (8 1/2 inches)