Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2017-02-26

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, March 3, 2017

Liberty by Watson

There are several patterns with this name, but Watson's Liberty pattern was introduced in 1916. It was designed by Charles F. Simms who also designed Talisman Rose (1948) and Martha Hilton (1914) for Watson.

Lemon Fork (5 3/8 inches)

Preserve Spoon (7 5/8 inches)

Pie Server (10 1/4 inches)

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Tara by Reed and Barton

Reed and Barton introduced Tara in 1955. It was available until 2011.

Fork (7 1/2 inches)

Tomato Server (8 1/8 inches)

Cake Knife (10 1/2 inches)

Lettuce Serving Spoon (8 3/8 inches)

Monday, February 27, 2017

Marechal Niel by Durgin

A beautiful old pattern, Durgin introduced Marechal Niel in 1896. The name comes from a fragrant yellow climbing rose with little or no thorns. The rose itself was introduced in 1864.

Lettuce Serving Fork (8 3/4 inches)

Ice Cream Fork (5 5/8 inches)

Ice Cream Slicer (9 3/4 inches)

Orange Spoon (5 7/8 inches)