Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2017-07-30

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, August 4, 2017

Hunt Club by Durgin

Like many patterns by Durgin, you can find this one listed under the same name by Gorham since Gorham assumed Durgin. The Hunt Club pattern was designed by Barton P. Jenks and introduced in 1930 by Durgin. Jenks was also known for Watson's Marlborough (1918) pattern, Durgin's Lenox (1912) pattern, as well as Gorham's Lansdowne (1907) and Shamrock V (1931) patterns. If you look at these 5 patterns you will definitely see a familiar design that must have been Jenks' style.

Designer : Barton P. Jenks

Fork (7 1/4 inches)

Butter Spreader (5 1/2 inches)

Lemon Fork (5 1/8 inches)

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Miss Alvin by Alvin

In 1931 Alvin introduced Miss Alvin. The pattern was designed by F. Russell Woodward. Other patterns he designed for Alvin also include Chased Romantique and Rouchambeau.

Cream Soup (6 1/4 inches)

Serving Fork (8 3/4 inches)

Sugar Tongs (4 3/8 inches)

Cucumber Server (6 5/8 inches)

Monday, July 31, 2017

"Colonial" Patterns

Of all the names of sterling flatware patterns several are used many times, and in many variations. One of these is "Colonial". I could identify 36 different patterns alone. Short of the name, I can see no similar pattern (no pun intended) in their designs. So here is the first post (of many) Salad Forks in different Colonial patterns.

Grand Colonial by Wallace 1942 (6 3/8 inches)

Southern Colonial 1945 By Fine Arts (6 1/2 inches)

Georgian Colonial by Wallace 1932 (6 1/4 pieces)

Colonial Theme by Lunt 1964 (6 3/8 inches)

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