Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2017-09-10

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, September 15, 2017

Carnation by Alvin

Alvin's Carnation pattern dates back to 1900. Like many patterns of this time it has a lovely rich design on it. This is a bit different from Wallace's Carnation pattern (1909).

Almond Scoop (5 7/8)

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Marie Antoinette Patterns

Marie Antoinette is another popular names for sterling patterns. Here are two examples.

Alvin (1910) Luncheon Fork

Dominick and Haff (1917) Cocktail Fork

Monday, September 11, 2017

Cellini Patterns

There are a plethora of sterling patterns named Cellini. Each is very unique in its design paying homage to "Benvenuto Cellini [born in 1500] ,an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman, soldier, musician, and artist who also wrote a famous autobiography and poetry. He was one of the most important artists of Mannerism." *1

Here are several examples of Teaspoons in various Cellini patterns:

Cellini by Alvin (1929)

Cellini by Frank Smith (1890)

Cellini by Ricci Sterling

1, source, Wikipedia