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?

Monday, December 31, 2018

Wild Rose by Paye and Baker

A bit different from Watson's Wild Rose, Paye and Baker's Wild Rose is still a pattern with a defined design.

Youth Fork (5 1/2 inches)





Five O'Clock Spoon (5 1/8 inches)




Monday, December 24, 2018

Grand Baroque Christmas Heart Ornaments by Wallace

In the  style of their Grand Baroque pattern, Wallace produces a different heart shaped ornament every year. Here are a few examples from years past.

Madonna and Child (1993)  



Angel and Christ Child (1996)



Holy Family And Donkey  (1999)

Friday, December 21, 2018

Gorham Christmas Cross Ornaments (part 2)


Each year Gorham produces a sterling Christmas ornament in the shape of a cross using the design of one of their patterns. These are lovely. I have two friends who have Christmas trees they decorate only with sterling ornaments, including some of these. Here are some examples of past ornaments.

Buttercup (2000)



King Edward (2004)





Fairfax (2001)

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Chantilly Ornaments by Gorham (Part 2)

Gorham produces a different sterling Christmas Tree ornament each year using the design of their ever popular Chantilly pattern. Here are some examples of past years.


Chantilly Star (2008)



Chantilly Star (2009)



Chantilly Bell (2010) 

Monday, December 17, 2018

Towle Flowers of Christmas Medallion (part 2)

For Christmas, Towle has their Flowers of Christmas Medallion collection. A different Medallion (ornament) is released each year.

Poinsettia (1985)



Christmas Rose (1983)



Laurel (1986)

Friday, December 14, 2018

Jac Rose by Gorham

Jac Rose by Gorham dates back to 1889. 

 Demitasse Spoon (3 3/4 inches)




Fork (6 7/8 inches)

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Ionic by John Polhamus

John Polhamsus' Ionic pattern dates back to 1850 (Sterling, 1850)

Fork (7 5/8 inches) 



Egg Spoon (4 3/8 inches)



Medium Solid Cold Meat Serving Fork (8 3/8 inches)

Monday, December 10, 2018

Epic by Gorham

Gorham introduced their Epic pattern in 1941. It was designed by J. Russell Price, who also  Price also designed King Edward  for Gorham (1936),   Chapel Bells for Alvin (1939), as well as Greenbrier for Gorham (1938).


Casserole Spoon (9 inches)




Large Solid Cold Meat Serving Fork ( 9 inches)




Gumbo Soup Spoon (6 7/8 inches)





Tomato Server (8 1/8 inches)




Friday, December 7, 2018

Domestic by Gorham

Gorham's Domestic pattern dates back to 1880.

Fish Fork (6 3/4 inches)



Sugar Spoon (6 inches)



Gravy Ladle (7 inches)

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Delhi by Gorham

Delhi by Gorham is a lovely pattern that dates back to 1880. There are multiple motifs on the pieces. Also from the shoulder up half way the stem is a ribbed design that sets the floral motif off.

Demitasse Spoon (4 1/8 inches)



Luncheon Fork (6 3/4 inches)



Teaspoon (6 inches)





Monday, December 3, 2018

Colonial Eagle by Gorham

Another pattern introduced in 1959 is Colonial Eagle by Gorham.

Salad Fork (6 1/2 inches)



Lemon Fork (4 1/2 inches)



Teaspoon (6 1/8 inches)



Friday, November 30, 2018

Buccellati Sterling Christmas Ornaments

Unlike the sterling Christmas Ornaments from other companies, Buccellati produces exquisite 3 dimensional and multi colored. Here are some of Buccellati's Christmas Ornaments.

Village Scene (1986)



Zenith Star (1990)



Santa Claus (1998)




Classic Bouquet by Gorham

Classic Bouquet by Gorham is a newer pattern, introduced in 1972

Fork (7 1/2 inches)



Dessert/Oval Soup Spoon  (6 3/4 inches)



Cheese Knife (7 1/4 inches)



Butter Spreader (6 1/2 inches)



Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Posted Patterns (T-Z)

T

Talisman Rose by Frank Whiting (5.3.19)

Tapestry by Reed and Barton

Tara by Reed and Barton 

The Wave by Unger (2/9/18)

Thistle by Blackinton

Tiffany the pattern


Tomatoe by Tiffany

Torchon by Buccellati (1.14.19)

Touraine by Goham (12.30.20)

Townsend by Gorham (11.7.18)

Trajan by Reed and Barton


Tree of Life by Reed and Barton

Trellis by Vera Wang (7.19.21)

Trianon by Dominick and Haff


Trianon by International 

Trianon by Knowles (7. 21.21)

Trilogy by Gorham (7.26.19)

Triumph by Tuttle (7.23.21)

Tropea by Mount Vernon

Troubadour by Concord / Frank Whiting


Trousseau by International 

Trumbull by International 

Tuscany by Watson (9. 23.19)

Tudor by Lunt 

Tudor by JB and SM Knowles (11.4.20)

Tuileries  by Gorham


Tulip by Durgin


Tulip by Fessenden 

Tulipan by Frank Smith (7/1/20)

Turkey by Tiffany 

Twentieth Century by Mount Vernon

TWS226 by Towle (4.6.20)

TWS327 by Towle (4.3.20)

TWS350 by Towle (4.1.20)

TWS by Towle (5.26.21)

TWS494 by Towle (4.22.20)

Tyrolean by Frank Whiting

U
Udine by Wood and Hughes (11.13.19)



Valdres by Marthinsen


Valenicia by International (9.23.20)

Valenciennes by Manchester  

Van Buren by Baker Manchste

William Vanderbilt by Tiffany

Ventian by Wood and Hughes 

Venetian Scroll by Onieda 

Venezia (aka Verona-Fortunoff) (5.20.19)

Venus by International

Vergennes by Frank Smith 

Veranda by Stieff (11.20.20)

Verona by Lunt


Verona by Blackinton (1.6.20)

Verona by Towle 


Versailles by Gorham

Versailles by Wallace


Victoria by Dominick and Haff

Victoria by Shiebler (3.8.19)

Victoria-Florence by Frank Whiting (2/10/17)

Victoria-New by Watson (11/14/16)

Victoria No. 85 by Woods and Hughes (3/28/18)

Victoria Old by Watson

Victorian by Durgin 

Viking by Alvin

Viking Rose by Mathensin ( 4/27/20)

Villa Norfolk aka Norfolk (2.8.21)

Vine by Gorham (8.30.19)

Viking by Alvin

Viola by Wood and Hughes (5/28/18)

Violet by Wallace 

Violet by Whiting


Virginia by Lunt 

Virginia Carvel

Virginia by Weidlich 

Virginia Engraved by Dominick and Haff (12.28.20)

Virginiana by Gorham

Vivaldi by  Alvin 

Vogue by Manchester (8.21.19)

W


Waltz of the Spring by Wallace


Warrior by Wood and Hughs (11.1.19)

Warwick by International

Warwick by Wallace

WAS157 by Wallace (3.25.19)

Washington by Dominick and Haff (1.20.20)

Washington by Wallace (3.15.19)

Watteau by Durgin 

Wave Edge by Tiffany


Wave (The) by Unger (2/16/18)

Waverly by Wallace 

WEB3 by Web 

Webster by Manchester

Wedding Bells by International (6.8.18)

Wedding Rose by Watson

Wedgewood by International

Wellesley by International 

Wellington by Alvin

Wellington by Durgin

Wentworth by Lunt 

Wentworth by Watson (9.20.19)

Weymouth by Gorham (7.29.19)

White Paisley by Gorham (7.24.19)

Whitehall-New by International (3.11.19)

Whitehall-Old by International (3.13.19)

Wilde Rose by International  (3.20.19)

Wild Rose by Paye and Baker (12/31/18)

Wild Rose by Watson

William and Mary by CJ Vander (11.6.20)

William and Mary by Lunt

William and Mary by Wallace  (9.25.20)

William Penn by Alvin 

Willow by Gorham (8.28.19)

Winchester by Alvin

Winchester by International 

Winchester by Shreve (10.18.19)

Wings (aka Queen Christina) by Frigast (11/26/18)

Windham by Tiffany 

Windsor Castle by Tuttle

WIndsor Manor (5.29.20)

Windsor Rose by Watson (1/30/17)

Winslow by Kirk 

Winthrop by Tiffany


WND1 by Wendell (11.25.19)

WND6 by Wendell (12.2.19)

WND7 by Wendell (11.8.19)

WND11 by Wendell (11.22.19)

WND15 by Wendell (11.29.19)

WND29 by Wendell (4.1.19)

WND21 by Shreve (11.20.19)

Woodlily by Frank Smith (4.29.20)

Woodwind by Reed and Barton 

Worthington by Kirk Stieff

Wreath by Gorham


WSC4 by Webster (1/2/19)

WSC9 by Webster 

WTS30  by Watson (9.27.19)

WTS37 by Watson (9.30.19)

Wyndham by Gorha



Yetive by Mount Vernon   


York by Gorham 

Z

Zodiac by Gorham (5/25/18)
Zyphyr by Wood and Hughes (11.6.19)

Sterling Snowflake Ornament by Gorham Silver

For years, Gorham has produced a Snowflake Ornament. Here are a few examples from Christmases past.

Snowflake (2018)




Snowflake (2016)





Snowflake (1978)



Monday, November 26, 2018

Queen Christina (aka Wings) by Frigast

Queen Christina, also known as Wings, was introduced by Frigast. The design has an Art Deco look to it.

Salad Serving Fork  (8 3/8 inches)



Pie Server (9 1/4 inches)



Butter Spreader (6 1/2 inches)

Friday, November 23, 2018

Christina By Gorham

In 1935 George A. Feinauer designed Christina for Gorham. 

Cucumber Server (6 3/8 inches)



Small Sugar Tongs (4 inches)




Fork (7 1/8 inches)





Chapel Rose by Gorham

Dating only back to 1963, Gorham's Chapel Rose is another pattern with a very simple design.

Salad Fork (6 1/2 inches)



Butter Spreader (6 7/8 inches)



Gravy Ladle (6 5/8 inches)



Sugar Spoon (6 inches)