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?

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Songs of Christmas-Sterling by Wallace Silver

Wallace introduced their Songs of Christmas series in 2000.

Silver Bells (2000)


Wallace Silver Songs of Christmas-Sterling Silver Bells - With Box 1

Town of Bethlehem (2001)

Wallace Silver Songs of Christmas-Sterling Town Of Bethlehem - Boxed

Oh Christmas Tree (2002)

Wallace Silver Songs of Christmas-Sterling O Christmas Tree - Boxed

Monday, December 23, 2019

Towle, Flowers of Christmas Medallion Part 3

 For the past several years, I have posted on Towle's  Annual Christmas Medallion Ornaments. Here are some more examples.

Laurel (1986)
Towle Silver Flowers of Christmas Medallion Laurel - No Box

Holly (1988)

Towle Silver Flowers of Christmas Medallion Holly - Boxed

Chrysanthemum (1991)

Towle Silver Flowers of Christmas Medallion Chrysanthemum - Boxed



Friday, December 20, 2019

Gorham Christmas Ornaments Post 2

As I have posted before, in addition to their flatware and holloware, Gorham has a set of sterling Christmas ornaments. Here are some examples of these.


Snowman
Gorham Silver Unlimited Series-Ornament Snowman - Boxed

Stocking

Gorham Silver Unlimited Series-Ornament Stocking - Boxed

Drummer Boy

Gorham Silver Unlimited Series-Ornament Drummer Boy - Boxed

Santa's Helper - Elf

Gorham Silver Unlimited Series-Ornament Santas Helper-Elf - No Box

Monday, December 16, 2019

Chantilly Ornaments Part 3

Gorham produces a different sterling Christmas Tree ornament each year using the design of their ever popular Chantilly pattern. I have posted on these before.  Here are some more examples of past years.



2017 Poinsettia 
Gorham Silver Chantilly Ornament 2017 Poinsettia - Boxed


2011 Heart

Gorham Silver Chantilly Ornament 2011 Chantilly Heart - Boxed


2015 Star
Gorham Silver Chantilly Ornament 2015 Chantilly Star - 3 1/4 Ht - Boxed

2019 Star

Gorham Silver Chantilly Ornament 2019 Star - Boxed

Friday, December 13, 2019

Sterling Snowflake Ornament by Gorham Silver (Part 2)

For years, Gorham has produced a Snowflake Ornament. Here are a few  more examples from Christmases past. I posted on these earlier.

2019
Gorham Silver Snowflake Ornament 2019-Sterling Snowflake - Boxed

1970
                                                                            





1977









Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Old World Santas by Reed & Barton

Reed& Barton intriduced their Old World Santas series in 2004

Pere Noel (2004)


Reed & Barton Old World Santas Pere Noel - With Box 1

St Nicholas (2005)

Reed & Barton Old World Santas St Nicholas - Boxed

Grandfather Christmas (2011)


Reed & Barton Old World Santas Grandfather Christmas - Boxed


Monday, December 9, 2019

Twelve Days of Christmas-Grande Baroque by Wallace Silver

Another "12 Days" series, Wallace introduced their Twelve Days of Christmas in 1988 with 

The Patridge in the Pear Tree.

Wallace Silver Twelve Days of Christmas-Grande Baroque Partridge In A Pear Tree - With Box 1

Followed in 1989 with 

Two Turle Doves

Wallace Silver Twelve Days of Christmas-Grande Baroque Two Turtledoves - Boxed

1990 introduced

Three French Hens

Wallace Silver Twelve Days of Christmas-Grande Baroque Three French Hens - Boxed

1991 - Four Calling Birds

Wallace Silver Twelve Days of Christmas-Grande Baroque Four Calling Birds - Boxed

Friday, December 6, 2019

Wallace's Grand Baroque Heart Ornaments Part 2

Wallace produces an ornament each year in the  style of their Grand Baroque pattern. Each is on a heart shaped ornaments. 


Buck and Doe (2017)  

Wallace Silver Grande Baroque Heart 2017 Buck & Doe - Boxed

Sleigh and Reindeer (2019)

Wallace Silver Grande Baroque Heart 2019 Sleigh & Reindeer - Boxed


Gorham Christmas Tree Ornaments

Gorham produces a different sterling Christmas Tree ornament each year.  This series is relatively new, having just started in 2017. 

2019 Christmas Tree  2017


Gorham Silver Sterling Christmas Tree 2019 Christmas Tree - Boxed




2017 Christmas Tree


Gorham Silver Sterling Christmas Tree 2017 Christmas Tree - With Box 1

2018 Christmas Tree

Gorham Silver Sterling Christmas Tree 2018 Christmas Tree - 3 3/4 Ht - No Box

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Reed and Barton's Christmas Cross Ornaments Part 2

Gorham is not the only company that produces Christmas Cross Ornament. Here are a few examples of the Reed and Barton's Christmas Cross Ornaments.

Christmas Cross (1971)  1982, 1993  2019, 1972 1977 1980

Christmas Cross (2019)


Reed & Barton Christmas Cross-Sterling 2019-49th Edition Sterling Cross - 3 1/2 - With Box 49

Christmas Cross (1972)

Reed & Barton Christmas Cross-Sterling 1972-Sterling Cross - No Box

Christmas Cross (1977)

Reed & Barton Christmas Cross-Sterling 1977-Sterling Cross - No Box


Christmas Cross (1980)

Reed & Barton Christmas Cross-Sterling 1980-Sterling Cross - Boxed

Monday, December 2, 2019

WND6 by Wendell

Wendell introduced their WND6 in 1895.

Five O'Clock Spoon (5 inches)

Wendell No. 6 (Sterling, 1895) Five O'Clock Teaspoon

Sugar Spoon (5 1/8 inches)

Wendell No. 6 (Sterling, 1895) Sugar Spoon

Friday, November 29, 2019

WND15 by Wendell

Ironically, I find that patterns that companies do not give an elaborate name to but rather just a number are often the most lovely patterns. A prime example is Wendell's WND15 pattern  which is rococco in design.

Demitasse Spoon (4 1/4 inches)
Wendell WND15 (Sterling) Demitasse Spoon

Berry Fork (4 1/8 inches)
Wendell WND15 (Sterling) Individual Berry Fork

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Napkin Clips Part 3

More lovely sterling Napkin Clips. I posted on these earlier

French Regency by Wallace

Wallace Silver French Regency (Sterling, 1986) Napkin Clip

Grand Colonial by Wallace
Wallace Silver Grand Colonial (Sterling,1942,No Monos) Napkin Clip

Plymouth by Gorham

Gorham Silver Plymouth (Sterling, 1911) Napkin Clip

27 by Kirk Stieff

Kirk Stieff 27 (Sterling,Hollowware,Scrolls) Napkin Clip

Monday, November 25, 2019

WND1 by Wendell

Wendell's WND1 pattern dates back to 1890. The design is descibed as a tipped paddle design with wings.

Oval Soup Spoon (7 inches)

Wendell WND1 (STERLING) Dessert/Oval Soup Spoon

Friday, November 22, 2019

WND11 by Wendell

I'm sure when this pattern was introduced, but here is an example of WND11 by Wendell.



Master Butter Knife (6 3/4 inches)
Wendell WND11 (STERLING) Flat Handle Master Butter Knife

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

WND21 by Wendell

One of Wendell's 'Limited Patterns', WND21 is a lovely design.

Teaspoon (5 5/8 inches)

Wendell WND21 (Sterling) Teaspoon

Monday, November 18, 2019

Marguerite by Wood and Hughes

Wood and Hughes' Marguerite pattern was introduced in 1880. Its design is what they refer to as 'etched'.

Large Pie Knife (7 5/8 inches)

Wood & Hughes Marguerite (Sterling, 1880) Large Solid Bright Cut Pie Knife

Fork (7 1/8 inches)

Wood & Hughes Marguerite (Sterling, 1880) Fork


Friday, November 15, 2019

New King by Wood and Hughes

New King by Wood and Hughes was introduced in 1860. Its design very simliar to the pattern of the same name by Dominick and Haff (1898) which is also known as Queens by Birks that I posted about earlier.


New King by Wood and Hughes

New King by Dominick and Haff (aka Queens by Birks)


New King by Dominick and Haff





Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Undine by Wood and Hughes

Dating back to 1850, Udine is one of Wood and Hughes' oldest patterns.

Five O'Clock Spoon (5 3/8 inches)

Wood & Hughes Undine (Sterling, 1888) Five O'Clock Teaspoon

Dinner Fork (7 1/2 inches)
Wood & Hughes Undine (Sterling, 1888) Fork