Stieff Rose by Stieff

Stieff Rose debuted in 1892, the first year Charles Stieff established his silver factory in Baltimore. Stieff Rose is very similar to a pattern made by then-rival Kirk, known as Repousse (which was introduced in 1828). Though very similar in design, the two patterns are different.The two companies merged in 1979, and the company is now known as Kirk Stieff.

Stieff Rose by Stieff (1892)

Repousse by Kirk (1828)

Dinner Fork (7 1/4 inches)

Regular Fork (6 7/8 inches)

Berry Spoon (8 1/8 inches)

Ice Cream Spoon (6 1/8 inches)

Roast Beef Serving Fork (7 inches)

Salad Fork (6 inches)

Mayflower by Kirk

There are ten different "Mayflower" patterns by ten different silver companies. Kirk introduced their Mayflower pattern in 1846. Their 1938 catalog stated "The Kirk Mayflower is a beautiful hand engraved design, inspired to Kirk about 90 years ago by an original piece brought over in the "Mayflower" for which the pattern is named. It has been the choice of four or five generations of prominent families and is continually increasing in favor."

(Fork 7 1/4 inches)

(Iced Tea Spoon 7 5/8 inches)

(Teaspoon )

(Hollow Butter Spreader)

Old Masters by Gorham

Most people don't realize but the original "Old Master" pattern was Gorham Old Masters in which different pieces depicted one of the Old Master Artists. The pattern was introduced in 1885 by Gorham. It was designed by Antoine Heller, a French born designer who first worked for Tiffany before Gorham hired him away to work for them.

This is a very unique pattern. Each piece is three dimensional, ornate, and heavy on details. Some of the artists on these pieces I was unable to identify.

Coffee Spoon 5 inches (Lorraine)

Fish Fork 8 3/4 inches (Rembrandt)

Table Serving Spoon 8 3/8 inches (Reubens)

Large Solid Pie Knife (Van Dyck)

Cream Ladle 5 5/8 inches (Peter Fischer)

(German Sculptor Peter Fischer 1455-1529)

Small Soup Ladle 11 1/2 inches (Tizian)

Salad Serving Fork 10 inches (Raphael)

Sauce Ladle 5 3/4 inches (Vischer)

Desert/Tea Knife

Fork 7 1/2 inches (CORREGGIO)

Teaspoon 5 3/4inches (VELAQUEZ)

(Spanish painter Diego Velazquez 1599-1660)

Small Berry Spoon 8 1/2 inches (Rembrandt)

Sugar Spoon 6 inches (VELASQUEZ)

Flat Handle Master Butter Knife 7 3/4 (van Dyck)

(Flemish painter Anthony van Dyck 1599-1641)

Croquette Servers

This is a rare but practical piece - a Croquette Server. In the Northeastern United States, Croquettes were used as a way to serve leftover ham. But in the South, typical Croquettes were Salmon Croquettes. I could find very few examples of this utensil, and the ones I found were from extremely old patterns. These three patterns all date back to the 1800's. Later on, one would see the term "Croquette server" lumped under the description of the Tomato Server or the Asparagus Server (non-hooded). No longer was it a unique utensil. It's duty merely assigned elsewhere.

Shown in Medallion by Gorham (8 3/4 inches)

Shown in New Queens by Durgin (6 5/8 inches)

Shown in Ivy by Gorham (9 3/8 inches)

A Variety of Servers

Just a variety of different serving pieces that are a little different and fairly ornate. Some of these patterns, such as Scroll, New Art, Poppy, and Six Flowers are not as popular and therefore nice to see samples of their pieces.

Trout Server shown in Olympian by Tiffany (11 1/14 inches)

Waffle Server shown in Labors of Cupid by Dominick and Haff 

Pie Knife shown in New Art by Durgin (10 1/2 inches)

Ice Cream Server in Chrysanthemum by Durgin  (10 5/8 inches)

Sugar Shell Spoon shown in Poppy by Paye and Baker (5 1/2 inches)

Cinderella by Gorham

This pattern was introduced by Gorham in 1925 and discontinued in 1991. The original Gorham catalog described it as "a pattern of compelling beauty". There is an acanthus leaf design on both sides and it is decorated with an oval and flowers.

Salad Fork (6 1/2 inches)

Baked Potato Fork (7 1/4 inches)

Ice Cream Fork (5 1/4 inches)

Gumbo Soup Spoon (6 7/8 inches)

Sorbet Servers

Here are the Sorbet Servers. They are similar in size to the Sherbert servers, however they have more a scoop shape and a elegant shape to them. All the examples I could find were in Tiffany patterns.

Shown in Chrysanthemum by Tiffany (9 1/8 inches)

Shown in Persian by Tiffany (9 inches)

Shown in Richelieu by Tiffany (8 1/2 inches)

Shown in Vine by Tiffany

Baby Spoons (Bent Handle)

Like the straight handled baby spoons, these Bent Handled Baby Spoons are found in many patterns. I would think that most older ones would be monogrammed, which to me only adds to the beauty of the piece.

Doris by International (3 5/8 inches)

El Grandee by Towle ( 3 3/4 inches)

Eloquence by Lunt (3 1/2 inches)

Georgian by Towle ( 3 1/2 inches)

Hyperion by Whiting ( 3 7/8 inches)

***Note the Cat in the Bowl of this Piece

Sir Christopher by Wallace (3 1/2 inches)

Strawberry by Tiffany

Strawberry, a beautiful pattern introduced by Tiffany in 1875. There is another pattern by Tiffany called Blackberry which is very similar but with a blackberry motif. You often see the two mentioned together. In typical Tiffany detail this pattern has exquisite profile of three strawberries on the end of each piece with the handle fashioned as an intricate twisted vine. Some pieces are decorated with leaves.

(Berry Spoon clam shell 9 inches)

(Strawberry fork)

(Pastry Server)

(Sugar Tongs)

(Berry Spoon with ruffled bowl 8 3/4 inches)

(Fruit Serving Spoon shown in the Blackberry  pattern 9 1/2 inches)