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?
Japanese was introduced by Tiffany in 1871. The pattern was designed by Edward G. Moore (1827-1891)who was Tiffany's chief designer This was Tiffany's first silverware in the Japanese style and was a dramatic departure from earlier patterns. It became one of their most highly acclaimed patterns.
There were patterns by many other companies named "Japanese", but Tiffany's was by far the most esteemed.
Trout Serving Forks and Trout Serving Knives are listed in many patterns. However, I could only find examples in Old Colonial by Towle. Trout Serving Fork (7 3/4 inches)
Nord Bowlen designed Summer Song for Lunt. It was introduced in 1954. Bowlen also designed Sweetheart Rose (1951), Eloquence (1953), and Starfire (1955) for Lunt. Master Butter Knife (6 3/4 inches) Iced Tea Spoon (7 3/8 inches)
Gorham introduced their Stardust pattern in 1957. It was designed by Richard L. Huggins. Note the shooting stars in the design on the pierced Bon Bon Spoon.
I posted on this earlier, the Rice Spoon is just another serving piece, although one not found in every pattern. An interesting thing about this pattern is that the serving spoon comes in both solid and pierced.
Violet by Wallace (8 7/8 inches)
Silver Flutes by Towle (9 7/8 inches)
Lion by Frank Smith (9 1/4 inches) Onslow by Tuttle (9 3/8 inches)
Alvin introduced its Molly Stark pattern 1910. The same pattern was also introduced in 1916 in silver plate. As a fun fact, the lady Molly Starks was raised in New Hampshire. She married John Stark in 1758. Her name was probably first heard when her husband yelled his favorite battle cry of "There are your enemies, the Red Coats and the Tories. They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow!"