Lily by Frank Whiting

An Art Nouveau pattern, Lily was first introduced by Whiting in 1935. The design of the handle consists of tall leaves gracefully coming up the stem to the terminal (the end of the handle) where an open lily blossom sits in high relief. Then more leaves decorate the sides of the terminal with two more blossoms sitting atop. It is said to be the most sought after pattern by Whiting, which has since been bought by Gorham.

(Fork 7 1/4 inches)

(Master Butter Knife 7 inches)

(Berry Spoon 9 inches)

(Lettuce Fork 8 3/4 inches)

Cold Meat Fork (7 5/8 inches)

Jelly Cake Serve (9 inches)

Fried Oyster Server (8 1/4 inches)

Tiffany, the pattern

In 1869 The Tiffany Company introduced its first sterling silver flatware pattern, and appropriately named it "Tiffany". It was designed by Edward C. Moore and described by Osteberg as 'basically a modified Greek double-scroll surmounted by a shell like antefix'. Rising from the stem were small honeysuckle blossoms which flared outward. The pattern was reintroduced in in 1956 as Beekman.

Salad Fork (7 inches)

Salad Serving Set (10 inches)

Buckwheat Server (9 1/4 inches)

Ice Tong

Waffle Server

Raphael by Alvin

This glorious art nouveau pattern was introduced by Alvin in 1902. Alvin is now a sub-division of Gorham. (But do not confuse this pattern with Gorham's Raphael pattern, which is a totally different pattern.)

Alvin's Raphael is described as a lady draped in sheer cloth. Her long hair flows around her down the piece of silver. Different floral designs including orchids, iris, and other flowers make each piece a little unique. For example, on the tongs she is standing under a daffodil with orchids on the pinchers.

Sugar Spoon (6 inches)

Orange Spoon (5 7/8 inches)

Tomato Server (8 1/4 inches)

Oyster Fork (5 5/8 inches)

Small Cucumber Server (6 3/8 inches)

Small Cold Meat Serving Fork (7 3/4 inches)

Gravy Ladle (7 1/2 inches)

Preserve Spoon (7 3/8 inches)

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)