Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2010-09-19

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?

Friday, September 24, 2010

Buffet Fork

The Buffet Fork is serving piece designed (obviously) for the buffet.Very similar to the Cold Meat fork but just a bit larger. For example in the Durgin Chrysanthemum pattern the Cold Meat fork is 9 1/4 inches, while the Buffet fork is 9 3/8. The Repousse Cold Meat fork is both smaller and more "scooped" in design that the Buffet fork, so they are separate pieces.

Chrysanthemum by Durgin 9 3/8 inches

Athene/Crescendo by Frank Whiting (9 1/8 inches)

Provence by Lunt (8 1/18 inches)

Repousse by Kirk (10 1/4 inches)

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Crumb Knife (Part 2)

More lovely Crumb Knives or Crumbers. The retail values of some of these pieces can be as much as $3,000. Because the pieces are so large, the designers had room for engraving and special work to further the pattern detail, more so than they could on place pieces. For the true artisan, the crumb knife could be their large canvas.

Italian by Tiffany (12 3/8 inches)

Lady Washington by Gorham (13 inches)

Lily by Gorham (10 3/4 inches)

Luxembourg by Gorham (11 3/4 inches)

Medallion by Gorham (13 inches)

Monroe by Wendt (13 inches)

Saint Cloud by Gorham (12 1/2 inches)

Monday, September 20, 2010

Daphne by Paye and Baker

An Art Nouveau pattern, Daphne, was introduced by Paye and Baker in 1900. The design is of a woman's face with flowing hair and floral decorations. It is fairly hard to find, as most Pay and Baker pieces are - a beautiful pattern.

(Cocktail Fork 6 inches)

(Fruit Orange Spoon 5 3/4 inches)

(Old Style Pickle Fork 5 1/2 inches)