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, December 30, 2011

Orange Spoons (Part 2)

More lovely Orange Spoons with the sharp tip on the bowl to pierce the pulp. The earlier post showed additional examples. Sometimes this piece is referred to as the Citrus Spoon.


Virginiana by Gorham (5 3/4 inches)


Fruit/orange Spoon


Rococo by Dominick and Haff (5 1/2 inches)
Fruit/orange Spoon



Louvre by Wallace (5 3/4 inches)
Fruit/orange Spoon





Elegante by Reed and Barton (5 3/4 inches)


Fruit/orange Spoon


No. 10 by Dominick and Haff (5 5/8 inches)


Fruit/orange Spoon

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Pie and Cake Server

Back to "Servers", the Pie and Cake Server is an utilitarian piece with a stainless blade and a hollow handle.There is also a piece called a Pie Server that is very similar. Most patterns have both pieces. Here are examples of two the different pieces, shown Prince Eugene by Alvin.

The Pie Server




The Pie and Cake Server


Here are some more examples of the Pie and Cake Server 

Francis I by Reed and Barton (10 3/8 inches)



Burgundy by Reed and Barton (10 3/8 inches)



Parthenon by Reed and Barton (11 1/4 inches)


Waltz of the Spring by Wallace (11 inches)



Du Barry by International (11 inches)




Monday, December 26, 2011

Wreath by Gorham


Cirtus/Orange Spoon (5  3/4 inches)


Large Cream Ladle (5 inches)
 Ice Cream Spoon (5 inches)



Butter Spreader (5 3/4 inches) 


Friday, December 23, 2011

Pate Spreader

To complicate things - the Pate Spreader actually looks more like a knife than the Pate Knife, which I posted on earlier.  These pieces are  found in many of the older patterns but can easily  be confused with the butter knife.

Chrysanthemum by Tiffany (5 inches)


Whittier by Tiffany (6 1/4 inches)


 Olympian byTiffany


Marquis by Frank Whiting (5 1/4 inches)


Versailles by Gorham (4 5/8  inches)
 

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Jelly Cake Server

When I first posted on the Jelly Cake Server, I was under the impression that this was a server that could be used to serve cake or jelly. I was wrong. There separate servers for Jelly  (See Jelly Servers) and a separate Cake Server. The Jelly Cake Server is its own piece and what a lovely piece it is. It has the shape of the pie server with ornate decorations on the blade. Here are some examples.

  Lily by Whiting (9 inches)


Louvre by Wallace (7 7/8 inches)


No. 10 by Dominick and Haff (10 1/4 inches)




Frontenac by International (8 1/8 inches)



Cloeta by International (8 inches)



Lily by Gorham (9 1/2 inches)
 

Monday, December 19, 2011

Poinsettia by Wallace

Another holiday themed pattern, Poinsettia was designed by Wallace. Although the pattern has been discontinued, I could not find the date it was originally introduced. Also, all the pieces I found were hollow handle and were serving pieces.

Gravy Ladle (8 1/4 inches)


Cake Slicer (12 7/8 inches)
Ice Cream Scoop (8 3/4 inches)

Casserole Spoon (10 3/8  inches)


Friday, December 16, 2011

Pickle Knife

Of all the "Pickle Pieces" the Victorians justified, this is one that I don't see that often. Like other knives, the Pickle Knife can easily be confused with a butter knife.


Faneuil by Tiffany






Lily of the Valley by Whiting (6 5/8 inches) 








Etruscan by Gorham (7 3/4 inches)








Vine-Gourd by Tiffany (7 1/8  inches)







Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Saratoga Chip Server (Part 3)

The Saratoga Chip Server is a curious piece that I have posted on earlier. Developed to serve the "new fangled" snack potato chips, the piece is actually a lovely ornate piece that is only found in the older patterns. Here are some more examples. 

La Comtesse by Reed and Barton (9 5/8 inches)
Avalon by International (9 inches)



Meadow by Gorham (8 3/4 inches)


Duke of York by Whiting (8 3/4  inches)

 

Warwick by International (7 1/2 inches)



Monday, December 12, 2011

Holly by Frank Whiting

This lovely holiday pattern, Holly by Frank Whiting was introduced in 1907. 

Demitasse Spoon (4 1/4 inches)


Solid Bon Bon Spoon  (4 3/4 inches)



Friday, December 9, 2011

Large Punch Ladle

The Large Punch Ladle is a very recognizable piece of any pattern. It is also one of the larger pieces. Some are flat handled (as shown here) and some are hollow handled and most patterns have examples of both.

Canterbury by Towle  (14 5/8 inches)

Francis I by Reed and Barton (16 inches)

 Classic Rose by Reed and Barton (15 3/8 inches)
Imperial Queen by Whiting (13 1/2 inches)
 
 New Standish by Durgin (13 1/8 inches)




Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Kidney Bowl Serving Pieces

As I have discussed before, most patterns have a Casserole Spoon that is often referred to as a Berry Spoon.  These pieces are some of the most ornate serving pieces in a pattern with elaborate designs of fruit and flowers on the bowl. Some companies will have more than one type of "casserole" piece in a pattern. Tiffany is one of these companies. Many of their patterns have a Kidney Bowl Casserole Serving piece. Here are some examples of those pieces.

English King by Tiffany (9 1/4 inches)
Berry-Casserole Spoon, Kidney Bowl


Atlantis by Tiffany (9 1/2 inches)

Berry-Casserole Spoon, Kidney Bowl
Renaissance by Tiffany (9 3/4 inches)




Blackberry by Tiffany (9 1/2 inches)

Strawberry by Tiffany (9 1/2 inches)