Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2011-06-19

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, June 24, 2011

Oyster Forks Part 3

I have posted on these several times before but I find they are such neat utensils and reflect the beauty of the patterns. Here are some more examples of the Oyster Fork.

Francis I by Reed and Barton (5 5/8 inches)
Oyster Fork

Stieff Rose by Kirk Stieff (5 5/8 inches)
Oyster Fork

La Reine by Wallace
Oyster Fork

Old Orange Blossom by Alvin (5 3/4 inches)
Oyster Fork

Bridal Rose by Alvin (5 5/8 inches)
Oyster Fork

Lily by Whiting (5 7/8 inches)
Oyster Fork

Watteau by Durgin (6 inches)
Olive Fork

Persian by Tiffany (6 1/4 inches)

Oyster Fork

St James by Tiffany (6 inches)
Oyster Fork

Renaissance by Dominick and Haff (5 1/2 inches)
Oyster Fork

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Grapefruit Spoons (Part 2)

I posted earlier on Grapefruit spoons. These are usually easily recognized because of their pointed bowls (to pierce the pulp of the fruit). On some of the more elaborate patterns, the design will be carried to edges of the bowl.

Iris by Durgin (6 inches)

Hanover by Gorham (5 7/8 inches)

La Parisienne by Reed and Barton (5 7/8 inches)

King Louis by International (6 inches)

Heraldic by Gorham/Durgin (6 inches)

Holly by Tiffany (5 7/8 inches)

Monday, June 20, 2011

Nuremburg by Alvin

Introduced in 1903, this is the Nuremburg pattern by Alvin. It is hard to see in the pictures, but if you look at the design at the bottom of the terminal at the top of the stem you will see a face in the design of the pattern.

Small cold Meat Fork (7 1/8 inches)
Small Solid Cold Meat Serving Fork

Large Chocolate Spoon

Fork (6 3/4 inches)

Regular Fork

Berry Spoon (8 1/2 inches)

Cocktail Fork (5 1/2 inches)

Small Sardine Serving Fork (4 1/8 inches)

Small Solid Tined Sardine Serving For