Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2013-09-15

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 20, 2013

Essex by Towle

What a lovely solid looking pattern. Essex was introduced by Towle in 1890. The terminal has a motif of scrolls, the stem is slim and delicate, leading into a beautiful shoulder on the different pieces.

Sugar Spoon (5 7/8 inches)

Old Style Pickle Fork (5 7/8 inches)

Cream Ladle (5 inches)

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Cheese Plane

The Cheese Plane is another cheese serving piece. Most have a stainless plane. You will see that all the examples I show are from Towle. Other companies list the piece in the patterns, however I could not find an example of it. I noted that the oldest of these Towle patterns only go back to the mid-1930's which make me think this may be a piece added later on since Towle has patterns dating back to the 1800's.

Candlelight by Towle (8 3/4 inches)

French Provincial by Towle (9 1/8 inches)

Old Lace by Towle (9 1/4 inches)

Fontana by Towle ( 5/8 inches)

Monday, September 16, 2013

Contour by Towle

I generally prefer the older more decorative patterns, however, I thought it worth my time to share this pattern with you. Contour was introduced by Towle in 1950. One source said it was

"the first American sterling pattern to manifest post-World War II organic modernist design and the only production-line American flatware included in the Museum of Modern Art's Good Design exhibitions." I did find some discrepancy among sources as to who was the designer. One source said it was designed by Collin B. Richmond and another gave the design credit to Robert J. King.

The design is quite clean and simple, for whomever credit should go to.

Bon Bon Spoon (4 7/8 inches)

Short Handle Pickle/Olive Fork (6 1/4 inches)

Hollow Handle Knife (8 3/4 inches)

Pierced Table Serving Spoon (8 3/4 inches)