Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2020-01-19

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, January 24, 2020

Fiddle Shell (formerly Alden) by Frank Smith

Frank Smith introduced their Fiddle Shell pattern in 1914.

Cream Soup Spoon ( 6 1/4 inches)

Frank Smith Fiddle Shell-Alden (Sterling,1914,No Monos) Round Bowl Soup Spoon (Cream Soup)

Frank Smith Fiddle Shell-Alden (Sterling,1914,No Monos) Round Bowl Soup Spoon (Cream Soup)

Cocktail Fork (5 3/8 inches)

Frank Smith Fiddle Shell-Alden (Sterling,1914,No Monos) Cocktail/Seafood Fork

Flat Handle Butter Spreader (5 3/4 inches)

Frank Smith Fiddle Shell-Alden (Sterling,1914,No Monos) Flat Handle Butter Spreader

Flat Handle Crumber (11 inches)

Frank Smith Fiddle Shell-Alden (Sterling,1914,No Monos) Large Flat Handle Crumb Knife/Crumber

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Cold Cut Serving Fork

While most patterns have at least one Cold Meat Serving Fork, but I recently stumbled upon the Cold Cut Serving Fork. Most of the examples I found were in patterns by Georg Jensen.

Pyramid by Georg Jensen (5 5/8 inches)

Georg Jensen (Denmark) Pyramid (Sterling, 1927) 2-Tine Cold Cut Serving Fork

Cactus by Georg Jensen (6 1/8 inches)

Georg Jensen (Denmark) Cactus (Sterling, 1930) 2-Tine Cold Cut Serving Fork

Valdres by Marthinson Silver (9 1/2 inches)

Marthinsen Silver,T H Valdres (Sterling) Medium 2-Tine Cold Cut Serving Fork

Ornamental Items by Georg Jensen (5 7/8 inches)

Georg Jensen (Denmark) Ornamental Items (Sterling) Large 2-Tine Cold Cut Serving Fork

Monday, January 20, 2020

Washington by Dominick and Haff

Dominick and Haff's Washington pattern dates back to 1905.

Individual Fish Fork (6 inches)

Dominick & Haff Washington (Sterling, 1905) Individual Solid Fish Fork

Dominick & Haff Washington (Sterling, 1905) Individual Solid Fish Fork

Individual Fish Knife (7 1/2 inches)

Dominick & Haff Washington (Sterling, 1905) Individual Solid Fish Knife

Large Berry Spoon (9 1/4 inches)

Dominick & Haff Washington (Sterling, 1905) Large Solid Berry/Casserole Spoon

Large Fish Serving Knife (10 inches)

Dominick & Haff Washington (Sterling, 1905) Large Solid Fish Serving Knife