Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: Alcazar

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?

Showing posts with label Alcazar. Show all posts

Monday, October 18, 2010

Alcazar by Durgin

I could find little about this very unique pattern by Durgin. Alcazar was introduced in 1887 and is now discontinued. The open stem design is one you do not see often.

Grapefruit Spoon (6 1/2 inches)

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Orange and Grapefruit Spoons

Orange Spoons, Citrus Spoons, and Grapefruit Spoons are basically the same piece just called different names in different patterns. Although, Gorham shows in some of its patterns, both an Orange and a Grapefruit spoon. I could find on Orange spoon in Buttercup and a Grapefruit spoon in Chantilly that both had the same lines, so I suspect one is misnamed. However, some research showed that there may be a piece out there that is the "other" piece that has the decoration continuing from the handle down around the top of the bowl of the spoon. Every source I looked showed them being "out of stock." So, I am thinking, the elusive piece is there, and may very well be in your sliver chest.

Anyway, the spoons were developed to pierce into the pulp of citrus, both oranges and grapefruit. Often the bowl was washed with gold to prevent the acid from the fruit tarnishing the silver.

(Grapefruit Spoon shown in American Beauty by Shiebler 6 inches)

(Grapefruit Spoon shown in Chantilly by Gorham 5 3/4 inches)

(Grapefruit Spoon shown in Alcazar by Durgin 6 1/8 inches)