Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: Blossom

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 Blossom. Show all posts

Monday, June 17, 2019

Herring Serving Fork

Another odd piece, I could only find examples of the Herring Serving Fork by Georg Jensen and Tiffany.

Continental by Georg Jensen (6 1/4 inches)

Blossom by Georg Jensen (6 3/8 inches)

Acanthus by Georg Jensen (6 3/8 inches)

Friday, January 8, 2016

Blossom by Saart Brothers

Saart Brothers introduced their Blossom pattern in 1905. The design has a garland of single blossoms around the edge of the tip of the terminal. A thin double edge encircles the entire piece from the shoulder to the terminal. And the shoulders of the serving pieces have an ornate design of blossoms that works its way down into the bowl.

Sugar Sifter (5 1/8 inches)

Cream Ladle (5 3/4 inches)

Flat Handle Master Butter Knife (6 3/4 inches)

Chipped Beef Fork (5 3/4 inches)

Friday, October 19, 2012

Sauce Ladle Part 2

I have posted on the Sauce Ladle previously. This is one of the smaller ladles, only bigger than the mustard and mayonnaise ladles.

Birds Nest by Gorham (5 3/4 inches)

Blossom by Whiting (6 1/4 inches)

Cherub by Watson Newell (5 1/2 inches)

Monday, October 10, 2011

Blossom by Dominick and Haff

Blossom was introduced by Dominick and Haff in 1905. A beautiful ornate pattern with a flower motif on the terminal, flowers and leaves on the stem, and various floral decorations on the shoulders on the different pieces. Some of the serving pieces are particularly lovely. The lettuce fork is one of my favorites.

Dinner Fork ( 7/12 inches)

Salad Fork (5 /34 inches)

Gravy Ladle (6 inhces)

Cold Meat Fork (7 1/4 inches)

Asparagus Fork (9 inches)

Lettuce Fork (8 1/2 inches)

Oyster Fork (5 1/2 inches)

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Tea Caddy Spoon

The Tea Caddy Spoon was used to dispense the loose tea leaves into the Tea Caddy. It is a relatively small piece, usually 3 1/2 to 5 inches.

Watteau by Durgin (4 7/8 inches)

Baltimore Rose by Schofield (3 7/8 inches)

Dresden by Whiting (3 3/4 inches)

Blossom by Georg Jensen (4 inches)

Dauphin by Durgin (5 inches)

Hagie by Frank Whiting (5 inches)

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Jelly Spoons and Servers

A selection of Jelly Servers and Jelly Spoons. The Servers have a flat side to the bowl to slice and serve jelly, while the spoons have more rounded bowls.

(Large Jelly Spoon shown in Buttercup by Gorham)

Large Jelly Spoon in the Buttercup(str,lion/anchor/g,1899,nomono) pattern by Gorham Silver

(Jelly Spoon shown in Medici-Old by Gorham)

Large Bright Cut Jelly Spoon in the Medici-Old (sterling,1880) pattern by Gorham Silver

(Jelly Spoon shown in Blossom by Georg Jensen) (5 1/2 inches)

(Jelly Spoon shown in Peony by Wallace) (7 1/8 inches)

(Jelly Server shown in Pierced Handle by Manchester) (5 3/4 inches)

(Jelly Server shown in Royal Oak by Gorham)

(Jelly Server shown in Touraine by Gorham)

(Jelly Server shown in Chrysanthemum by Tiffany) (6 3/4 inches)

(Jelly Server shown in Esplanade by Towle) (7 inches)

(Jelly Server shown in Harlequin by Reed and Barton) (5 7/8 inches)

(Jelly Server shown in Holly by Tiffany)

Friday, April 9, 2010

Long Iced Tea Spoon

Most Iced Tea Spoons are between 7 and 8 1/2 inches long. However, the Iced Tea Spoon in Louis XV by Whiting is 9 1/8 inches. I also found reference to an Iced Tea Spoon in the same pattern that was 7 1/4 inches, and in his book, Sterling Silver Flatware, Richard Osterberg states that this pattern also has the shortest Iced Tea Spoon at 6 3/4 inches.

(Shown in Louis XV by Whiting 9 1/8 inches)

Extra Long Handle Iced Tea Spoon in the Louis Xv (sterling, 1891, No Monograms) pattern by Whiting Divisn-Silvr

(Shown in Blossom by Jensen 7 inches)

(Shown in Pynchon by Lunt 7 1/2 inches)

(Shown in Harlequin by Reed and Barton 7 5/8 inches)

Friday, March 12, 2010

Hors d'Oeuvres Pieces

Hors d'Oeuvre pieces are not that common. They are more readily found in Tiffany patterns. Also, there is no standard, you will find forks, knives, and spoons - in various sizes.

(Hors d'Oeuvres Set shown in Francis I by Reed and Barton)

Click to Enlarge

(Hors d'Oeuvres Fork shown in Blossom by Jensen 3 3/4 inches)

(Hors d'Oeuvres Fork shown in Holly by Tiffany 5 1/4 inches)

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Fruit Knife

The Fruit Knife, like other knives, came in solid and hollow handle. Both are shown here. It interesting, like with the spoons, some patterns differentiate between different fruit. For example here in Imperial Queen by Whiting there is a Fruit Knife and an Orange Knife, which are clearly two different pieces of silver.

(Fruit knife shown in Louis XV by Whiting 6 inches)

(Fruit Knife shown in Imperial Queen by Whiting 6 inches)

(Orange Knife shown in Imperial Queen by Whiting 6 1/2 inches)

(Fruit Knife shown in Blackberry Vine by Tiffany 7 3/4 inches serrated)

(Fruit Knife shown in Blossom by Dominick and Haff 6 3/4 inche serrated)