Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: Broom Corn

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 Broom Corn. Show all posts

Friday, August 24, 2012

Grapefruit Spoons (Part 3)

I posted earlier on Grapefruit Spoons. However, unlike the examples you may have seen earlier, these have a flat end to their bowl.

Chrysanthemum by Tiffany (5 3/4 inches)

Broom Corn by Tiffany (5 3/4 inches)

Lancaster by Gorham (5 5/8 inches)

Baronial Old by Gorham (5 7/8 inches)

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Vegetable Serving Spoon (Oval Bowl)

I have mentioned the Vegetable Serving Fork earlier. The Vegetable Serving Spoon, a general serving utensil, is found in every pattern ,and comes in three "styles" (Oval, Pointed, and Pierced). These are examples of the Oval Bowl Vegetable Serving Spoon.

Henry II by Gorham (10 inches)

Saint Dunstan by Tiffany (9 inches)

Baronial Old by Gorham (8 3/4 inches)

Broom Corn by Tiffany (9 3/8 inches)

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Cucumber Fork/Server

Cucumber Servers are fairly common in patterns, especially the older ones. However, I stumbled upon what looked like a Cucumber Fork. Upon further research, I learned that in Tiffany patterns, the Cucumber Server has wide tines off the end like a fork unlike other patterns whose Cucumber Servers have a round flat surface with small teeth off the side. This is a unique feature of the Tiffany pieces.

Renaissance By Tiffany (7 3/8 inches)

Broom Corn by Tiffany (6 3/4 inches)

Monday, January 23, 2012

Broom Corn by Tiffany

Broom Corn was designed John T. Curran and introduced by Tiffany in 1890. It is a substantial pattern (has heft) with a shield suitable for engraving on the top of the terminal and simple, yet elegant, lines that flow down the stem and gently entwine an inch or so prior to reaching the shoulder. (On a personal note, I was thrilled to receive a piece of this for Christmas.)

Grapefruit spoon (5 3/4 inches)

Large Jelly Spoon (7 1/8 inches)

Salad Set (10 inches)

Salad Fork (6 3/4 inches)

Saratoga Chip Server (9 inches)

Monday, September 19, 2011

Sets of Silverware (Part 2)

Just as I stated in my earlier post on the prices of a set of sterling flatware, I am not qualified to appraise silver, these are just prices I came across at one time (and are just a snapshot - I am sure they vary day to day, vendor to vendor), but they give you some idea of the retail value of these sets.

La Scalla by Gorham (1964) ($3,500) 64 pieces

Chantilly by Gorham (1895) ($3,600) 82 pieces

Acanthus by Georg Jenson (1917) ($8,900)

Broom Corn by Tiffany (1890) ($45,000)

Chrysanthemum by Tiffany (1880) ($25,000)

Flora by Shielber (1890) ($22,000)

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Tomato Server (Part 3)

I have posted earlier on the Tomato Server. One of the elegant serving pieces that can be found in most patterns. It can be pierced or solid.

Nuremburg by Alvin (7 1/2 inches) Tomato Server, Solid Piece

English King by Tiffany (7 3/4 inches) Tomato Server, Solid Piece

Richelieu by Tiffany (7 3/4 inches) Tomato Server, Solid Piece

Adam by Whiting

Ailanthus by Tiffany (7 3/4 inches)

Broom Corn by Tiffany (8 inches)

Carnation by Wallace (7 7/8 inches)

Friday, September 2, 2011

Old Style Ice Cream Spoon

The Old Style Ice Cream Spoon is just a different style.

Versailles By Gorham (5 7/8 inches)

Atlantis by Tiffany (5 1/1 inches)
Old Style Ice Cream Spoon

Broom Corn by Tiffany (5 5/8 inches)
Old Style Ice Cream Spoon Large

Hindostanee by Gorham (4 7/8 inches)
Old Style Ice Cream Spoon

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Marrow Scoop (Part II)

Marrow Scoops (or spoons). I mentioned this piece last year, but only showed one example. It is odd utensil that we don't have an everyday use for any more. The fatty marrow from cooked beef and lamb bones being seen as a fine delicacy. Hood comments that Tiffany only had this piece in possibly nine of their patterns. The thought being that servants would scoop the marrow from the bones for the diners.

Broom Corn by Tiffany (9 inches)

Old Colonial by Towle (5 1/2 inches)

Chrysanthemum by Tiffany (8 3/4 inches)

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Cocktail Forks (Part II)

More Cocktail Forks. Sometime these are confused with Cherry Forks and Oyster Forks. Cocktail Forks vary in length. These examples alone are from 5 1/2 inches to 6 3/4 inches. Note the three different styles in the King George pattern.

Adolphus by Mount Vernon

Fleur de Lis by Alvin (5 1/2 inches)

The pattern of King George has 3 different cocktail forks in the pattern, long tine, short tine, and wavy tine.

King George by Gorham - Short tines (5 3/4 inches)