Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: Carnation

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 Carnation. Show all posts

Friday, September 15, 2017

Carnation by Alvin

Alvin's Carnation pattern dates back to 1900. Like many patterns of this time it has a lovely rich design on it. This is a bit different from Wallace's Carnation pattern (1909).

Almond Scoop (5 7/8)

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Carnation by Wallace

Carnation was introduced by Wallace in 1909. It is a lovely pattern with a motif of the flower on the end of the terminal, an open area suitable for engraving, then another smaller bloom followed by thin stems down the stem of the piece. The shoulders of the serving pieces are decorated with carnation motifs on each side. A beautiful example of the art of sterling flatware in the early 1900's.

Butter Spreader (5 inches)

Large Lettuce serving Fork (9 inches)

Fork (7 5/8 inches)

Demitasse Spoon (3 7/8 inches)

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, December 3, 2010

Strawberry Forks - Three Tines

Earlier, I did a post on two tine Strawberry Forks. Here is the three tine variety. The three tine tend to be longer, from 4 3/4 to 5 1/4 inches. The tines are still long and slender but don't have the same elegant illusion as the two tine variety but are still a beautiful piece. Note the pattern Versailles offers a fork with both two and three tines.

Carnation by Wallace (4 5/8 inches)

Irian by Wallace (4 3/4 inches)

Clune by Gorham (4 5/8 inches)

Old King by Whiting ( 5 1/4 inches)

Crystal by Frank Smith (4 3/4 inches)

Princess by Towle (4 3/4 inches)

Friday, February 19, 2010

Nut Picks

Nut Picks are not a hard piece to figure out. (Not to be confused with a letter opener.) They are used to separate the meat of the nut from the shell. Usually they are used as a place piece, so a full service of sterling would have a pick for every place setting.

Japanese by Tiffany (5 inches)