Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: Charles F. Simms

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 Charles F. Simms. Show all posts

Monday, May 6, 2019

Georgian Shell by Frank Whiting

Charles F. Simms designed Georgian Shell for Frank Whiting. It was introduced in 1948. Simms also designed Liberty (1916) for Watson, and Martha Hilton (1914) for Watson, and Talisman Rose (1948) for Frank Whiting.

Tomato Server (7 5/8 inches)

Lemon Fork (5 inches)

Flat Handle Butter Spreader (6 inches)

Cold Meat Serving Fork (7 1/2 inches)

Friday, May 3, 2019

Talisman Rose by Frank Whiting

Frank Whiting's Talisman Rose was designed by Charles F. Simms and introduced in 1948. Simms also designed Liberty (1916) for Watson, and Martha Hilton (1914) for Watson, and Georgian Shell (1948) for Frank Whiting.

Dinner Fork ( 7 1/8 inches)

Ham Slicer (14 5/8 inches)

Lemon Fork (5 3/8 inches)

Filet Knife (8 1/2 inches)

Friday, March 3, 2017

Liberty by Watson

There are several patterns with this name, but Watson's Liberty pattern was introduced in 1916. It was designed by Charles F. Simms who also designed Talisman Rose (1948) and Martha Hilton (1914) for Watson.

Lemon Fork (5 3/8 inches)

Preserve Spoon (7 5/8 inches)

Pie Server (10 1/4 inches)

Friday, December 5, 2014

Martha Hilton by Watson

Charles F. Simms designed Martha Hilton for Watson and it was introduced in 1914. For those who do not know the namesake of the pattern, she was the infamous maid who at 23 married the elder Governor Wentworth of New Hampshire in 1760. After 10 years of marriage Governor Wentworth died leaving his nephew as Governor and the bulk of his wealthy estate to his wife. The nephew challenged the will and lost. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow immortalized the story in 1863 with his poem Lady Wentworth. All this will get one a sterling pattern named for you.

The design has the lines of an old pattern with a rather plain stem with a simple double line around the stem and terminal. The terminal has a flat end with a simple motif. There is a coordinating motif on the stem.

Fork (7 3/8 inches)

Knife (9 3/4 inches)