Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: Cromwell

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 Cromwell. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Cromwell by Durgin

Durgin introduced Cromwell in 1893. For a pattern over 120 years old, it has aged well. The lovely design of scroll work around the terminal and edge of the stem make for a stately yet elegant pattern.

Pap Spoon (6 inches)

Individual Pap/fruit Spoon

Large Lettuce Serving Fork (9 1/8 inches)

Large Chocolate Spoon (5 1/2 inches)

Oyster Fork (5 5/8 inches)

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Vegetable Serving Spoon (Pointed Bowl)

Like I mentioned earlier, the Vegetable Serving Spoon comes in three "styles", the Oval Bowl, Pierced Bowl, and here is the Pointed Bowl Vegetable Serving Spoon.

Imperial by Gorham (9 inches)

Cromwell by Gorham (9 1/2 inches)

Old Colony Old by Gorham ( inches)

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Gumbo Soup Spoon

Gumbo Soup Spoons are longer than their cousins the Cream Soup and Bouillon, and shorter than the Place Soup Spoon. The bowl is round like the Cream and Bouillon spoons. Just looking at a cream, bouillon, or gumbo soup spoon it would be hard to identify one from another.

Dauphin by Durgin

Cromwell by Durgin (6 7/8 inches)

Audubon by Tiffany (7 inches)

St. James by Tiffany (7 7/8 inches)

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Olive Spoons

Most older patterns have at least one Olive Spoon, usually two, a long handle and a short handle. You will find the piece to be distinctly different in each pattern. The common trait being the pierced bowl. Here are some examples of both long and short handle olive spoons.

Rustic by Towle (Long Handle 7 1/4 inches)

Pierced Bowl Long Handle Olive Spoon

Chased Diana by Towle (5 5/8)

Chippendale Old by Alvin (7 3/8 inches)

Florentine by Alvin (8 1/4 inches)
Olive Spoon

Cromwell by Durgin (6 1/2 inches)
Short Olive Spoon With Pierced Bowl

Du Barry by Durgin (5 1/2 inches)

Olive Spoon

New Vintage by Durgin (6 1/4 inches)

Olive Spoon

Victorian by Durgin (6 1/8 inches)

Olive Spoon

Landers No. 2 by Baker Manchester (6 3/8 inches)

Olive Spoon

Friday, September 17, 2010

Place Forks

Several months ago, I did a piece on all the place knives available. Here are all the Place Forks available. And, like I stated earlier, one would most likely never use all these pieces at one time (according the Amy Vanderbilt a formal setting should never have more than 3 forks. Should more be required then the staff will replace the ones from the earlier courses with the proper ones for the following courses.)

Dinner Fork (Cromwell by Durgin) (7 5/8 inches)