Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: Jensen

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 Jensen. Show all posts

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)

Regular Fork (Bridal Rose By Alvin) (7 inches)

Salad Fork (Lily (aka "88") by Gorham) (5 1/2 inches)

Fish Forks -with fancy shells (New Queens by Durgin) (7 3/4 inches)

Dessert fork (Chrysanthemum by Durgin) ( 6 1/8 inches)

Pie Fork (Lily of the Valley by Whiting) (6 1/4 inches)

Pickle Fork (Acorn by Jensen) (6 5/8 inches)

Ice Cream Fork (Della Robbia by Alvin) (5 5/8 inches)

Fruit Fork (Eglantine by Gorham) (6 1/8 inches)

Cocktail Fork (Du Barry by Durgin) (7 1/2 inches)

Terrapin Fork (Iris by Durgin-Gorham) (5 1/2 inches)

Ramekin Forks (Hepplewhite Chased by Reed and Barton) (4 7/8 inches)

Strawberry Fork (Marechal Niel by Durgin) (5 inches)

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)