Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: Lansdowne

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 Lansdowne. Show all posts

Friday, August 4, 2017

Hunt Club by Durgin

Like many patterns by Durgin, you can find this one listed under the same name by Gorham since Gorham assumed Durgin. The Hunt Club pattern was designed by Barton P. Jenks and introduced in 1930 by Durgin. Jenks was also known for Watson's Marlborough (1918) pattern, Durgin's Lenox (1912) pattern, as well as Gorham's Lansdowne (1907) and Shamrock V (1931) patterns. If you look at these 5 patterns you will definitely see a familiar design that must have been Jenks' style.

Designer : Barton P. Jenks

Fork (7 1/4 inches)

Butter Spreader (5 1/2 inches)

Lemon Fork (5 1/8 inches)

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Spinach Serving Forks (Part III)

Spinach Serving Forks have been covered several times before. It is such an odd piece, but can be found in most patterns.

La Reine by Wallace (7 inches)

Camelia by Gorham (7 1/4 inches)

King George by Gorham (8 inches)

Champlain by Amston (7 inches)

Marlborough by Reed and Barton (7 1/4 inches)

Cloeta by International (6 7/8 inches)

Les Cinq de Fleurs by Reed and Barton (7 1/4 inches)

Lansdowne (7 3/4 inches)
Spinach Fork

Monday, April 18, 2011

Lansdowne by Gorham

Lansdowne was introduced by Gorham in 1907. It was designed by Barton P. Jenks.

Individual Salad Fork (6 1/8 inches)

Two Piece Salad Set

Demitasse Spoon (4 3/8 inches)

Pie Server (9 1/4 inches)

Sugar Spoon (5 7/8 inches)

Friday, September 3, 2010

English Servers

An odd piece, the English Server, is designed to serve everything from steamed vegetables to baked potatoes to sliced meat. It can also be used as aid in slicing small hams and roasts. The piece looks a lot like the silver Baked Potato Fork (See December 2, 2009), but it is a different piece.

Athene/Crescendo by Whiting (7 1/4 inches)

Candlelight by Towle (7 1/4 inches)

Champlain by Amston (7 1/8 inches)

Lansdowne by Gorham (7 1/2 inches)

Madam Jumel by Whiting ( 7 1/2 inches)

Trajan by Reed and Barton (7 1/4 inches)

Violet by Whiting (7 1/2 inches)

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Baby Spoons (Straight Handle)

Most patterns place pieces for children, both baby and junior sizes, with the "baby" sizes being the smaller of the two. Baby Spoons shown here, are straight handled. They also come in a "curved" or "bent" handle style. Often sterling patterns would offer spoons in both styles, straight and bent. (I'll post on the bent style at a later date.)

Most the spoons have a more rounded but oval bowl and a short handle. They tend to be between 3 1/2 and 4 5/8 inches long.

(Shown in Amaryllis by Manchester 4 5/8 inches)

(Shown in Lansdowne by Gorham 4 1/2 inches)

(Shown in Repousse by Kirk 3 3/4 inches)

(Shown in Spring Glory by International 4 1/4 inches)