Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: Lion

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 Lion. Show all posts

Friday, November 3, 2017

Rice Spoon Part 2

I posted on this earlier, the Rice Spoon is just another serving piece, although one not found in every pattern. An interesting thing about this pattern is that the serving spoon comes in both solid and pierced.

Violet by Wallace (8 7/8 inches)

Silver Flutes by Towle (9 7/8 inches)

Lion by Frank Smith (9 1/4 inches)

Onslow by Tuttle (9 3/8 inches)

Romance by Rosenthal (9 3/4 inches)

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Dressing Spoon Part 2

Several years back I visited the Dressing Spoon which is another serving spoon, but usually longer and often has a button on the back.

Eloquence by Lunt (11 inches)

Lion by Frank Smith (11 inches)

Chippendale by Towle (11 /14 inches)

Old Colonial by Towle (14 1/4 inches)

Monday, February 16, 2015

Lion by Frank Smith

Introduced in 1905, Lion by Frank Smith is a very distinct pattern with the image of a lion's face on the terminal. It is truly unique and easy to identify.

Fork (7 3/8 inches)

Fish Knife (8 1/8 inches)

Friday, May 9, 2014

Lion by Frank Smith

This is an interesting pattern. From what I can discern (and this is only what I can put together from bits and pieces) Frank Smith introduced his Lion Pattern in 1905. The Frank Company's molds and dies were eventually sold to the The Webster Company which in due time became a division of Reed and Barton. However in addition to the mark of the Frank Smith Company, you may find pieces of this pattern with manufacturing stamps of the Wallace or Towle companies on them. I do not know why.

All that said, it is easy to see that the pattern was named for its design of the lion's face on the top of the terminal with his paws grasping a shield that is suitable for monogramming.

Large Lettuce Fork

Baby fork

Seafood Fork

Dressing Spoon