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?
The Wired Cheese Cutter is just as it is named. The thin wires are very efficient at cutting slices of cheese from larger pieces. Most are of similar, however note the difference in the Jensen design below. Athene by Amston (1913)
Troubadour by Frank Whiting (1950) (8 1/8 inches)
Royal Danish by International (1939) (8 3/8 inches)
As I have posted earlier on Sauce Ladles, they vary greatly. Here we have an example of a square cup (Japanese), a deep cup (Royal Danish), and with a side spout (Palm Beach). Size also varies, these 4 examples alone vary from 5 7/8 inches to 7 1/2 inches. Still whatever the variation this is a beautiful very useful piece.
International introduced Royal Danish in 1939. It was designed by Alfred G Kintz Other patterns designed by Kintz include Wedgewood (1924), Empress (1935), Springtime (1935), and Joan of Arc (1940). Royal Danish is one of the top 50 most popular flatware patterns. Lobster Pick (8 inches) Tomato Server (7 3/4 inches) Hollow Handle Fish Fork (7 3/4 inches)
Based on the book, Silverware of the 20th Century, the Top 250 Patterns, the following is the list of the top 50 patterns (in alphabetical order). Two caveats here: this is silverware of the 20th century and there were some lovely patterns of the 19th century and this is the First Edition of this book, published in 1997. More interesting is that out of these 50 patterns, 2 are stainless (ST) and 5 are silver plate (SP), leaving 43 sterling (SS) Any way the top 50 most popular patterns (in alphabetical order) are: Buttercup by Gorham Candlelight by Towle Chantilly by Gorham Classic Rose by Reed and Barton Coronation by Onieda/Heirloom (SP) Daffodil by International (SP) Damask Roseby Onieda/Heirloom Eternally Yours by International (SP) Fairfax by Gorham First Love by International (SP) Francis I by Reed and Barton French Provincial by Towle Grand Baroque by Wallace Joan of Arc by International King Richard by Towle Old Master by Towle Prelude by International Remembrance by International (SP) Repousse by Kirk Stieff Rondo by Gorham Rose Point by Wallace Royal Danish by International Shelley by Onieda/Heirloom (ST) Strasbourg by Gorham Venetia by Onieda/Heirloom (ST)