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 St. James. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St. James. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Pap Spoons

A Pap Spoon is an odd piece found in many sterling patterns. It was designed for feeding invalids pap, a soft food made from ground wheat.  Sometimes it will be referred to as a "Fruit Spoon". 

Roger Williams by Baker Manchester (5 1/2 inches)




Neapolitan-Kings Court by Frank Whiting (5 7/8 inches)


Iris by Durgin  (6 1/4 inches)






St James by Tiffany (6 inches)


Monday, May 14, 2018

Lobster Pick

Very similar to a Nut Pick, on first glance, the Lobster Pick appears to be either an unfinished piece or one of mystery use. They are fairly rare.

Eighteenth Century by Reed and Barton (1971) (7 1/4 inches)



Chrysanthemum by Tiffany (1880) (7 inches)



St. James  by Tiffany (1898)  (5 5/8 inches)



Cactus (1930) by Georg Jensen (7 inches)

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Pap Spoons

The Pap Spoon was designed to feed soft food to infants and the invalids. They generally fall in size between a dessert spoon and a teaspoon, although usually longer that the fruit spoon.They are often listed as "Pap/Fruit Spoons", which gives me pause, since the fruit spoon in a pattern is generally referred to as a "Fruit/Orange Spoon"  (or "Orange Spoon" or separate "Grapefruit Spoon" in Tiffany patterns) and is an entirely different animal, sometimes having a gold wash to protect the silver from the citric acid of the fruit.


Versailles by Gorham  (6 1/8 inches)  as opposed to 5 7/8 for Fruit/Orange spoon



Hepplewhite Plain by Reed and Barton (6 inches) as opposed to 5 3/4 for Fruit/Orange spoon



Rococo by Dominick and Haff (6 3/8 inches) as opposed to 5 1/2 for Fruit/Orange spoon



St. James by Tiffany (6 inches) as opposed to 5 inches for an Orange spoon




Friday, July 27, 2012

Old Style Ice Cream Fork

As I mentioned earlier in my post on "Ice Cream Things", there is an Ice Cream Fork. Oh, how the Victorians loved their Ice Cream. Here are some examples of the Ice Cream Fork, and yes, it could have been the initial "spork".

St. James by Tiffany









Old Colonial by Towle










Benjamin Franklin by Towle










Persian by Tiffany



Friday, May 18, 2012

Lobster Pick Part 2

 Another sample of Lobster Picks, a simple tool with the elegance of each pattern.



St. Dunstan by Tiffany  (5 3/4 inches)




Acorn  by Georg Jensen (7 3/8 inches)
 

Renaissance by Tiffany (6 1/8 inches)







St. James by Tiffany (5 3/4 inches)


Friday, April 27, 2012

Four O'Clock Spoon


The Four O'Clock Spoon runs in length from 4 3/4 to 5 3/8. It is shorter in length than the Five O'Clock spoon at 5 to 5 5/8 inches and much shorter than the place teaspoon, usually 5 7/8 to slightly over 6 inches. It is longer than the Demitasse spoon which is usually 3 3/4 inches to 4 1/2 inches. You may be able to tell a Demitasse from a Five O'Clock spoon, but without seeing all four laid out together, it could be confusing. I imagine many people are using Four O'clock spoons thinking they are place teaspoons. Oh, and to confuse matters there is the Desert spoon, but since it ranges from 6 7/8 to 8 inches, chances are it will not get confused in the mix.

This spoon is designed to be used when coffee (or tea) is served in the late afternoon. You will find them in many of the older patterns.  

Maryland by Gorham ( 4 7/8 inches)








Rosette by Gorham (5 inches)









Saint James by Tiffany (4 5/8 inches)








Charles II by Dominick and Haff (5 1/4 inches)









Lotus by Gorham (4 3/4 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) 
















Friday, February 17, 2012

Various Tongs (Part 1)

Over the years I have posted about the different types of Tongs, but I don't think I have ever looked at all of them together. They vary from the Asparagus Tong which can be long as 9 inches to the Bread Tong at 3 inches. I have divided this review into two parts. This is the first part. Also, I have provided links back to earlier posts on any of these I have already covered. So here we go -  a comparative look at the Tong.

Asparagus Tongs (American Beauty by Shiebler 9 inches)
Solid Individual Asparagus Tongs (English King by Tiffany 5  inches)



Large Sugar Tongs (Irving by Wallace  )

 Sandwich Tongs (Baltimore Rose by Schofield 6 inches)
Sardine Tongs (Oval Twist by Whiting 5 1/2 inches)
Small Solid Tete-a-Tete Tongs (St. James by Tiffany 3 1/4 inches)

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Flat Handle Master Butter Knife

There are several types of butter knives or spreaders. These are examples of the flat handle  Master Butter Knife which is found in every pattern. The basic silhouette  is very similar among the patterns, however some are elaborate in their design. 

Louis XV by Durgin (7 inches)



Flat Handle Master Butter KnifeEnglish Rose by Durgin (6 3/4 inches)
Flat Handle Master Butter Knife

Madame Royale by Durgin (7 inches)
Flat Handle Master Butter Knife


Alhambra by Whiting (7 inches)



Lucerne by Wallace (7 inches)



St. James by Tiffany (7 1/8 inches)





Friday, June 24, 2011

Oyster Forks Part 3

I have posted on these several times before  but I find they are such neat utensils and reflect the beauty of the patterns. Here are some more examples of the Oyster Fork.


Francis I by Reed and Barton (5 5/8 inches)
Oyster Fork

Stieff Rose by Kirk Stieff (5 5/8 inches)
Oyster Fork

La Reine by Wallace
Oyster Fork

Old Orange Blossom by Alvin (5 3/4 inches)
Oyster Fork

Bridal Rose by Alvin (5 5/8 inches)
Oyster Fork

Lily by Whiting (5 7/8 inches)
Oyster Fork




Watteau by Durgin (6 inches)
Olive Fork


Persian by Tiffany (6 1/4 inches)


Oyster Fork


St James by Tiffany (6 inches)
Oyster Fork


Renaissance by Dominick and Haff (5 1/2 inches)
Oyster Fork