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?

Monday, August 15, 2011

Bridal Flower by Watson

Bridal Flower was introduced by Watson in 1910. 





Sugar Shell (5 1/2 inches)
Sugar Shell Spoon


Fork (7 1/8 inches)


Fork


Preserve Spoon (6 inches)



Ice Cream Fork (5 1/2 inches)
Ice Cream Fork


Salad Fork (6 inches)
Salad Fork


Butter Spreader (5 1/2 inches)
FH Butter Spreader

Friday, August 12, 2011

Lobster Pick

An unusual piece, the Lobster Pick comes in several styles. It can be a single pick, a two prong pick,  a two tine fork or three tine fork.


Baronial Old by Gorham (5 5/8 Inches)


Castilian by Tiffany


Elegante by Reed and Barton (5 and 1/2 inches)

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Tea Caddy Spoon

The Tea Caddy Spoon was used to dispense the loose tea leaves into the Tea Caddy. It is a relatively small piece, usually 3 1/2 to 5 inches.

Watteau by Durgin (4 7/8 inches)



 Baltimore Rose by Schofield  (3 7/8 inches)






Dresden by Whiting (3 3/4 inches)




Blossom by Georg Jensen (4 inches)



Dauphin by Durgin (5 inches)


Hagie by Frank Whiting (5 inches)




Monday, August 8, 2011

Tulip by Durgin

Tulip by Durgin was introduced in 1898. A fairly straight forward design with two tulips at the head of the terminal, two tulips at the head of the stem, with the stems of the tulips entwined around the stem of the piece and crossing back at the top of the shoulder. 





Salad Fork (6 inches)
Individual Salad Fork




Small Confection Spoon (5 3/8 inches)
Small Confection Spoon


Large Cucumber Server (6 1/2 inches)


Large Cucumber Server



Friday, August 5, 2011

Toast Server

The Toast Server is similar to some of the other servers (waffle, etc) except the spatula part is longer. The piece itself varies in length from 8 1/2 to as long as 11 1/4 inches. This piece is not found in all patterns.


Francis I by Reed and Barton (10 1/8 inches)


Solid Toast Server


Love Disarmed by Reed and Barton (11 1/4 inches)
Solid Toast Server


Paul Revere by Towle (9 inches)



Old Newbury By Towle (9 1/4 inches)



Les Cinq Fleurs  By Reed and Barton (8 1/2 inches)
Solid Toast Server


Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Fruit Serving Spoon

Different from the Berry Serving spoon that is found in most patterns, I could only find examples of the Fruit Serving spoon in patterns by Kirk Stieff and Schofield. That is not to say that other manufacturers did not include them in their patterns, I just have not run across them. The designs are very similar to the Berry serving spoon and I can see the two easily confused.

Baltimore Rose by Schofield (9 14/ inches)
Fruit Serving Spoon With Chased Bowl




Stieff Rose by Kirk Stieff (9 1/4 inches)

Chased Fruit Serving Spoon-4 Berries

Lady Claire by Kirk Stieff (9 1/4 inches)
Chased Fruit Serving Spoon-4 Berries

Princess by Kirk Stieff (9 1/4 inches)
Chased Fruit Serving Spoon-4 Berries

Monday, August 1, 2011

Yet More Roses Part 3

And, just when you thought you had seen all the "Rose" patterns . . . They never end. Here are some more examples of the most popular named pattern, variations on the Rose.


Sweetheart Rose by Lunt 1951 (Designed by Nord Bowlen)



Silver Rose by Oneida 1956 (Designed by Frank Perry)



Rosette by Gorham 1868 (Designed by George Wilkinson)




Ribbon Rose by Hallmark 1942 (Designed by Grosvenor N. Allen and William H. Gerth)



Rambler Rose by Towle 1937 (Designed by Harold E. Nock)


Radiant Rose by International 1938




Hand Chased Rose by Schofield 1906






Friday, July 29, 2011

Pudding Spoons (Part 2)

Earlier I posted about Pudding Spoons. Here are more examples.


Indian by Whiting  (9 inches)
Bright Cut Solid Pudding Spoon


Georgian by Towle (9 1/8 inches)
Solid Pudding Spoon
La Marquise by Reed and Barton (6 3/4 inches)
Solid Pudding Spoon





Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Solid Waffle Server

I first mentioned the Waffle Server in an earlier post. However there two types of Waffle Severs, the Solid Waffle Server and the Pierced Waffle Server. Here are some examples of the Solid Waffle Server.


Richelieu by Tiffany (9 inches)





No. 10 by Dominick and Haff (8 inches)






Watteau by Durgin (7 3/4 inches)






Rococo by Dominick and Haff (9 inches)





Monday, July 25, 2011

Indian by Tiffany

A very rare pattern introduced by Tiffany in 1885 and designed by Aurthur LeRoy Barney, Indian has a cast of different designs of an Indian on the terminal. These designs include dancing, hunting, etc.

Tiffany Indian serving spoon with dancing Indian terminal


Preserve Spoon (7 1/2 inches) Dancing Indian

Tiffany Indian preserve spoon

Bon Bon Spoon (5 7/8 inches)

tiffany indian pierced bon bon spoon


Fish Server (12 inches) (Notice etched fish on blade)

Fish Server