Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar

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, June 11, 2012

Medallion by Gorham

Medallion was introduced in 1864 by Gorham. This is a fairly simple design with the head of a Trojan soldier in silhouette encircled like a medallion with a design above it on the terminal. A simple stem with a floret in the middle leads to the shoulder. And the shoulder is just three lines that open to the bowl.

Ice Cream Spoon (5 7/8 inches)

Combination Olive Fork Spoon (10 3/4 inches)

Sugar Shell (6 inches)

Large Pie Knife (9 5/8 inches)

Fork (6 7/8 inches)

Friday, June 8, 2012

Sugar Shovel

Another sugar serving piece, the Sugar Shovel is not a common piece and therefore one you may not recognize. It is not found in many patterns.

No. 38 by Towle (5 5/8 inches)

Duke of Windsor by Manchester (6 1/8 inches)

Webster by Knowles (5 5/8 inches)

Acanthus by Georg Jensen (4 1/4 inches)

JSK 12 by Knowles

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Chipped Beef Fork (Part 3)

As I mentioned in my earlier post on Chipped Beef Forks, they come in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. And, often patterns will have some combination of the three sizes. Here are some more examples.

Georgian by Towle ( Small 6 3/8 inches)

Old Newbury by Towle (Large 7 1/8 inches)

Old Newbury by Towle (Small 5 7/8 inches)
Note difference in design between the two sizes

Lily by Whiting (Small 5 3/4 inches)

Fairfax by Durgin (Medium 6 inches)

Monday, June 4, 2012

Arabesque by Whiting

Arabesque was issued by Whiting in 1875 and was designed by Charles Osborne. The pattern has an elaborate design of a griffon carved on the terminal around a blank medallion suitable for engraving. The stem in straight lines met two thirds of the way down with a square followed by a graceful design that flows onto the shoulder of the piece. Some of the shoulders and bowls have elaborate carvings on them

Ice Cream Spoon (5 1/2 inches)

Pastry Fork (6 1/2 inches)

Vegetable Serving Spoon (9 1/8 inches)

Solid Berry Casserole Spoon (9 1/4 inches)

Large Sugar Sifter (6 inches)

Friday, June 1, 2012

Pudding Spoons (Part 3)

More examples of the Pudding Spoon. I posted on this earlier.

Arabesque by Whiting (9 1/8 inches)

Medallion by Gorham (9 1/2 inches)

Chippendale by Gorham (10 1/4 inches)

Landers No. 2 by Baker Manchester (7 3/4 inches)

Poppy by Baker Manchester (7 7/8 inches)

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Jelly Servers

Yet another condiment piece, a Jelly Server (different from a spoon or knife). N

Buttercup by Gorham

Large Solid Jelly Server in the Buttercup(str,lion/anchor/g,1899,nomono) pattern by Gorham Silver

Florentine Lace by Reed and Barton (6 3/8 inches)

Guildhall by Reed and Barton (5 7/8 inches)

Monday, May 28, 2012

Empress by Gorham

Gorham introduced Empress in 1880. The pattern is flat with an etched design in it.

Ice Cream Spoon (5 inches)

Small Fish Server (7 3/4 inches)

Pastry Server (8 inches)

Berry Spoon (8 1/2 inches)

Large Salad Fork (6 3/4 inches)

Friday, May 25, 2012

Horseradish Spoons (Part 3)

An additional post on Horseradish Spoons (or scoops). As you can see their bowls' vary greatly in shape and size - a neat little piece.

Old Chippendale by Alvin

French Scroll by Alvin (5 3/4 inches)

Waverly by Wallace (6 inches)

Apollo by Knowles and Mount Vernon (6 1/4 inches)

Horseradish Scoop

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Fish Server (Post 2)

A second look at the Fish Server. This is one of larger pieces in a pattern. It is also a piece that is not used as much these days since most hostesses don't serve whole large fish to their dinner parties of twelve. But, we can dream!

Tiffany by Tiffany (12 1/2 inches)