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, March 4, 2013

Clover by Towle

This is an old pattern, dating back to 1887. Clover by Towle is a simple but pretty design with four leaf clovers on the tip of the terminal and the top of the stem.





Large Lettuce Serving Spoon ( 3/8 inches)



Teaspoon (6 1/4 inches)



Pie Fork (6 inches)

Individual Pie Fork, Bright Cut

Master Butter Knife (7 1/8 inches)

Flat Handle Bright Cut Master Butter

Friday, March 1, 2013

Louis XV by Durgin

Durgin introduced Louis XV in 1891. It is an elaborate pattern typical of Durgin. The design is lovely and causes the stem, in following the design, to be somewhat wavy, which brings beauty to the pattern.

Cracker Spoon (7 1/2 inches)


Demitasse Spoon (4 1/4 inches)


Large Lettuce Serving Fork (8 3/4 inches)



Large Fish Serving Set

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Honeysuckle by Whiting

An old pattern, Honeysuckle by Whiting, dates back to 1870. The design has honeysuckles plants in bloom on the terminal with a crossed thin cord motif at the top of the stem, simple lines down the stem, with a band of the cord motif repeated just above the shoulder. Some of the bowls and blades have decoration on them, but for the most part, all the design is focused on the terminal.

Dinner Fork (7 1/8 inches)  

Whiting Manf Co Honeysuckle (Sterling, 1870) Fork


Teaspoon (6 1/8 inches)

Whiting Manf Co Honeysuckle (Sterling, 1870) Teaspoon

Monday, February 25, 2013

Gladstone by Whiting

This pattern, Gladstone, by Frank Whiting dates back to 1891. It is a glorious pattern with few examples. It is a heavy design of scrolls and textures.


Large Sardine Serving Fork


Salad Serving Spoon (9 inches)
Salad Serving Spoon, Solid Piece in the Gladstone  (strl,1891) pattern by Frank Whiting Silver


Friday, February 22, 2013

Old Mirror by Towle

This pattern, Old Mirror, was designed by Arim K. Kalashian for Towle and introduced in 1940. I think this is the most uniquely named pattern I have come across yet. And, it aptly describes the design. The terminal resembles an old oval mirror with a floral motif below it.




Fork (7 1/8 inches)


Salad Fork (6 3/8 inches)




Small Berry Spoon (8 1/8 inches)

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Asparagus Serving Fork

There are Asparagus Tongs and Servers - both solid and pierced. However, there is also an Asparagus Serving Fork which I imagine gets confused with other pieces. 

Love Disarmed by Reed and Barton  (10 7/8 inches)


Chantilly by Gorham



Stieff Rose by Kirk Stieff



Lady Claire by Kirk Stieff

Monday, February 18, 2013

Dorothy Vernon by Whiting

Whiting introduced Dorothy Vernon in 1909.  The motif on the end of the terminal is very similar to the motif of the Chrysanthemum on the terminal of Chrysanthemum by Tiffany. The terminal is surrounded by a design that ends with the top of the stem. I cannot tell what the design is there, however there is a delicate, but elegant treatment on the stem that expands to the shoulder. In the case of the spoons, the design flows onto the bowl. 

Large Berry Spoon (9 inches) 
Large Solid Berry/Casserole Spoon

Short Handle Olive Spoon (6 1/4 inches)

Pierced Bowl Short Handle Olive Spoon

Pie Fork (6 3/8 inches)

Individual Pie Fork

Place Fish Knife (7 3/4 inches)

Individual Solid Fish Knife

Friday, February 15, 2013

Bonbon Scoops (Part 3)




Apollo by JB and Sm Knowles ( inches)
Bon Bon Scoop


Old Colonial by Towle


Paul Revere by Towle



Virginiana by Gorham



Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Venus by International

Venus, the goddess of love, is a pattern introduced by International Silver in 1901. And, it is a pattern worthy a goddess with a rich detail on the edge of the terminal ending with a flourish at the top of the stem. A plain stem is embellished with a nice small flourish just before the shoulder. Each piece is treated differently after that. The Sugar Spoon has rich detail on the shoulder that follows onto the back of the bowl, while the other pieces have a rich detail on the edge of the bowl. Whatever the treatment, this is a beautiful pattern, very typical of the times.

Cream Ladle (4 5/8 inches)



Sugar Spoon (5 5/8 inches)



Sugar Shell (5 5/8 inches)

Sugar Shell Spoon

Small Chipped Beef Fork (7 inches)

Small Chipped Beef Fork

Monday, February 11, 2013

Cupid by Shiebler

The pattern Cupid was introduced by George W. Shiebler in 1898. It has the likeness of Cupid in different poses on the terminal of each piece with an open medallion below suitable for engraving.


 Fork (7 1/2 inches)







Dessert Knife (7 1/2 inches)



Teaspoon (5 7/8 inches)