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?

Friday, September 17, 2010

Place Forks

Several months ago, I did a piece on all the place knives available. Here are all the Place Forks available. And, like I stated earlier, one would most likely never use all these pieces at one time (according the Amy Vanderbilt a formal setting should never have more than 3 forks. Should more be required then the staff will replace the ones from the earlier courses with the proper ones for the following courses.)

Dinner Fork (Cromwell by Durgin) (7 5/8 inches)


Regular Fork (Bridal Rose By Alvin) (7 inches)

Regular Fork

Salad Fork (Lily (aka "88") by Gorham) (5 1/2 inches)

Salad Fork


Fish Forks -with fancy shells (New Queens by Durgin) (7 3/4 inches)

Fish Fork


Dessert fork (Chrysanthemum by Durgin) ( 6 1/8 inches)



Pie Fork (Lily of the Valley by Whiting) (6 1/4 inches)



Pickle Fork (Acorn by Jensen) (6 5/8 inches)





Ice Cream Fork (Della Robbia by Alvin) (5 5/8 inches)

Ice Cream Fork


Fruit Fork (Eglantine by Gorham) (6 1/8 inches)



Cocktail Fork (Du Barry by Durgin) (7 1/2 inches)

Cocktail Fork

Terrapin Fork (Iris by Durgin-Gorham) (5 1/2 inches)



Ramekin Forks (Hepplewhite Chased by Reed and Barton) (4 7/8 inches)



Strawberry Fork (Marechal Niel by Durgin) (5 inches)

Strawberry Fork

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Narcissus - in Several Patterns

Like Roses, Narcissus is a popular theme for patterns. I could find seven manufacturers with references to patterns with this name. The designs vary from highly ornate floral like Fessenden and Durgin to a repousse type by National. While Lunt and Oxford are fairly similar. They are all lovely patterns.


Unger -





                 Unger Dinner Fork (7 5/8 inches)





Lunt - which was introduced in 1903





                  Lunt Teaspoon (6 inches)


Teaspoon


National introduced in 1936





                National Cocktail Fork (5 inches)


Cocktail Fork


Oxford introduced in 1908





Fessenden introduced in 1905


                (Jelly Server)


Spoon-Jelly/large-Decorated Bowl


Frank Whiting introduced in 1886


FRANK WHITING NARCISSUS (STRL, 1886) - Replacements Ltd.













Monday, September 13, 2010

Saint Cloud by Gorham

This pattern was credited to Walter Wilkinson when introduced in 1885  by Gorham. However, there is some belief that credit should go to F. Antoine Heller. It is heavily engraved and very ornate. 


Salad Serving Fork (11 3/8  inches)






Salad Serving Spoon  (11 3/8 inches)






Fish Serving Knife (11 3/4 inches)








Fish Fork  (7 inches)



Gorham Silver St. Cloud (Sterling, 1885) Small Individual Solid Fish/Salad Fork





Friday, September 10, 2010

Spaghetti Spoon and Fork

These Spaghetti Spoons and Forks are different pieces that may be custom made, however I could find them in several dozen patterns, including some of the older ones.


Spoon (Chase Romantique by Alvin) (8 1/8 inches)


Spaghetti Spoon

Fork (Chase Romantique by Alvin) (8 1/8 inches)


Spaghetti Straining Spoon


Spoon (Beekman/Tiffany by Tiffany) (8 1/4 inches)





Spoon (Heraldic by Whiting) (8 inches)





Spoon (American Beauty by Shiebler)





Spoon (Charles II by Dominick and Haff) (7  7/8 inches)





Spoon (Lucerne by Wallace) (7 inches)






Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Ice Cream Slicers - Revisted

Earlier, I mentioned Ice Cream Slicers, but I did not give them their due. This is a beautiful piece.

Louvre by Wallace (10 1/2 inches)


Henry II by Gorham (11 1/2 inches)


Heraldic by Whiting (12 1/2 inches)


Japanese by Gorham (11 inches)


Japanese by Tiffany (11 inches)


Lily by Gorham ( 8 3/4 inches)



Litchfield by International (10 3/4 inches)


Love Disarmed by Reed and Barton (13 inches)


La Splendide by Reed and Barton (12 1/4 inches)
















Monday, September 6, 2010

Persian by Tiffany

The Persian pattern was designed by Edward C. Moore for Tiffany and introduced in 1872 and was inactive by 1904. The style is Tiffany called "Moresque". The decoration is extremely "busy" with a continuous pattern of geometric scroll work, interwoven vines, as well as other floral ornamentation. An area was left open on the front terminal for engraving. 







Solid Berry Serving Scoop ( inches)Solid Berry Serving Scoop


Regular Fork (7 1/2 inches)









Salad fork (6 1/2 inches)





Teaspoon (6 1/8 inches)





Boullion Soup Spoon (5 5/8 inches)





4 O'clock Spoon (4 3/4 inches)


4 O'clock Spoon


Cheese Knife (7 1/2 inches)





Breakfast Knife (8 1/8 inches)