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?

Friday, January 14, 2011

The Oyster Server

As I have mentioned before there are supposedly two Oyster Servers the Oyster Server and the Fried Oyster Server. However, I could not find an example a plain "Oyster Server" only the Fried Oyster Servers. So here are examples of this serving piece. The pieces with the sharp pointed teeth are sometimes referred to as "Macaroni/Entree/Fried Oyster Serving Pieces". So, it is a bit confusing. After looking over all the examples (many more than are shown here) I feel the true Oyster Servers are the ones without the tines.

Dresden by Whiting (8 1/2 inches)

St. James by Tiffany (8 1/4 inches)

Heraldic by Whiting (10 inches)

Lancaster by Gorham
Entree/macaroni/oyster Server

Imperial Chrysanthemum by Gorham (8 1/4 inches)
Entree/macaroni/oyster Server

Trajan by Reed and Barton (7 3/8 inches)

Les Cinq Fleurs by Reed and Barton (7 5/8 inches)

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Saratoga Chip Server - Revisted

In an earlier post I described the Saratoga Chip Server and only gave one example. However since there are examples of this piece in many patterns, here are a few more. You may remember that this utensil was designed to serve the new fad food "Potato Chips". The detail on the scoop and stem of some of these pieces is quite lovely.

Chrysanthemum by Tiffany (8 3/4 inches)

Virginiana by Gorham

Ailanthus by Tiffany (9 inches)

Empire by Towle (7 1/2 inches)

Cambridge by Gorham (8 3/5 inches)

Baronial Old by Gorham (8 3/4 inches)

Friday, January 7, 2011

Sardine Fork (Part II)

I'm not sure the Sardine Fork is not one my favorite pieces of silver. I touched on this piece last year in a post but only showed one example. Here are some quaint samples of this peculiar little piece.

Radiant by Whiting (6 inches)

Bridal Rose by Alvin (4 1/4 inches)

Lily by Gorham (4 3/4 inches)

Alice by Fessenden (5 1/2 inches)

Renaissance by Tiffany (5 1/2 inches)

Marquis by Frank Whiting (5 3/4 inches)

Canterbury by Towle (4 1/8 inches)

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Sardine Server

While we are on Sardines, I found the Sardine Server, which is different from the Sardine Fork and the Sardine Tong.

Mary Chilton by Towle (5 1/4 inches)

Pynchon by Lunt ( 4 3/4 inches)

Grande Baroque by Wallace (6 1/2 inches)

Solid Flat Sardine Server

Love Disarmed by Reed and Barton (6 1/2 inches)

Solid Flat Sardine Server

Athene/Crescendo by Whiting (6 3/8 inches)

Solid Flat Sardine Server

Monday, January 3, 2011

Mayflower - Revisted

Earlier I posted about Mayflower by Kirk and mentioned there were several Mayflower patterns. Well, here are some more. Now whether they are named in honor of that famous vessel or the flower, we may never know. The patterns tend to be more simple designs. I found references to Mayflower patterns by Knowles, Shielber, Warner, Webb, and James Armiger but could find no examples of these.

Mayflower by Dominick and Haff (1911)

Mayflower by Jenkins and Jenkins

Mayflower by Coin

Mayflower by Frank Smith (1918)

Mayflower by Schofield (1900)

Sugar Shell Spoon

Mayflower by Watson (1914)

Mayflower by Manchester (1910)

Large Solid Jelly Server

Friday, December 31, 2010

Sardine Tong

In looking into Sardine pieces, I found this rare piece - a Sardine Tong - who knew? Here are so more examples of this quirky utensil.

Edgewood by International (5 3/4 inches)

Lafayette by Towle ( 5 3/8 inches)

Old Newbury By Towle (5 inches)

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The Bird Fork (Part II)

I touched on the Bird Fork , or sometimes referred to as the "Game" fork last year. Here are some more examples of this piece that is a relic of past times.

Decor by Gorham (7 inches)

Flora by Reed and Barton (& 5/8 inches)

Chrysanthemum by Tiffany (7 1/4 inches)

Chantilly by Gorham
Individual 3 Stainless Prong Bird For

Marquis by Tiffany

Individual 3-Prong Silverplate Bird F

Virginiana by Gorham (7 inches)

Monday, December 27, 2010

Cambridge by Gorham

As I mentioned before, this pattern has two names. In Gorham, it is known as Cambridge and was introduced in 1899. However, the same pattern is known as English Rose by Durgin.

Three Tine Pickle Fork (5 7/8 inches)

Nut Spoon (4 1/2 inches)

Pate Knife (5 7/8 inches)

Jelly Trowel (8 inches)

Friday, December 24, 2010

Spinach Serving Fork (Part II)

A while back, I mentioned the Spinach Serving Fork, but I did not give many examples of the piece. Because of its length and design, it can be an odd piece - one perhaps that would not be easily recognized if you were to come upon it in the back of the silver drawer.

Bridal Rose by Alvin (7 1/2 inches)