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?

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Cucumber Servers (Part 2)

A beautiful piece, I mentioned the Cucumber Server in an earlier post. Like many of the serving pieces, this piece often is more ornate than other serving pieces in the pattern.

Colonial By Gorham

Adolphus by Mount Vernon (5 3/4 inches)

Fleury by Gorham (5 3/4 inches)

New Art by Durgin (7 inches)

Virginiana by Gorham (6 1/4 inches)

Monday, February 14, 2011

Lafayette by Baker Manchester

Six different companies make (or made) patterns with the name "Lafayette", but this is the pattern introduced in 1898 by Baker Manchester. It is a beautiful intricate pattern typical of so many of the older patterns, especially by this company.

Demitasse Spoon (4 1/4 inches)

Sauce Ladle (8 1/2 inches)

Nut Spoon (5 1/2 inches)

Sardine Fork (5 1/2 inches)
Sardine Serving Fork Tined Large Brig

Short Handle Olive Fork (6 1/2 inches)
Short Handle Pickle/olive Fork

Cream Ladle (5 3/8 inches)

Cream Ladle, Solid Piece

Cold Meat Fork (7 inches)

Friday, February 11, 2011

Pickle Forks (Two Tines)

The Victorians, with their love of condiments, had penchant for pickles, relishes, olives, and chow chow. For their Pickle Forks, they had two kinds, the two tine and three tine types. Here are some examples of the two tine type.

Wellington by Alvin (6 1/4 inches)

French Scroll by Alvin

Chateau Rose by Alvin (5 3/4 inches)

Florence Nightingale by Alvin (5 5/8 inches)

Du Barry by Durgin (7 3/4 inches)

Poppy by Baker Manchester (6 1/8 inches)

Marquis by Frank Whiting (6 1/8 inches)

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Olive Spoons

Most older patterns have at least one Olive Spoon, usually two, a long handle and a short handle. You will find the piece to be distinctly different in each pattern. The common trait being the pierced bowl. Here are some examples of both long and short handle olive spoons.

Rustic by Towle (Long Handle 7 1/4 inches)

Pierced Bowl Long Handle Olive Spoon

Chased Diana by Towle (5 5/8)

Chippendale Old by Alvin (7 3/8 inches)

Florentine by Alvin (8 1/4 inches)
Olive Spoon

Cromwell by Durgin (6 1/2 inches)
Short Olive Spoon With Pierced Bowl

Du Barry by Durgin (5 1/2 inches)

Olive Spoon

New Vintage by Durgin (6 1/4 inches)

Olive Spoon

Victorian by Durgin (6 1/8 inches)

Olive Spoon

Landers No. 2 by Baker Manchester (6 3/8 inches)

Olive Spoon

Monday, February 7, 2011

Rustic by Towle

Towle introduced this pattern in 1895, a fairly simple pattern with a scroll motiff on the end and beading on the stem, however the serving pieces can be elegant.

Large Confection Spoon (5 1/4 inches)

Gravy Ladle (7 1/4 inches)

Gravy Ladle, Solid Piece

Lettuce Serving Spoon (7 7/8 inches)

Large Lettuce Serving Fork

Individual Berry Fork (5 5/8 inches)

Small Meat Serving Fork (7 3/8 inches)

Small Solid Cold Meat Serving Fork

Cream Ladle (5 1/8 inches)

Cream Ladle, Solid Piece

Sardine Fork (5 5/8 inches)

Large Solid Tined Sardine Serving For

Friday, February 4, 2011

Horseradish Scoop Part 2

More Horseradish Scoops or spoons, as they are sometimes referred to.

Esplanade by Towle (6 inches)

Foxhall by Watson (5 3/4 inches)

Normandie by Wallace ( 5 7/8 inches)

Lancaster by Gorham (5 5/8 inches)

Litchfield by International (8 1/2 inches)

Luxembourg by Gorham (5 5/8 inches)

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Ice Cream Slicers Revisted Part 2

More beautiful Ice Cream Slicers, a serving piece not often used these days.

Meadow by Gorham (10 inches)

Montezuma by Shiebler (10 inches)

Nuremburg by Gorham (10 3/4 inches)

Olympian by Tiffany (11 1/4 inches)

Regent by Durgin (12 inches)

Renaissance by Dominick and Haff (12 inches)

Repousse by Kirk (9 3/8 inches)

Monday, January 31, 2011

Imperial Queen by Whiting

This pattern by Whiting was introduced in 1895 (although another source said 1893). In either case it has long since been discontinued. The pieces, especially the serving pieces, are truly beautiful and a good example of one of the hundreds of antique discontinued patterns rarely seen.

Three Tine Salad Fork (6 1/8 inches)
Individual Solid Fish Fork