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, March 4, 2011

Orange Spoons

I touched on Citrus Spoons earlier, but this post is dedicated to just Orange Spoons. Like all citrus spoons, they have a pointed bowl to pierce the pulp.

Chantilly by Gorham (5 3/4 inches)
Fruit/orange Spoon

Buttercup by Gorham (5 5/8 inches)
Fruit/orange Spoon

Violet by Wallace (6 inches)
Fruit/orange Spoon

Versailles by Gorham (5 7/8 inches)
Fruit/orange Spoon

Lily of the Valley by Whiting (5 1/4 inches)
Spoon-Fruit/orange

King George by Gorham (5 3/4 inches)

Fruit/orange Spoon

Imperial Chrysanthemum by Gorham (5 1/2 inches)

Orange Spoon

Luxembourg by Gorham (5 3/4 inches)
Fruit/orange Spoon

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Olive Forks (Three Tine)

Like Pickle Forks, Olive Forks come in two tine and three tine varieties. Here are some examples of the the three tine variety. There are also long and short handle examples shown.

Chippendale Old by Alvin (7 1/4 inches)
Olive Fork Long Handle

Watteau by Durgin (6 inches)
Olive Fork

Knickerbocker by Gorham (8 inches)

Ribbon by Wendt (8 3/4 inches)

Monday, February 28, 2011

Du Barry by Durgin

Durgin introduced this pattern in 1901.

Cracker Server (9 1/2 inches)

Grapefruit Spoon

Gumbo Spoon (6 7/8 inches)
Gumbo Soup Spoon

Pierced Serving Spoon (8 1/2 inches)

Butter Spreader (5 1/2 inches)
FH Butter Spreader

Berry Spoon (9 3/4 inches)

Friday, February 25, 2011

Oyster Ladles

More Oyster utensils. The Oyster Ladle used to serve Oyster Stew is one of the many ladles in any given sterling pattern.

Empire by Durgin (10 3/8 inches)

Oyster Ladle, Solid Piece

Olympian by Tiffany (11 1/4 inches)

tiffany olympian oyster ladle

Watteau by Durgin (12 3/4 inches)
Oyster Ladle, Solid Piece

Elegante by Reed and Barton (10 3/4 inches)
Oyster Ladle, Solid Piece

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Two Tine Butter Picks

Earlier I mentioned Butter Picks, particularly one tine, here are the Two Tine variety of Butter Picks.

Dauphin by Durgin-Gorham (5 3/4 inches)

Federal Cotillion by Frank Smith (6 inches)

Heraldic by Whiting (6 1/4 inches)

King George by Gorham

Monday, February 21, 2011

Chased Diana by Towle

Harold E. Nock designed this pattern for Towle and it was introduced in 1925. It was discontinued in 1996. A very simple pattern with a decorative pattern along the edge of the stem and a small amount of decoration on the lower part of the stem.

Jelly Server (6 5/8 inches)

Sugar Spoon (5 3/4 inches)

Salad Fork (6 3/8 inches)

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