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, May 27, 2011

Olive Forks (Two Tine)

I posted earlier examples of three tine Olive Forks. Here are examples of Two Tine Olive Forks.

Olympian by Tiffany (7 inches)

Click to Enlarge

Florentine By Tiffany (7 inches)

Royal Windsor by Towle (5 3/8 inches)

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Fish Serving Knife (Part 2)

Earlier, I posted about Fish Serving Sets. This is however, the Fish Serving Knife. Fish was often an important part of a large meal in the Victorian era. These pieces are large and can vary from 8 to 13 inches.

Love Disarmed by Reed and Barton (13 1/2 inches)
Large Solid Fish Serving Knife

Lily by Whiting (12 1/8 inches)

Frontenac by International (11 3/4 inches)

Elegante by Reed and Barton (9 5/8 inces)

No. 10 by Dominick and Haff (8 7/8 inches)

Grande Regency by International (12 inches)

Lancaster by Gorham (11 1/2 inches)

Monday, May 23, 2011

Bacchante by Watson

Introduced in 1895, Bacchante by Watson is an artful pattern with the design of a nude woman on the terminal surrounded by scroll work with grapes and elegant lines gracing the stem. Long since discontinued and hard to find.

Bon Bon Scoop (6 1/4 inches)

French Hollow Knife with Bolster (7 inches)

Fruit/Orange Spoon (5 3/4 inches)

Friday, May 20, 2011

Pea Server (Part 2)

This is another serving piece that I mentioned earlier, but did provide many examples. Here are some lovely examples the Pea Server.

Rustic by Towle (8 1/2 inches)

Large Pea Serving Spoon, Pierced

Nuremburg by Alvin (8 3/4 inches)

Large Pea Serving Spoon, Pierced

Chantilly by Gorham

Pea Spoon Sterling Large Hc

Buttercup by Gorham (8 1/2 inches)

Pea Spoon Sterling Large Hc

Cambridge by Gorham (8 1/2 inches)
Large Pea Serving Spoon, Pierced

Luxembourg by Gorham (8 12/ inches)
Large Pea Serving Spoon, Pierced

Stratford by International (8 1/8 inches)
Large Pea Serving Spoon, Pierced

Lancaster by Gorham (8 1/2 inches)
Large Pea Serving Spoon, Pierced

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Bonbon Scoop (Part 2)

While not nearly as lavish as their cousins the Bonbon Spoons, the Bonbon Scoop is still a pretty piece, with a shovel shaped bowl (in most cases). Leave it to the Victorians to have several utensils for one food item (of course candies was one of their weaknesses!). Besides the Spoon and Scoop there are Tongs. I posted earlier on different bonbon pieces.

Georgian by Towle (4 1/2 inches)
Bon Bon Scoop

Douvaine by Unger (4 1/1 inches)

Les Cinq Fleurs by Reed and Barton (6 1/8 inches)

Yetive by Mount Vernon (5 3/4 inches)

Frontenac by International (4 1/2 inches)
Bon Bon Scoop

Rose by Wallace (4 3/4 inches)
Bon Bon Scoop

Irian by Wallace (5 1/8 inches)
Bon Bon Scoop

Avalon by International (6 1/4 inches)
Bon Bon Scoop

Monday, May 16, 2011

Trajan by Reed and Barton

Reed and Barton introduced their Trajan pattern in 1892. This is a beautiful pattern that is both delicate in stem and robust in the end of the handle. Starting at the shoulder you will note a small vine winding its way just part the way up the stem. The stem itself is decorated with engraved straight lines then about half way up a heavy repousse style floral design weighs on the terminal.

Teaspoon (5 3/4 inches)

Salad Serving Fork (8 3/4 inches)
Salad Serving Fork, Solid Piece

Cake Server (9 3/8 inches)
Cake Server, Solid Piece

Fork (7 1/4 inches)
Fork

Small Berry Spoon (8 3/4 inches)
Small Solid Berry/casserole Spoon

Oyster Ladle (9 1/8 inches)
Oyster Ladle, Solid Piece

Small Chipped Beef Fork (6 1/2 inches)

Friday, May 13, 2011

Toast Serving Fork (Revisted)

In an earlier post, I mentioned the Toast Fork. Here are some more examples of this piece.

Majestic by Alvin (7 1/2 inches)

Solid Toast Serving Fork

Orange Blossom by Alvin (7 1/2 inches)
Fork-Toast/serving-Solid

La Reine by Reed and Barton (7 1/4 inches)
Solid Toast Serving Fork

Lucerne by Wallace (7 1/2 inches)

Luxembourg by Gorham (7 3/4 inches)

Rococco by Dominick and Haff (8 inches)

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Overcup Tea Strainer

A unique piece, the Overcup Tea Strainer was used to strain tea leaves when making hot tea by the cup.

Chrysanthemum by Kirk Stieff (7 1/4 inches)
Solid Individual Overcup Tea Strainer

Repousse by Kirk Steiffe (6 5/8 inches)

Solid Individual Overcup Tea Strainer

Baronial-Old by Gorham (6 inches)

Tea Strainer

Grand Baroque by Wallace (Individual 7 3/8 inches)
Solid Individual Overcup Tea Strainer

Grand Baroque by Wallace (Individual Pat 6 5/8)
Individual Overcup Tea Strainer, Plat

Rococo by Dominick and Haff
Solid Individual Overcup Tea Strainer

Lily of the Valley by Whiting
Solid Individual Overcup Tea Strainer

Monday, May 9, 2011

Chrysanthemum Patterns

Chrysanthemum was a common name and design in sterling flatware patterns. I could find nine different Chrysanthemum patterns - all very unique.

(Chocolate Spoon in Durgin 1893 designed by George Muller) (4 1/8 inches)