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, June 10, 2011

Dressing Spoon

The Dressing Spoon, sometimes referred to as a Platter Spoon, differs from a regular Serving Spoon in that it is longer, up to 14 inches in some cases. Also, some of these have a "button" on the back which is to keep them from sliding into the food when resting on the side of the dish.

Trajan by Reed and Barton (12 3/8 inches)
Large Solid Dressing Spoon

Mayflower by Kirk Stieff (10 3/4 inches)
Dressing/gravy/platter Servin Spoon S

Imperial Chrysanthemum by Gorham (14 1/2 inches)
Gravy/dressing Spoon With Button

BMN2 by Bruckman and Sohne (10 1/4 inches)
Large Solid Dressing Spoon

La Splendide by Reed and Barton (12 7/8 inches)
Gravy/dressing Spoon With Button

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Cold Meat Serving Fork

A lovely serving piece, especially the design treatments to the tines in some patterns. The Cold Meat Serving Fork is a different piece from Chipped Beef Fork. Here are some examples of the piece.

Canterbury by Towle ( 8 5/8 inches)
Large Solid Cold Meat Serving Fork

Les Cinq Fleurs by Reed and Barton (Orchids 8 inches)

Medium Solid Cold Meat Serving Fork

King Richard by Towle (8 1/8 inches)
Medium Solid Cold Meat Serving Fork

Old Colonial by Towle (7 1/4 inches)
Small Solid Cold Meat Serving Fork

Wedgewood by International (9 inches)
Large Solid Cold Meat Serving Fork

Georgian by Towle (7 5/8 inches)
Small Solid Cold Meat Serving Fork

Monday, June 6, 2011

Chippendale Old by Alvin

Introduced in 1900 by Alvin, ChippendaleOld is an unique "open" style pattern.

Salad Fork (6 inches)

Beef Fork

Demitasse Spoon (4 1/8 inches)

Cocktail Fork (5 1/2 inches)

Knife with Bolster (9 inches)
Old French Hollow Knife With Bolster

Solid Cheese Serving Knife (6 1/2 inches)
Solid Serving Cheese Knife

Friday, June 3, 2011

Sugar Shells (Part 2)

I posted about Sugar Shells in an earlier post. Here are some more examples of this beautiful piece that is found in every pattern.

New Vintage by Durgin (5 3/4 inches)

Sugar Spoon

Spartan by Baker Manchester (5 1/2 inches)

Sugar Spoon

Josephine by Frank Whiting (5 7/8 inches)

Sugar Spoon

Marquis by Frank Whiting (5 12/ inches)

Sugar Spoon

Fiddle and Thread by Vander (5 1/4 inches)

Marquis by Carrs (5 3/4 inches)

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Vegetable Serving Fork

Another lovely serving piece, the Vegetable Serving Fork is a rather large piece, some pieces over nine inches long.

Itaglio by Reed and Barton (9 1/4 inches)

Marguerite by Gorham (8 5/8 inches)
Vegetable Serving Fork (solid)

La Reine by Reed and Barton (9 1/4 inches)
Vegetable Serving Fork (solid)

Luxumbourg by Gorham (9 inches)

Baronial Old by Gorham (7 3/4 inches)

Chrysanthemum by Unger (9 3/8 inches)

Vegetable Serving Fork (solid)

Douvaine by Unger (8 1/4 inches)

Apollo by JB and SM Knowles (7 3/4 inches)
Vegetable Serving Fork (solid)

Monday, May 30, 2011

Fleur de Lis by Alvin

This is a lovely pattern in the tradition of Alvin, Fleur de Lis was Introduced in 1907. The large flat handle is adorned with a floral design at the top followed by an open space ideal for a monogram then another floral motif with delicate lines down the stem. The bowls and top of the tines of certain pieces also have elaborate floral designs on them.

Beef Fork (6 1/4 inches)

Baked Potato Fork (6 3/4 inches)

Mustard Ladle (4 5/8 inches)

Cheese Knife

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)