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, November 18, 2011

Sugar Sifter (Part 2)

I have posted before about these beautiful pieces. The Sugar Sifter is a piece found in the older patterns that is no longer used.


Pomona By Towle (6 1/8 inches)
Large Sugar Sifter


Arlington by Towle (6 7/8 inches)
Large Sugar Sifter


BMS17 by Baker Manchester (6 1/4 inches)


Large Sugar Sifter


Canterbury by Towle (5 1/4 inches)


Large Sugar Sifter


Strasbourg by Gorham (5 1/2 inches)
Large Sugar Sifter


Lily by Whiting (5 1/2 inches)
Large Sugar Sifter


Monticello by Lunt (5 3/8 inches)


Small Sugar Sifter


Imperial Queen by Whiting (5 1/2 inches)


Small Sugar Sifter



Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Solid Nut Spoon

The Solid Nut Server is the same size as the regular sized Pierced Nut Server. Although some of the solid bowls have some beautiful detailing, as a whole the pieces lack the elaborate decoration of its fancy cousin the pierced cousin. Patterns generally have a either pierced style or a solid design., but not both.

Hibiscus by Whiting (4 1/8  inches)



Renaissance by Dominick and Haff (4 3/4 inches)



Roanoke by Baker Manchester (5 3/4 inches)



Corsage by Stieff ( 5 3/8  inches)



Decor by Gorham (4 3/4 inches)




Duke of York by Whiting (4 1/2 inches)

 

Monday, November 14, 2011

Roses and Scrolls by Whiting

A lovely old pattern, Roses and Scrolls, was introduced in 1890. A design of roses are on the handle trailing down the stem. The design does not have a terminal. The decorations on the bowls of the spoons and the shoulders of the forks are just gorgeous. Also, the pattern lends itself to an old patina, like it was designed to age well. There was a reference that the pattern was also known as La Francais, but I could find no reference to La Francais.

Gravy Ladle (6 3/4 inches)
Gravy Ladle, Solid Piece


Demitasse Spoon (3 7/8 inches)
Demitasse Spoon


Large Solid Berry Spoon (8 3/4 inches)


Large Solid Berry/casserole Spoon


Large Solid Fish Serving Fork ( 9 1/4 inches)


Large Solid Fish Serving Fork


Macaroni Server  (9 1/2 inches)






Friday, November 11, 2011

Confection spoon

The Confection Spoon is a fairly small serving piece, usually shorter than 6 inches long.  Most patterns have pierced bowls, but it comes in both pierced and non-pierced bowls. However at least one pattern, Old Colonial shown below , has both a pierced and a non-pierced piece.


Versailles by Gorham (5 14/ inches)
Large Confection Spoon


Luxembourg by Gorham (5 1/2 inches)
Large Confection Spoon


Cambridge by Gorham (5 3/4 inches)



Heraldic by Whiting (5 inches)



Old Colonial (Pierced) by Towle (6 1/4 inches)



Old Colonial (Not Pierced) by Towle (5 5/8 inches)








Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Prong Roast Carving Fork

I found one of these among the items I inherited from a favorite aunt of mine and did not have a clue what it was. It was not with her silverware, so I wondered if it was some type of torture device. Upon research, I learned it was a harmless Prong Roast Carving Fork.

Trajan by Reed and Barton (10 3/8 inches)
Large Stainless-Prong Roast Carving F

Rococo by Dominick and Haff (12 3/8 inches)


Large Stainless-Prong Roast Carving F

Adolphus by Mount Vernon 



Berain by Wallace (10 3/4 inches)



Stradivari by Wallace (10 1/2)


Violet by Wallace

Monday, November 7, 2011

Yetive by Mount Vernon

Yetive by Mount Vernon was introduced in 1896. An elaborate pattern with a flower on the terminal with leaves, stems and  more flowers trailing down the stem.



Fork (7  inches)
Fork

Salad Serving Fork (8 3/4  inches)

Salad Serving Fork, Solid Piece

Hollow Handle Knife (10 1/8 inches)
Blunt Hollow Knife With Bolster

Cold Meat Fork (8 1/2 inches)



Cocktail Fork (5 3/4 inches)

Friday, November 4, 2011

Pierced Waffle Server

As I mentioned earlier, there are two types of Waffle Servers, here is the Pierced Waffle Server. (The other being the Solid Waffle Server).




Raleigh by Alvin (8 3/4 inches)
Pierced Waffle Server Solid


Alexandra by Dominick and Haff (8 1/8  inches)
Pierced Waffle Server Solid
Bel Chateau by  Lunt (9 3/4 inches)



Yetive by Mount Vernon (7 3/8 inches)



Love Disarmed by Reed and Barton (11 inches)



Chrysanthemum by Tiffany (8 /34 inches)



Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Flat Handle Master Butter Knife

There are several types of butter knives or spreaders. These are examples of the flat handle  Master Butter Knife which is found in every pattern. The basic silhouette  is very similar among the patterns, however some are elaborate in their design. 

Louis XV by Durgin (7 inches)



Flat Handle Master Butter KnifeEnglish Rose by Durgin (6 3/4 inches)
Flat Handle Master Butter Knife

Madame Royale by Durgin (7 inches)
Flat Handle Master Butter Knife


Alhambra by Whiting (7 inches)



Lucerne by Wallace (7 inches)



St. James by Tiffany (7 1/8 inches)





Monday, October 31, 2011

Angelo by Wood and Hughes

Angelo was designed by Charles F. Richers and introduced in 1874 by Wood and Hughes. The terminal is flat and wide with an intricate design in it that continues down the stem. The bowls of the serving spoons and butter knives have designs on the blades.





Gravy Ladle (7 3/4 inches)



Master Butter (7 inches)





Berry Spoon (7 1/8 inches)





Three Tine Pie Fork (6 inches)






Sugar Sifter (8 1/4 inches)