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 24, 2013

Victoria by Dominick and Haff

Dominick and Haff introduced Victoria in 1901. The pattern was designed by Gilbert L. Crowell, Jr. Other patterns designed by Crowell for Dominick and Haff include Mazarin, Cupid, and Basket of Flowers. Victoria has a classical design with a pattern on the terminal and decoration down the edge of the terminal and the stem. It is not as elaborate or eloquent as Mazarin or Cupid but much more lovely than some of the horrendous patterns to come out of the 50's and 60's.




Preserve Spoon




Tomato Server



Fork



Old French Knife





Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Marlborough by Reed and Barton

Marlborough is a traditionally designed sterling pattern introduced by Reed and Barton in 1906 and just recently discontinued in 2011. I say "traditional" in that it shares a design similar to Chantilly and Buckingham by Gorham, Champlain by Amston, or Lady Windsor by Wallace in that they are simply elegant without being simple or -God Forbid- plain in their design. 





Demitasse Spoon (4 1/4  inches)


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Flat Handle Butter Spreader (5 7/8 inches)
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Monday, May 20, 2013

Ice Cream Fork Part 2

The original "Spork". I posted earlier on the Ice Cream Fork.  A bowl with tines on the end. This may be one of those pieces you found and asked yourself, "What the hey?" Another Victorian marvel.


Marlborough by Reed and Barton (5 1/4 inches)



Versailles by Gorham (4 7/8 inches)





Wedgewood by International (5 1/2 inches)




Lancaster by Gorham (5 3/4 inches)






Friday, May 17, 2013

Narcissus By Fessendun

Narcissus by Fessendun was introduced in 1905. The general design is very much in keeping with the designs the Watson patterns Orchid and Wild Rose (by Eustace Crees and Charles Court). An open narcissus blossom is on the top of the terminal with the vine gently crossing and meandering down the stem.

Jelly Spoon (6  7/8 inches)



Cucumber Server (5 3/4 inches)



Sugar Shell (5 3/8 inches)


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Byzantine by Woods and Hughes

Woods and Hughes introduced Byzantine in 1875. It is described as a "multimotif"  pattern. I would describe it as having a heavily embossed floral design. Either way, it is a very pretty and very old pattern.

Fork (7 5/8 inches)

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Small Soup Ladle  (11 1/2 inches)

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Oyster Fork (6 1/4 inches)

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Tablespoon (8 3/8 inches)


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Monday, May 13, 2013

Various Sardine Forks

There is the Sardine Fork as I posted on earlier and these other  Sardine Forks. I cannot tell you why, but I have an affinity for this piece of flatware. It has always intrigued me. Only the Victorians would design a piece of sterling silver to use to eat sardines out of a can. But then again, they did always want to be proper.

It is possible to find an example of each of these in one pattern. The Long Handled Sardine Fork is part of the serving set.


Long Handled Sardine Fork (Lily by Frank Whiting  7 3/8 inches)



Small Tined Sardine Fork (Georgian by Towle  4 1/2 inches)
Small Solid Tined Sardine Serving Fork

Large Tined  Sardine Fork (Georgian by Towle  5 5/8 inches)
Large Solid Tined Sardine Serving Fork

Sardine Serving Fork (Byzatine by Woods and Hughes  6 1/4 inches)




Friday, May 10, 2013

Long Handled Sardine Serving Spoon and Fork

The Long Handled Sardine Serving Spoon and Fork are much longer than the regular size pieces which are typically 4 1/2 - 6 inches long. Also, you will note that the tines and end of the fork are much smaller. The regular Sardine Fork (I posted on earlier) has a much wider shoulder and tines. 

Josephine by Frank Whiting (8 1/8 inches)







Athene by Amston (aka Crescendo)  (8 1/8 inches


Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Louis XV Patterns

Another very popular name, there are several sterling silver patterns named Louis XV. And, some of the patterns look very similar, but there are minor distinctions. Here are some examples:

Whiting (1891 Salad Serving Set 9 1/8 inches )

Dominick and Haff (1925 Tomato Server 8 inches)

Tomato Server, Solid Piece

Durgin (1891 Cracker Spoon 7 1/2 inches)




Woods and Hughes (1880 Fish Serving Knife  (10 1/4 inches)



Birks (1914 Bouillon Spoon 4 7/8 inches)

Round Bowl Soup Spoon (Bouillon)



Monday, May 6, 2013

Maintenon by Shiebler

An old pattern, Maintenon was introduced by Shiebler in 1895. The pattern has a design of scroll work on the terminal and the lower part  of the stem.


Fork (7 5/8 inches)

Fork

Tablespoon (8 1/2 inches)

Tablespoon (Serving Spoon)

Friday, May 3, 2013

Versailles by Wallace

Versailles by Wallace was introduced in 1914. This is a different pattern than the more well known Versailles pattern by Gorham. Whereas Gorham's pattern was designed by Anton Heller and depicts different scenes from the French palace, this design is much more simple. The terminal has a shield with a blank center that can be engraved. The stem is plain with simple thin lines down the sides. The end of the stem is decorated with a wreath.

Gravy Ladle
Gravy Ladle, Solid Piece

One Tine Butter Pick (5 3/4 inches)
One Tine Butter Pick

Fork (7 1/8 inches)
Fork


Oyster Fork (5 1/2 inches)

Oyster Fork