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 7, 2014

Ribbon Rose by Hallmark

Ribbon Rose is a lovely repousse pattern of rose blossoms and leaves. It was designed in 1942 Grosvenor N. Allen and William H. Gerth for Hallmark. A unique feature is an open shield on the terminal suitable for monogramming. 

Hallmark Silver Co was in business from the early 1900s till around 1954. The company merged with Hunt Silver Co in the year 1954 to become Hunt-Hallmark Co.



Butter Spreader (5 3/4 inches)




Salad Fork (6 1/4  inches)



Cream Soup Spoon (6 inches)




Two Piece Steak Carving Set

Baby Knife

The Baby Knife is one of the three piece baby set (knife, spoon, and fork) found in most patterns. Usually they are just a miniature version of the adult piece. However, you will see the baby piece tends to have a fatter handle. These are not to be confused with the "Youth" pieces which are larger than the "Baby" pieces, but usually just smaller in size than the adult pieces, not altered for smaller hands like the "Baby" pieces are.

Chantilly by Gorham (5 3/4 inches)
Baby Knife With Stainless Blade in the Chantilly (sterling,1950,"gorham") pattern by Gorham Silver

Lady Diana by Towle ( 6 1/4 inches)
Baby Knife With Stainless Blade in the Lady Diana (sterling,1928) pattern by Towle

La Salle by Dominick and Haff (5 7/8 inches)
Baby Knife With Stainless Blade in the La Salle (sterling, 1928) pattern by Dominick & Haff

Candlelight by Towle (6 1/4  inches)
Baby Knife With Stainless Blade in the Candlelight (sterling,1934) pattern by Towle

Monday, March 3, 2014

Rosette by Gorham

George Wilkinson designed Rosette for Gorham in 1868. He also designed Gorham's Ivy pattern. Rosette is a design that fits its age. It has a fleur de lis like motif on the end of the terminal  and a medallion in the center of the stem. Otherwise, it is a simple pattern. It has very much the same lines as Ivy.


Master Salt Spoon (3 5/8 inches)

Gorham Silver Rosette (Sterling, 1868) Master Salt Spoon


Gravy Ladle (6 3/4 inches)

Gorham Silver Rosette (Sterling, 1868) Solid Gravy Ladle

Friday, February 28, 2014

Napkin Ring

In addition to the Napkin Clip, there is also the Napkin Ring that can be found in some patterns. Some of the patterns consider the Napkin Rings "Hollowware" and some consider them  flatware. It depends on the pattern.

Old Master by Towle  (2 inches)
Click to Enlarge

Classic Rose by Reed and Barton

Click to Enlarge

Audubon by Tiffany

Click to Enlarge

Sovereign by Gorham

Click to Enlarge

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Napkin Clips

We often think of pieces of the sterling patterns being the utensils, the knives and forks, and serving pieces. However, there are many more pieces you may find in a pattern. I find that these are random depending on pattern. and, even more random depending on who bought the original set of sterling.

An example is the Napkin Clip shown here. All formal tables are set with linen or cotton napkins and traditionally they were held by either napkin clips or rings.

Medici by Gorham (1 7/8 inches)



Grand Baroque by Wallace ( 2 3/8 inches)


King Richard by Towle (1 5/8  inches)




Kirk Stieff Repousse (1 3/4 inches)


Monday, February 24, 2014

Radiant Rose by International

Radiant Rose is a lovely repousse style pattern International introduced in 1938. The design sports wide open rose blossoms and their leaves across the entire terminal and stem.

Small Carving Fork ( 9 inches)

Small Carving Fork W/sterling Guard



Small Casserole Spoon (8 1/2  inches)Small Solid Berry/casserole Spoon

Seafood Fork (5 1/2 inches)

Cocktail/seafood Fork

Hollow Handle Knife (9 1/8 inches)
New French Hollow Knife






Friday, February 21, 2014

Rambler Rose by Towle

Harold E. Nock designed Rambler Rose for Towle in 1937. As best as I can tell, the pattern was not discontinued until 1937.  The simple design has a row of rose buds and leaves that run down the stem of the piece from the terminal, starting in a pattern a third of the width of the stem. That pattern narrows until  before it reaches the shoulder where there is no design. The very tip of the terminal is adorned with a tight blossom or two.



Salad Fork  (6 5/8 inches)
Individual Salad Fork

Short Handle Pickle Fork
Short Handle Pickle/olive Fork

Bon Bon Spoon (4 7/8 inches)
Solid Bon Bon Spoon W/pierced Bowl
Hollow Handle Butter Spreader (6 1/8 inches)

Modern Hollow Butter Spreader (stainless)

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Old Rose by Fessenden

Another Rose pattern, this one, Old Rose by Fessenden. I found conflicting information about its introduction date, one source said 1910 another said 1900. Whatever the date, it is a lovely pattern, with so much more detail and soft lines than the newer patterns. There is a fan on the tip of the terminal with a rose blossom and buds on the terminal itself. The stem has a bead decor accented with the occasional leaf as if it were wrapped around the edge.


Large Sugar Sifter (  inches)
Large Sugar Sifter

Pierced Nut Server
Pierced Nut Serving Spoon


Monday, February 17, 2014

Melrose by Alvin

I said before there are 100's of "Rose" patterns. Here is one more. Melrose by Alvin. The pattern was introduced in 1910. The design is fairly standard with a rolled edge from the terminal down the sides of the stem. And has some embellishments on the terminal using scrollwork that blends into the rolled edge design.

Strawberry Fork (4 3/4 inches)
Strawberry Fork

Cracker Spoon 
Pierced Saratoga Chips Server

Solid Petite Server (4 5/8 inches)
Solid Petite Server

Pie Fork (6 1/2 inches)
Individual Pie Fork


Friday, February 14, 2014

Classic Rose by Reed and Barton

I shy away from more modern patterns, however I realize that folks will find these patterns as well in their Grandmother's or Aunt's silver chests. This pattern is Classic Rose by Reed and Barton designed by Theodore E. Cayer and introduced in 1954. From what I can find the pattern was discontinued in 2005.

It is a very simple modern pattern with a flat plain square ended terminal. The only design element is a single rose in the middle of the handle, the single stem of which goes down the side of the stem to the top of the shoulder. A simple double ban separates the stem from the shoulder.

Butter Spreader (6 3/8 inches)



Jelly Server (6 3/8  inches)




Salad Serving Fork (9 inches)

 


Cake Breaker  (10 7/8 inches)