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 13, 2014

Gipsy by Shiebler

Shiebler's Gipsy pattern dates back to 1880. The design is one of leaves and vines that make a garland as they works their way up the stem and around a medallion on the terminal that is suitable for a monogram.


Teaspoon (5 7/8 inches)

George W Shiebler Gipsy (Sterling,1880) Teaspoon



Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Charlemagne by Towle

Towle introduced Charlemagne in 1963. The pattern is an attempt at an Edwardian or Victorian design with the heavy terminal, busy florals, and decorated shoulder. However, it shows its youth. The flowers are too modern, the edges too clean, and the overall pattern trying too hard. For a pattern of the 1960's I will say it is so much better than the thin designs with a waved line up the stem and a rose embellished in it. 



Lemon Fork (5 1/2 inches)


Lemon Fork

Steak Knife (9 1/8 inches)
Individual Steak Knife Hollow Handle

Baby Spoon (4 3/8 inches) 

Straight Handle Baby Spoon

Table Serving Spoon (8 1/2  inches)

Pierced Tablespoon (serving Spoon)

Monday, June 9, 2014

Lorraine by Alvin

Alvin introduced Lorraine in 1904. The pattern has a flourish motif at the top of the terminal that is repeated at the top of the stem and at the base of the stem.

Ramekin Fork (5 3/8 inches)
Large Ramekin Fork

Jelly Cake Server  (8 7/8 inches)

Jelly/cake Server

Jam Spoon  (7 1/8 inches)
Jam Spoon


Flat Handled Butter Spreader  (6 1/8 inches)

Large Flat Handle Butter Spreader

Friday, June 6, 2014

Eugenie by Watson

Eugenie was introduced by Watson in 1895. The lines of the pattern somewhat resemble those of Watson's Coronoda. 

Demitasse Spoon   (3 7/8  inches)


Watson Eugenie (Sterling,1895) Demitasse Spoon

Macaroni Server (6 5/8 inches)


Watson Eugenie (Sterling,1895) Macaroni Server Solid Small
Lettuce Serving Fork (8 1/8 inches)


Watson Eugenie (Sterling,1895) Large Lettuce Serving Fork
Large Cream Ladle (4 1/2 inches)


Watson Eugenie (Sterling,1895) Large Cream Ladle, Solid Piece

Monday, June 2, 2014

Coronoda by Watson

Coronoda by Watson, what a lovely pattern. And once again I do not have a date. I did find reference that it was discontinued in 1940. The tip of the terminal is decorated with what looks like a feather motif, with the terminal itself being surrounded by curled leaves. This area is suitable for engraving. Two lines edge the stem to the shoulder where a smaller feather motif mirrors the one on the tip. 


Demitasse Spoon ( inches)
Demitasse Spoon

Large Sugar Sifter (  inches)
Large Sugar Sifter

Bon Bon Scoop

Bon Bon Scoop

Friday, May 30, 2014

Canterbury by Towle

Towle introduced Canterbury in 1893.  The design at first looks simple, but the more you look at it, the more small elegant it is with small details. The beaded edge is interrupted at the base of the terminal with a simple fern design and as the eye follows the line up to the tip of the terminal is looks like a young fern frond ready to unfurl, with a third frond at the very tip. The curling motif is repeated on the the shoulders of the pieces. It is a lovely pattern.

(I have no idea if this is a fern in the design it just struck me that way in trying to describe it.)


Pastry Fork (6 inches)

Towle Silver Canterbury (Sterling,1893) Pastry Fork

Pierced Nut Serving Spoon (8 inches)


Towle Silver Canterbury (Sterling,1893) Small Pierced Nut Serving Spoon



Seafood Fork (6 inches)
Towle Silver Canterbury (Sterling,1893) Cocktail/Seafood Fork

Flat Handled Butter Knife (7 inches)


Towle Silver Canterbury (Sterling,1893) Flat Handle Master Butter Knife


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Arcadian by Towle

Arcadian was introduced by Towle in 1916. The terminal is diamond shaped with a floral motif at the top and bottom of the terminal. The stem and terminal are edged with a double line.



Fork (7 3/4 inches)




 Small Berry Spoon (7 7/8 inches)





Ice Cream Slicer (10 3/4 inches)



Lettuce Serving Fork (8 3/4 inches)



Monday, May 26, 2014

Simple Tiffany Patterns

Tiffany has several patterns that are fairly simple. In fact some may call them plain. They were introduced over a rather broad range of time, so it was not as if the House of Tiffany went through some "simple" phase. Here are some examples:

Windham (1923) (Bouillon Soup Spoon) (5 1/2 inches) (Arthur LeRoy Barney)

Round Bowl Soup Spoon (Bouillon)
Linenfold (1956)  (Cake Server) (11 inches) 

Pie & Cake Server With Stainless Blade

Hampton (1934) (Fish Knife) (8 1/8 inches) Charles B. Blake

Individual Fish Knife With Stainless Blade

Hamilton aka Gramercy (1938) (Large Asparagus Serving Fork) (9 5/8 inches) 

Large Solid Asparagus Serving Fork

Flemish (1911) (Ice Tea Spoon) (7 1/2 inches) 

Iced Tea Spoon

Friday, May 23, 2014

Colonial by Tiffany

Another pattern by Tiffany, Paulding Farnham designed Colonial for them in 1895. He is also known for his later patterns of  Marquise, Renaissance, and St. James  he also designed for Tiffany. As well as Richilieu, that he designed in 1892. The design of Colonial is fairly simple with a leaf motif at the end of the terminal and the terminal and stem being edged by a triple line which curls outward at the base of the stem.



Cheese Scoop (3 3/4 inches)

Tiffany Colonial (Sterling,1895) Cheese Scoop Individual Solid Piece

Egg Spoon (4  5/8 inches)

Tiffany Colonial (Sterling,1895) Egg Spoon

Pierced Egg Server (9 1/4 inches)

Tiffany Colonial (Sterling,1895) Solid Pierced Egg Server

Pastry Fork (6 5/8 inches)

Tiffany Colonial (Sterling,1895) Pastry Fork

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Century by Tiffany

Arthur Leroy Barney designed Century for Tiffany in 1937. The  pattern is Art Deco in its straight lines and the  treatment on the terminal. Barney also designed Castilian for Tiffany, but he is most well known for his design of Tiffany's Indian pattern

Salad Fork ( 6/8 inches)

Individual Salad Fork

Knife (9 1/2 inches)



Flat Handle Butter Spreader ( 6 1/8 inches)



Iced Tea Spoon (7 3/4 inches)