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?
Venetian Scroll by Onieda only dates back to 1970. That said it has the lines of some the older rococo designs. We often think of Onieda with stainless and silver plate but they did produce some lovely sterling patterns. Sugar Shell (6 inches)
International introduced Royal Danish in 1939. It was designed by Alfred G Kintz Other patterns designed by Kintz include Wedgewood (1924), Empress (1935), Springtime (1935), and Joan of Arc (1940). Royal Danish is one of the top 50 most popular flatware patterns. Lobster Pick (8 inches) Tomato Server (7 3/4 inches) Hollow Handle Fish Fork (7 3/4 inches)
Unlike the regular Cheese server you are likely to see, these are examples of the Pierced Cheese Server, that is much more ornate due to the pierced plate. The example in Commonwealth I can easily see being confused with the Tomato or Cucumber Server. Old Colonial by Towle (5 7/8 inches)
Lunt's Pynchon pattern, introduced in 1910 is similar to Lunt's Monticello and Chippendale patterns with the open design in the terminal. Large Sardine Serving Fork (5 inches)
French Provincial is a simple pattern introduced in 1948 by Towle. That said it ranks among the top 50 most popular flatware patterns today. Salad Fork (6 3/8 inches)