Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar

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 6, 2016

Marie Louise by Shreve

Shreve Silver introduced their Marie Louise pattern in 1915. I can only assume this pattern was named in honor of Princess Marie Louise of Britain, granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Upon the annulment of her most unhappy marriage to Prince Aribert of Anhalt, she never remarried but spent the rest of her life supporting her charities and being a patron of the arts.

This pattern should not be confused with Towles' 1939 pattern of the same name.

Old French Hollow Knife (9 5/8 inches)

Fork (7 inches)

Flat Handle Butter Spreader (5 3/4 inches)

Salad Fork (6 inches)

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Southern Grandeur by Easterling

Southern Grandeur was introduced by the Easterling company in 1944.

Demitasse Spoon (4 1/4 inches)

Small Cold Meat Serving Fork (7 5/8 inches)

Wooden Bowl Salad Set

Monday, May 2, 2016

Pansy by International

International introduced Pansy in 1909. It was designed by Samuel Stohr who later also designed Chesterfield (1914) and Acanthus (1917) for International.

Fork (7 inches)

Salad Serving Spoon (8 5/8 inches)

Small Chipped Beef Fork (5 5/8 inches)

French Hollow Handled Knife (9 7/8 inches)

Friday, April 29, 2016

Florentine by International

International introduced their Florentine pattern in 1912.

Tomato Server (7 1/2 inches)

Baby Fork (4 3/8 inches)

Pie Server (10 1/4 inches)

Sugar Tongs (4 3/4 inches)

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Petite Fours Server Part 2

Years ago I posted on the Petit Fours Server. Here are some more examples of this piece. These 4 examples are all "hooded".

Grand Baroque by Wallace (6 1/4 inches)

Old Master by Towle (6 1/8 inches)

Fairfax by Gorham (7 1/2 inches)

Chantilly by Gorham (7 1/2 inches)

Monday, April 25, 2016

Kings III by Gorham

The Gorham patterns - Kings I (1875), Kings II (1885), and Kings III (1885) are separate and distinct patterns. These are examples of Kings III.

Individual Salt Spoon (2 1/4 inches)

Crumb Knife (Crumber) (11 3/4 inches)

Sugar Tongs (5 inches)

Salad Fork (6 1/2 inches)

Friday, April 22, 2016

Winchester by International

John Clulee designed Winchester for International in 1902. Clulee also designed International's Warwick (1898), Jean d'Arc (1905), Frontenac (1903), Kenilworth (1887) and Stratford (1902) for International.

Cheese Scoop (6 1/8)

Ice Cream Spoon (5 7/8 inches)

Cucumber Server (6 1/2 inches)

Sardine Serving Fork (6 inches)

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Daffodil by Baker- Manchester

Baker-Manchester introduced their Daffodil pattern in 1900. It is a very distinct pattern with the design of daffodils in deep relief through out the stem and terminal.

Demitasse Spoon (4 inches)