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 25, 2018

Zodiac by Gorham

Gorham introduced their Zodiac pattern in 1906. The pattern is limited in that it only has the following pieces: Youth Spoon, Youth Knife, Teaspoon, Demitasse Spoon, Berry Fork, and a curved Baby Spoon. Each piece has the month on the stem and a design of the appropiate Astrogical sign on the terminal.

Youth Spoon - ( 5 3/4 inches) (Cancer ) (June)

Demitasse (4 inches) (Gemini ) (May)

Berry Fork (3 3/4 inches) (Sagitarius) (November)

Teaspoon (6 inches) (Capricorn) (December)

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Silver Sculpture by Reed and Barton

Reed and Barton introduced their Silver Sculpture pattern in 1954. It was designed by Robert H Romp.

Lemon Fork (4 3/4 inches)

Pierced Table Serving Spoon (8 5/8 inches)

Fork (7 3/8 inches)

Hollow Handle Punch Ladle (15 3/4 inches)

Monday, May 21, 2018

Rembrandt By Wallace

These are some examples of Rembrandt by Wallace, introduced in 1938.

Pastry Server (9 1/8 inches)

Butter Spreader (6 inches)

Large Berry Spoon (9 inches)

Short Handle Pickle Fork (5 5/8 inches)

Friday, May 18, 2018

Candle Snuffer Part 2

The Candle Snuffer (which I posted on earlier) varies in length. Of these 4 examples alone they range from 9 1/2 inches to 16 5/8 inches.

Buttercup by Gorham (9 5/8 inches)

Padova by Tiffany (16 5/8 inches)

Rondo by Gorham (9 1/2 inches)

Medici by Gorham (9 7/8 inches)

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Eighteenth Century by Reed and Barton

The lines on Reed and Barton's Eighteenth Century introduced in 1971 are classical for a pattern of the late 20th century.

Cocktail Fork (5 5/8 inches)

Lasagna Server (10 1/4 inches)

Sugar Shell (6 1/4 inches)

Petit Fours Servers (6 5/8 inches)

Lasagna Server (10 1/4 inches)

Monday, May 14, 2018

Lobster Pick

Very similar to a Nut Pick, on first glance, the Lobster Pick appears to be either an unfinished piece or one of mystery use. They are fairly rare.

Eighteenth Century by Reed and Barton (1971) (7 1/4 inches)

Chrysanthemum by Tiffany (1880) (7 inches)

St. James by Tiffany (1898) (5 5/8 inches)

Cactus (1930) by Georg Jensen (7 inches)

Friday, May 11, 2018

Dresden Scroll by Lunt

Dresden Scroll by Lunt was introduced by Lunt in 1971. By the design, my guess is that the name of this pattern was perhaps influenced by the famous Dresden lace.

Teaspoon (6 inches)

Cake Breaker (11 inches)

Cheese Knife (7 inches)

Cocktail Fork (5 3/4 inches)

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Ice Cream Scoop

The Ice Cream Scoop would have been a popular and appropriate piece in the Victorian and Edwardian times given their love of the dessert.

John and Priscilla by Westmorland (1940) (8 1/2 inches)

Triumph by Tuttle (1994) (9 inches)

Violet by Wallace ( 1904) (7 7/8 inches)

Spanish Lace by Wallace (1964) (9 inches)

Monday, May 7, 2018

Rose Cascade by Reed and Barton

Theodore E. Cayer designed Rose Cascade for Reed and Barton in 1957. The design is delicate but you can see a small "cascade" of roses at the tip of the stem. Cayer also designed Reed and Barton's Classic Rose pattern (1954)

Sugar Tongs (4 3/4 inches)