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, August 9, 2019

Fish Place Knife

The Fish Place Knife is the piece used with the Fish Fork when eating fish.

Grande Baroque by Wallace (8 5/8 inches)

Strasbourg by Gorham (8 1/8 inches)

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Oyster Ladle

Of all the servers, the Oyster Ladle is one of the rarer. Given the sizes shown here, I'm not sure how one differentiates this ladle from all the other types.

Royal Danish by International (9 7/8 inches)

Chantilly by Gorham (10 3/4 inches)

Francis I by Reed and Barton (11 1/2 inches)

Monday, August 5, 2019

Berry Scoop

The Berry Serving Scoop is a rare and rather expensive piece. One can find the piece in a few patterns for around $150, however most are priced around $800

Cluny by Gorham (1880) (8 3/4 inches)

Vine by Tiffany (1872) (9 5/8 inches)

Persian by Tiffany (1872) (9 1/2 inches)

Italian by Tiffany (1870) (9 5/8 inches)

Friday, August 2, 2019

Canape Place Fork

This is an unusual and rare piece. The Canape Place Fork is a place piece for eating Canapes (a type of hor d'oeuvre (appetizer), usually a small bite served on bread, puff pastry or a cracker).

La Parisienne by Reed and Barton (3 5/8 inches)

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Angelo by Gorham

Gorham introduced their Angelo pattern in 1870. Don't confuse this with Wood and Hughes Angelo (1874) or Holmes and Mount Vernon's Angelo (1911).

Large Sugar Sifter (7 inches)

Dinner Knife (10 7/8 inches)

Preserve Spoon (9 7/8 inches)

Monday, July 29, 2019

Weymouth by Gorham

Gorham introduced their Weymouth pattern in 1914.

Lemon Fork (4 3/8 inches)

Bouillon Soup Spoon (5 inches)

Dinner Knife HH D(9 5/8 inches)

Confection Spoon (5 7/8 inches)

Friday, July 26, 2019

Trilogy by Gorham

Another "Newer" Gorham pattern, Trilogy was introduced in 1969.

Table Serving Spoon (8 1/2 inches)

Pickle Fork (6 inches)

Cheese Knife (7 1/2 inches)

Iced Teaspoon (7 5/8 inches)

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

White Paisley by Gorham

A "newer" Gorham pattern, White Paisley was introduced in 1966.

Short Handled Olive Spoon with Pierced Bowl (5 3/4 inches)

Salad Fork (5 3/4 inches)

Master Butter Knife (7 1/2 inches)

Small Steak Carving Fork (10 5/8 inches)

Monday, July 22, 2019

Cluny by Gorham

Gorham's Cluny pattern (1880) was designed by Antone Heller. A multi motif pattern named for the gardens surrounding the Hotel de Cluny in Paris, a medieval stone mansion built in the Middle Ages in 1485 in the Gothic style.

Ice Cream Slicer (10 3/4 inches)

Vegetable Serving Spoon (8 7/8 inches)

Pie Fork (7 inches)

Orange Spoon (5 3/4 inches)

Friday, July 19, 2019

Rose Marie by Gorham

Gorham's Rose Marie pattern was designed by Axel H. Staf and introduced in 1933.Staf also designed Modern Colonial (1928) and Miss America (1902) for Alvin.

Butter Spreader HH (6 1/4 inches)

Cocktail Fork (5 1/2 inches)

Sugar Shell Spoon (6 inches)

Salad Fork (5 3/8 inches)