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, February 7, 2020

Mille Fleurs by International

Introduced in 1904, International's Mille Fleurs pattern is multi motif. Note the unique designs on each piece.

Orange Spoon (5 7/8 inches)

International Silver Mille Fleurs (Sterling, 1904) Orange Spoon

International Silver Mille Fleurs (Sterling, 1904) Orange Spoon

Short Handle Olive Fork (6 inches)
International Silver Mille Fleurs (Sterling, 1904) Pierced Bowl Short Handle Olive Spoon

Old French Hollow Knife (9 inches)

International Silver Mille Fleurs (Sterling, 1904) Old French Hollow Knife

Butter Spreader (5 5/8 inches)

International Silver Mille Fleurs (Sterling, 1904) Flat Handle Butter Spreader

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Milan by Gorham

George Wilkinson designed Milan for Gorham in 1885.

Tomato Server (8 1/8 inches)

Gorham Silver Milan (Sterling, 1885) Tomato Server, Solid Piece

Berry Spoon (8 7/8 inches)

Gorham Silver Milan (Sterling, 1885) Bright Cut Solid Large Berry/Casserole Spoon

Monday, February 3, 2020

Memory Lane by Lunt

Lunt introduced their Memory Lane pattern in 1949.

Fork (7 3/4 inches)

Lunt Silver Memory Lane (Sterling, 1949) Fork

Casserole Spoon (8 3/8 inches)

Lunt Silver Memory Lane (Sterling, 1949) Solid Smooth Casserole Spoon

Olive Fork (5 7//8 inches)

Lunt Silver Memory Lane (Sterling, 1949) Short Handle Pickle/Olive Fork

Friday, January 31, 2020

Keystone by Whiting

Charles Osborne designed the Keystone pattern for Whiting in 1888. Other patterns designed by Osborne include Stuart in 1911 and Arabesque in 1875.

Ice Cream Spoon (6 inches)

Whiting Division Keystone (Sterling, 1888) Ice Cream Spoon Individual

Whiting Division Keystone (Sterling, 1888) Ice Cream Spoon Individual

Sugar Tongs (5 inches)

Whiting Division Keystone (Sterling, 1888) Large Sugar Tongs

Tea Knife (7 1/8 inches)

Whiting Division Keystone (Sterling, 1888) Solid Tea/Child Knife

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Flat Rose by Magnus Aase

Flat Rose, a Norwegian pattern, dates back to 1876. Magnus Aase also produced a silverplate pattern of the same design and name.

Boullion Soup (5 1/2 inches)

Magnus Aase (Norway) Flat Rose (Sterling) Round Bowl Soup Spoon (Bouillon)

Magnus Aase (Norway) Flat Rose (Sterling) Round Bowl Soup Spoon (Bouillon)

Lemon Fork (4 7/8 inches)

Magnus Aase (Norway) Flat Rose (Sterling) Lemon Fork

Monday, January 27, 2020

Colonial Thread by Blakinton

Blackinton's Colonial Thread pattern only dates back to 1950.

Cucumber Server (6 3/8 inches)
Blackinton Colonial Thread (Sterling) Small Cucumber/Tomato Server

Blackinton Colonial Thread (Sterling) Small Cucumber/Tomato Server

Sugar Tongs (4 inches)
Blackinton Colonial Thread (Sterling) Sugar Tongs

Poultry Shears (11 1/4 inches)

Blackinton Colonial Thread (Sterling) Poultry Shears with Stainless Blades

Friday, January 24, 2020

Fiddle Shell (formerly Alden) by Frank Smith

Frank Smith introduced their Fiddle Shell pattern in 1914.

Cream Soup Spoon ( 6 1/4 inches)

Frank Smith Fiddle Shell-Alden (Sterling,1914,No Monos) Round Bowl Soup Spoon (Cream Soup)

Frank Smith Fiddle Shell-Alden (Sterling,1914,No Monos) Round Bowl Soup Spoon (Cream Soup)

Cocktail Fork (5 3/8 inches)

Frank Smith Fiddle Shell-Alden (Sterling,1914,No Monos) Cocktail/Seafood Fork

Flat Handle Butter Spreader (5 3/4 inches)

Frank Smith Fiddle Shell-Alden (Sterling,1914,No Monos) Flat Handle Butter Spreader

Flat Handle Crumber (11 inches)

Frank Smith Fiddle Shell-Alden (Sterling,1914,No Monos) Large Flat Handle Crumb Knife/Crumber

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Cold Cut Serving Fork

While most patterns have at least one Cold Meat Serving Fork, but I recently stumbled upon the Cold Cut Serving Fork. Most of the examples I found were in patterns by Georg Jensen.

Pyramid by Georg Jensen (5 5/8 inches)

Georg Jensen (Denmark) Pyramid (Sterling, 1927) 2-Tine Cold Cut Serving Fork

Cactus by Georg Jensen (6 1/8 inches)

Georg Jensen (Denmark) Cactus (Sterling, 1930) 2-Tine Cold Cut Serving Fork

Valdres by Marthinson Silver (9 1/2 inches)

Marthinsen Silver,T H Valdres (Sterling) Medium 2-Tine Cold Cut Serving Fork

Ornamental Items by Georg Jensen (5 7/8 inches)

Georg Jensen (Denmark) Ornamental Items (Sterling) Large 2-Tine Cold Cut Serving Fork

Monday, January 20, 2020

Washington by Dominick and Haff

Dominick and Haff's Washington pattern dates back to 1905.

Individual Fish Fork (6 inches)

Dominick & Haff Washington (Sterling, 1905) Individual Solid Fish Fork

Dominick & Haff Washington (Sterling, 1905) Individual Solid Fish Fork

Individual Fish Knife (7 1/2 inches)

Dominick & Haff Washington (Sterling, 1905) Individual Solid Fish Knife

Large Berry Spoon (9 1/4 inches)

Dominick & Haff Washington (Sterling, 1905) Large Solid Berry/Casserole Spoon

Large Fish Serving Knife (10 inches)

Dominick & Haff Washington (Sterling, 1905) Large Solid Fish Serving Knife

Friday, January 17, 2020

Pond by Dominick and Haff

Pond by Dominick and Haff (circa 1884) is an interesting pattern. It is multi motiff, meaning there are different designs in the patterns. Each design features a different insect, a water bug, a dragon fly, and a bee.