When it comes to antique sterling silver flatware, age is not everything. For example, much of the flatware from the Victorian and Edwardian eras were mass-produced. For this reason, knives, forks, spoons, and serving utensils from these periods tend to be less collectible than handmade pieces, even those from more recent times.

A piece of flatware’s pattern and maker are generally more important than its age. Some patterns were meant to mimic the styles of earlier eras or places—Louis XIV-inspired patterns, evoking the opulent grandeur of 17th- and 18th-century France, are particularly common.

Other patterns are specific to a company. The 19th-century silversmith Wm. A. Rogers was known for his Elberon pattern, whose decorative edges extended all the way from the end o...

Most companies produced multiple patterns at a time, each with a descriptive or important-sounding name—from Buttercup, Daffodil, and Narcissus to Canterbury, Lafayette, and Duke of York. These patterns were often made continuously for decades, so the name of a maker and a pattern is not necessarily the best way to date a piece. To further muddle matters, companies such as American silver giant Reed & Barton made the same patterns in both silver plate and sterling silver, which, again, makes dating a particular piece of flatware difficult.

For collectors, the functionality of a piece of flatware is sometimes the most important consideration, especially if that functionality is archaic or obsolete. Serving pieces were the most specialized. Aspic slicers were designed exclusively for calves-foot jelly, cucumber and tomato-slice servers resembled tiny slotted hand mirrors, spinach forks had three wide-spaced tines to spear mounds of boiled spinach, and leaf-shaped ice cream ladles were meant to be used with a matching, dull knife—little wonder this combo was replaced by the ice cream scoop.

Sometimes the shapes of serving utensils didn’t tell you much about their use. A 19th-century sardine fork might reasonably be mistaken for a miniature lawn rake, while the cake servers from that era often look like hair combs. In other cases, the functionality of the serving utensil is clear, but the preparation of the food for which it was designed has fallen out of fashion—butter picks with fork handles and drill-bit-like ends do a fine job of stabbing chilled butter balls, but who eats butter like that anymore?

Aesthetics were the other major factor. Silversmiths such as Gorham, Georg Jensen, Tiffany & Co., Unger Bros., Oneida, and Shreve & Co. combined original designs with ones pulled from history, from the aforementioned Louis XIV to Art Nouveau.

For customers and collectors alike, settling on a pattern that is pleasing to look at is extremely important because with a complete silver service, you’ll be looking at that pattern a lot. A Gorham Chantilly service for 12, for example, may include two types of forks, three types of knives and spoons, and another half dozen serving utensils, for a total of 102 pieces. That’s a lot of Chantilly, so make sure you like it before you decide to bring it into your home.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Interviews & Articles

Saving Vermont History, One Silver Spoon At a Time

Compared to their Colonial neighbors, Vermont silversmiths got a late start. That’s because the first permanent non-Native America… [more]

Silver Spoons

From the Middle Ages down, the silver spoon has been a symbol of a certain standard of living. "Born with a silver spoon in his mo… [more]

How Silver Spoons Were Made

Under the patient probe of research, our silversmiths have emerged as definite personalities. They were men of many interests, pro… [more]

William Faris (1728-1804): Annapolis Silversmith

The most picturesque figure among the 18th century Maryland silversmiths was William Faris of Annapolis, watch maker, clockmaker, … [more]

Janine Skerry Shows Off the Silver Collection at Colonial Williamsburg

My interest in silver started when I was a child. One of my earliest memories was opening either my mother or father’s jewelry box… [more]

The Kalo Shop, a Mecca for Arts and Crafts Sterling Silver

How did I get started collecting Arts and Crafts silver? My wife and I had been collecting Arts and Crafts items as far back as I … [more]

▼ Expand this section

Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Spoonplanet.com

Spoonplanet.com

Silver spoon collectors will eat up this site sponsored by the Spoon Collectors of Southern California. Here you ca… [read review or visit site]

Chicago Silver

Chicago Silver

Paul Somerson's incredible reference on handwrought metalwork from the American Arts and Crafts movement of the ear… [read review or visit site]

Silver Marks Encyclopedia

Silver Marks Encyclopedia

An extensive reference guide to silver marks, hallmarks, trademarks and maker's marks found on antique and vintage … [read review or visit site]

Silver at the Victoria and Albert

Silver at the Victoria and Albert

This is a great reference site on silver, courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum. You can view silver items acc… [read review or visit site]

The Gilbert Collection

The Gilbert Collection

The late Sir Arthur Gilbert's collection of European silver, gold, enamel, and other items is now housed at the Vic… [read review or visit site]

Delight in Design: Indian Silver for the Raj

Delight in Design: Indian Silver for the Raj

“Delight in Design: Indian Silver for the Raj” was the title of a 2008 exhibition at Columbia University’s Mi… [read review or visit site]

TheStieffCompany.com

TheStieffCompany.com

Scott Perkins is an enthusiastic evangelist for The Stieff Company, a significant Baltimore silversmith and maker o… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: Sterling Silver

Discussion Forums: Sterling Silver

Other Great Reference Sites: Sterling Silver

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 520 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Towle Sterling Silver "el Grandee" Service For 12 With 14 Serving Pieces***42 Piece Gorham Medici Sterling Silver & Gold Flatware Set Fork Knives SpoonsWallace Grande Baroque Sterling Silver 98pc Flatware Set Apx 117oz SterlingTowle Sterling - Chippendale Pattern - Stunning 111 Piece Flatware SetInternational Fontaine Sterling Silver Flatware Set 70 Pieces 80 OuncesSterling Silver Flat Ware Set Of 8 Towle Company Pattern King Richard Wallace Rose Point 52 Piece Sterling Silver SetReed & Barton Francis I Sterling Silver Flatware Set 80 Pieces Serves 1267 Piece Wallace "golden Aegean Weave" Sterling Silver Flatware Set W ChestCandlelight By Towle - 126 -piece Sterling Silver Service 12+ No Monograms 46 Pc Flatware~sterling Silver~westmorland~john & Priscilla~fitted Case~c1940 Towle Old Master Sterling Silver 56 Piece Flatware Set Sterling Figural Seafood Server By George W. Shiebler N.y. 1800s Rare SardineSterling Flatware Set Service For 12 By International In The Prelude PatternSeven Plus Place Settings Of International Sterling's "valencia"Towle Old Master Sterling Silverware Set (32 Pieces - See Breakdown Below)1637 Grams .925 Sterling Silver Bars Ingots Franklin Mint Scrap Or Not22 Pieces - Gorham Whiting 1902 "lily" Lion Marked Sterling Antique FlatwareTiffany & Co Makers Sterling Bread Basket/tray 16 Toz No Mono EstateTiffany & Company San Lorenzo Sterling Silver Flatware - 12 Pieces - 778 Grams!!Lot Gorham Chantilly Sterling Forks Serving Spoons Sugar 23 Pieces 803 Grams Tiffany & Co Elsa Peretti Diamonds By The Yard Platinum NecklaceTowle "old Master" Sterling Flatware Set...84 Pieces..lowest Reserve On Ebay"...27pc Sterling Silver Flatware Set Versailles GorhamHeirloom Damask Rose Sterling Silver Flatware Over 1874g+ Scrap/not No Reserve!!Towle 1937 Rambler Rose Sterling Silver 65 Pcs Dinner Flatware Set Plus Extras30 Pieces - Gorham Melrose Sterling Silver Flatware Set - No ReserveReed & Barton Francis 1 Sterling Silver Plate27 Pcs. Reed & Barton Classic Rose (1954) Sterling Silver Flatware SilverwareGeorg Jensen Sterling Silver Letter Opener And Crystal Paper Weight,collectorsAntique Gorham Sterling Flatware Set St. Dunstan Chased 1915 PatternStunning Reed Barton Francis I Sterling Silver Raised Candy/nut DishFrank Whiting Sterling Silver Glasses For Scrap Or Use, Over 35 OuncesReed & Barton Sterling Silver Flatware ~ Classic Rose Pattern ~ 18 Pcs(2) Wallace 'rose Point' Sterling 5 Pc. Place Settings458 Grams Estate Sterling Flatware.. Gorham, Wallace & Stieff.. Nice GroupingGeorg Jensen Sterling Silver Blossom Lg Tea/child's -spoon. Hallmark After 1945Nice Rare Set 5 Durgin Sterling Silver Cat Tails Patt. Demitasse/salt SpoonsLarge Antique American Gorham Sterling Silver Centerpiece Tazza Bowl 540 Gram Reed & Barton Sterling Flatware - Francis I - Two 5-pc. Place Settings61 Piece Oneida Sterling Silver Flatware Set Heiress Pattern B4368Rosemary Easterling Sterling Silver 8 Salad Forks 1944 Estate Item Gorham Aesthetic Mixed Metal Copper Sterling Bowl Cup Crab Stork RareDurgin Chrysanthemum, Solid Sterling 7.5" Dinner Forks, Matching Set Of 3, *nr*S. Kirk And Son Sterling Ice Cream Forks Lot Of 8 In Repousse - Beautiful!Georg Jensen #110 Salt Cellars Hammered Ss-set Of 4 W/ SpoonsSet Of 12 Tiffany & Co Sterling Silver Knives Silverplated Blades Chrysanthemum*set Of 4* Whiting 1902 Lily Pattern Forks *gorgeous*Antique International Silver Co. Sterling Plate Platter 354.3 Gr 11.390 Troy Oz 1835~sterling~silver~meat Platter Tray Charger~995 Grams 32 T Oz~2 Good 4 Scrap?Buccellati Sterling Silver Ladle And Serving PieceLot Of 6 Antique Vintage Gorham Sterling Silver Buttercup Dinner Forks 374 Grams12 American Chippendale Sterling 6" Salad/pastry Forks No ReserveSet Of 6 Durgin Sterling Dauphine Pastry ForksReed & Barton Francis I Sterling Silver Bowl DishSilver Sugar Spoon Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Blossom #171Set Of 12 Tiffany & Co All Sterling Silver Fish Knives ChrysanthemumTiffany & Co Sterling Silver Shot Glass Cordial Goblet Set/10Unique Vintage Cartier Sterling Silver Tongs20pc Georg Jensen Denmark Sterling Silver Full Service Flatware Set Continental