Flatware Baby
21st Century and Contemporary Candleholders and Candelabra
Brass
20th Century More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
20th Century Silver Bowls
Sterling Silver
2010s American Artisan Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Silver Bowls
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Sterling Silver, Enamel
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Contemporary Coffee and Tea Sets
Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Contemporary Coffee and Tea Sets
Gold Plate, Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver, Enamel
People Also Browsed
1990s Cuff Bracelets
20th Century American More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s Unknown Brooches
Vintage 1970s French Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1970s American Modern Brooches
Vintage 1940s Mexican Modernist Brooches
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s American Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate
Late 19th Century Curiosities
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
Crystal
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold, Platinum, Enamel
1960s French Scarves
20th Century Coffee and Tea Sets
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s Italian Brooches
Crystal, Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Wrist Watches
Steel
20th Century French Artisan Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Baroque Brooches
24k Gold, Gold Plate
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Candleholders and Candelabra
Moonstone, Turquoise, Stainless Steel
Vintage 1940s American Coffee and Tea Sets
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Candleholders and Can...
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s American Late Victorian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Candleholders and Candelabra
Brass
Vintage 1910s American More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
Sterling Silver
20th Century More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century British More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
Sterling Silver
20th Century More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian More Silver, Flatware and S...
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Coffee and Tea Sets
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Edwardian More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
Sterling Silver
20th Century More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
Sterling Silver
20th Century German Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Pitchers and Decanters
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Other Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Collectibles and Curiosities
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Tableware
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Tableware
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Tableware
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Sterling Silver
20th Century American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s French More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s American More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
Sterling Silver
1990s American More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1910s American More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
Sterling Silver
20th Century Silver Bowls
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Edwardian Silver Bowls
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Contemporary Coffee and Tea Sets
Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Contemporary Coffee and Tea Sets
Gold Plate, Silver
Vintage 1910s American More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century German Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Flatware Baby For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Flatware Baby?
Finding the Right silver-flatware-silverplate for You
While early utensils were often shaped from clay, wood or bone, silversmiths later crafted flatware from precious metal. In the 19th century, mass production of electroplated flatware made silver utensils accessible to the middle class. Now, antique and vintage silver, flatware and silver-plate objects for dining and the home are heritage pieces reflecting this history of design.
Silver spoons were so prized in 15th-century England that people would travel with the valuable utensils. Forks in the 17th century were frequently made with steel and likewise only available to the upper class. Silver flatware continued to be produced in small workshops in the 18th century and was a luxury reserved for the elite. When George I came to the throne in 1714, the silver dining service — including plates, dishes, soup tureens, chargers and sauceboats — became all-important.
Innovative manufacturing techniques such as the electroplating process in the 19th century would transform silversmithing with industrialization. Sheffield plate was used from 1750 to 1880 and involved a fusion method to fabricate everything from knife handles to serveware. French industrial chemist Henri de Ruolz discovered a gilding and silver-plating process for metals in 1841, with the silver-like results so celebrated that Napoleon III ordered a 3,000-piece flatware set. The expansion of table service in the Victorian era also led to an increasing number of flatware and serving pieces in a canteen, or cutlery chest, all with specific uses, from toast forks to butter picks.
While affordable metal flatware is widely available today, historic brands including Gorham Manufacturing Company — whose legendary contribution to the history of silver making started in 1831 — and Christofle continue the tradition of silver and silver-plate flatware.
Browse 1stDibs for both antique and contemporary silver, flatware and silver-plate objects in a range of elegant designs to enhance your dining table.