Flatware Desert
Vintage 1920s English Art Deco Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
Antique 1850s English Victorian Flatware and Serving Pieces
Silver Plate
People Also Browsed
20th Century Unknown Coats and Outerwear
Vintage 1910s Unknown Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Rose Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1910s British Edwardian Silver Bowls
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1960s American More Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Platinum
Vintage 1940s American Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1920s British Art Deco Boxes and Cases
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s American More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
Antique 1750s British Platters and Trays
Sterling Silver
1970s French Skirts
Vintage 1950s American Etruscan Revival Dangle Earrings
Gold Plate, Brass, Gilt Metal
Vintage 1950s American Drop Earrings
Gold Plate, Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century American Boxes and Cases
Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s American Brooches
20th Century Danish Art Deco Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
Recent Sales
Vintage 1910s British George V Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Silver
Vintage 1920s Spanish Art Deco Flatware and Serving Pieces
Silver
Early 20th Century British George III Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Gilt Metal
20th Century American Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Sterling Silver
Finding the Right Silver, Flatware and 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.