Latern Japanese
Vintage 1940s Japanese Flatware and Serving Pieces
Silver, Sterling Silver
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20th Century Artisan Link Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Rose Gold
2010s Italian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Pendant Necklaces
White Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s French Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 2000s Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s British More Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s French Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
Early 2000s Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Flatware and Serving Pieces
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century French Choker Necklaces
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Quartz, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold
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.