Pewter Flatware
20th Century Barware
Late 20th Century Finnish Modern Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Early 20th Century British Arts and Crafts Coffee and Tea Sets
Antique Late 19th Century English Art Nouveau More Silver, Flatware and ...
Enamel
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Bracelets
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Wedding Rings
Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century French Modern Chain Necklaces
Coral, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1950s Choker Necklaces
Sapphire, White Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Boxes and Cases
18k Gold
Vintage 1930s French Aesthetic Movement Vanity Items
Ruby, Sapphire, Silver, 18k Gold
20th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Danish Art Nouveau Boxes and Cases
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Platters and Trays
Sterling Silver
1990s Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Romantic Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century Figurines and Sculptures
21st Century and Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s English Artisan More Silver, Flatware and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Antique Late 19th Century English Art Nouveau More Silver, Flatware and ...
Antique Late 19th Century German Art Nouveau Centerpieces and Tazzas
English Candleholders and Candelabra
Antique Late 19th Century British Art Nouveau Coffee and Tea Sets
Vintage 1960s American Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1930s Dutch Art Deco Coffee and Tea Sets
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.