Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century European Louis XVI Antique Sterling Silver
Vermeil
1990s English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1820s English Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1860s Russian Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1820s English Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s English Vintage Sterling Silver
Britannia Standard Silver
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Unknown International Style Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century Italian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-19th Century French Charles X Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Israeli Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s French Napoleon III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s Danish Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century English Art Nouveau Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver
Silver
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American International Style Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s British Other Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Chinese Other Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1930s English Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1990s Chinese Sterling Silver
Silver
1840s English Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Chinese Other Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s English Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1930s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 19th Century Irish Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1860s French Greco Roman Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 1900s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1810s English Regency Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1760s British George III Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
19th Century Indian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
18th Century Dutch Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Vintage, New and Antique Sterling Silver
Dining and entertaining changed drastically when we began to set our tables with sterling silver for holiday gatherings, wedding receptions, engagement parties and, in some of today’s homes, everyday meals.
Often called the “Queen of metals,” silver has been universally adored for thousands of years. It is easy to see why it has always been sought after: It is durable, strong and beautiful. (Louis XIV had tables made entirely of silver.) Sterling silver is an alloy that is made of 92.5 percent silver — the “925” stamp that identifies sterling-silver jewelry refers to this number. The other 7.5 percent in sterling silver is typically sourced from copper.
Neoclassical-style sterling-silver goods in Europe gained popularity in the late 18th century — a taste for sterling-silver tableware as well as tea sets had taken shape — while in the United States, beginning in the 19th century, preparing the dinner table with sterling-silver flatware had become somewhat of a standard practice. Indeed, owning lots of silver goods during the Victorian era was a big deal. Back then, displaying fine silver at home was a status symbol for middle-class American families. And this domestic silver craze meant great profitability for legendary silversmith manufacturers such as Reed & Barton, Gorham Manufacturing Company and the International Silver Company, which was incorporated in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1898, a major hub of silver manufacturing nicknamed “Silver City.”
Today, special occasions might call for ceremonial silver designed by Tiffany & Co. or the seductive sterling-silver cutlery from remarkable Danish silversmith Georg Jensen, but there really doesn’t have to be an event on the calendar to trot out your finest tableware.
Event- and wedding-planning company maestro Tara Guérard says that some “investment pieces,” such as this widely enamored alloy, should see everyday use, and we’re inclined to agree.
“Sterling-silver flatware is a must-have that you can use every single day, even to eat cereal,” she says. “Personally, I want a sterling-silver goblet set for 12 to 20; I would use them every time I had a dinner party. Ultimately, there are no criteria for buying vintage pieces: Buy what you love, and make it work.”
Whether you’re thinking “ceremonial” or “cereal,” browse a versatile collection of vintage, new and antique sterling-silver wares on 1stDibs today.