Pitts Epergne
Antique Early 1800s English George III Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 18th Century English Neoclassical Vases
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 1770s British Centerpieces
Silver
Antique 1810s British Georgian Sterling Silver
Silver
Antique 1770s English Neoclassical Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
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Mid-20th Century Czech Vases
Crystal
Antique Mid-18th Century British George II Candlesticks
Silver, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century English Dinner Plates
Porcelain
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy
Other
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Inkwells
Marble, Bronze
Antique Mid-18th Century Baroque Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Giltwood
Antique Early 1900s French Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Bronze
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Teak, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George II Dry Bars
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Taxidermy
Animal Skin, Glass, Plaster, Feathers
Vintage 1960s German Rococo Tea Sets
Gold
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Jewelry Boxes
Fruitwood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century Unknown Rococo Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Vases
Art Glass
Recent Sales
Antique 1760s English Rococo Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English George III Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 1760s English Rococo Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 18th Century English Rococo Centerpieces
Silver
Antique 1810s English George III Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 1760s English Georgian Centerpieces
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Antique 1760s English George III Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Centerpieces
Sterling Silver
Finding the Right sterling-silver for You
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.
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