Antique Parsee
Early 20th Century Persian Vases
Silver
People Also Browsed
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Vanity Items
White Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Vermeil, Silver, Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Cufflinks
Sterling Silver
Antique 1730s English George II Barware
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Sterling Silver, Gold Plate, Gilt Metal
Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique Early 1900s American Edwardian Vanity Items
Quartz, Rock Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century Persian Artisan Barware
21st Century and Contemporary Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Silver
Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Vases
Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century Vases
21st Century and Contemporary American Boxes and Cases
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century French Vases
Bronze
Mid-20th Century British Colonial Vases
Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Vanity Items
Bronze, Enamel
20th Century Swiss Artisan Wrist Watches
Stainless Steel
20th Century Boxes and Cases
Gold
Finding the Right silver-flatware-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.