Durgin Chrysanthemum
Antique 1890s American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Tableware
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Tableware
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Tableware
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Tableware
Sterling Silver
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century Tableware
Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s American Late Victorian Platters and Serveware
Sterling Silver
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Antique 15th Century and Earlier Canadian Natural Specimens
Stone
Mid-20th Century American Adam Style Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century English Rococo Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Vitrines
Glass, Mahogany
Vintage 1960s English Dinner Plates
Gold
Antique Late 18th Century German Chinoiserie Ceramics
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century English Dinner Plates
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary English Chinoiserie Pier Mirrors and Conso...
Paint, Wood, Gesso
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Barware
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 16th Century Indian Jewelry Boxes
Silver
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Greek Classical Greek Busts
Stone, Marble, Metal
Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Chesterfield Sofas
Leather, Wood
Antique 15th Century and Earlier German Decorative Art
Other
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Floor Lamps
Crystal, Ormolu
Durgin Chrysanthemum For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Durgin Chrysanthemum?
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.