International Silver Orchid
Vintage 1930s Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Tableware
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1930s Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1930s Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1910s American Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1930s Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
People Also Browsed
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Paper, Oil, Graphite
Early 20th Century American Louis XV Musical Instruments
Fruitwood, Rosewood
Antique 19th Century American High Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Walnut, Burl
Antique Mid-19th Century Federal Side Tables
Mahogany
Antique Early 1900s German Baroque Sterling Silver
Silver
Antique 19th Century Russian Sterling Silver
Silver
20th Century Russian Neoclassical Vases
Malachite, Ormolu
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Pillows and Throws
Crystal
2010s Italian Pillows and Throws
Velvet
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Cabinets
Metal
20th Century French Hollywood Regency Ceramics
Ceramic, Paint
Antique Mid-18th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Paintings and Screens
Paint
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Lounge Chairs
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Planters and Jardinieres
Ceramic, Pottery
Vintage 1970s American Modern Lounge Chairs
Chrome
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 10, 2024Yes, the International Silver Company produced real silver products. The hallmark "IS," however, refers to the brand and does not indicate purity, as International Silver mass produced silverplated flatware and holloware as well as sterling. In order to determine if the piece is real silver, look for the standard marks that indicate purity — the number 92.5 or 925 and the word “sterling” are indicators of sterling quality.
When an object is described as “silver” or “sterling silver,” it means that it contains 92.5% pure silver (the remaining 7.5% consists of copper and/or other alloys). The purity standard was first established in England and later adopted in the United States. The mark on antique British sterling-silver pieces is the lion passant (a lion walking to the left), which signifies a work is 92.5 percent pure sterling; if it’s not there, it is likely silverplate — or not English.
International Silver was a Connecticut conglomerate formed from 17 companies in 1898. It was once the largest manufacturer of silver and silver-plated products in the world.
Find antique International Silver Company serveware, platters and decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.