Irish Silver Salver
Antique 19th Century Irish Georgian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Recent Sales
Antique 1750s Irish George II Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 18th Century Irish Georgian Platters and Serveware
Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Irish Rococo Revival Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1920s English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 1770s Irish More Dining and Entertaining
People Also Browsed
Antique 18th Century Irish Georgian Candlesticks
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Irish Crystal Serveware
Crystal
Antique Early 1800s French Gothic Revival Religious Items
Wood
Early 20th Century European Gothic Revival Fireplaces and Mantels
Wood, Oak
Antique Early 19th Century Irish Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Religious Items
Late 20th Century Irish Crystal Serveware
Crystal
Late 20th Century Irish Mid-Century Modern Crystal Serveware
Crystal
Antique 19th Century German Gothic Revival Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Brass, Iron
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Windows
Glass, Stained Glass, Wood, Pine
Antique 1750s Irish Georgian Books
Gold Leaf
Antique 19th Century Russian Religious Items
Silver, Enamel
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Dining Room Chairs
Other
Antique 19th Century English Gothic Revival Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Steel
Antique Late 17th Century French Religious Items
Iron
Antique 18th Century Irish Georgian Card Tables and Tea Tables
Mahogany
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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