Old Masters Gorham
Antique Late 19th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
People Also Browsed
Antique 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Vitrines
Glass, Mahogany
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Wood, Birch
Antique Early 1800s English Georgian Beds and Bed Frames
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Grandfather Clocks and Longca...
Malachite, Ormolu
Antique 1860s French Renaissance Bookcases
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Ormolu
Early 20th Century English Chinoiserie Sterling Silver
Silver
20th Century American Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Sculptures
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Fireplaces and Mantels
Marble, Breccia Marble, Carrara Marble
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Musical Instruments
Wood, Giltwood
Antique Early 1900s French Chinoiserie Armchairs
Velvet, Giltwood, Lacquer
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Table Lamps
Bronze, Lead
Early 20th Century English Charles II Settees
Tapestry, Velvet
Antique 1810s English George III Wine Coolers
Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century Impressionist Nude Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Old Masters Gorham For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is an Old Masters Gorham?
Finding the Right Tableware for You
While it isn’t always top of mind for some, antique and vintage tableware can enhance even the most informal meal. It has been an intimate part of how we’ve interacted with our food for millennia.
Tableware has played a basic but important role in everyday life. Ancient Egyptians used spoons (which are classified as flatware) made of ivory and wood, while Greeks and Romans, who gathered for banquets involving big meals and entertainment, ate with forks and knives. At the beginning of the 17th century, however, forks were still uncommon in American homes. Over time, tableware has thankfully evolved and today includes increasingly valuable implements.
Tableware refers to the tools people use to set the table, including serving pieces, dinner plates and more. It encompasses everything from the intricate and elaborate to the austere and functional, yet are all what industrial product designer Jasper Morrison might call “Super Normal” — anonymous objects that are too useful to be considered banal.
There are four general categories of tableware — serveware, dinnerware, drinkware and, lastly, flatware, which is commonly referred to as silverware or cutlery. Serveware includes serving bowls, platters, gravy boats, casserole pans and ladles. Most tableware is practical, but it can also be decorative. And decorative objects count as tableware too. Even though they don’t fit squarely into one of the four categories, vases, statues and floral arrangements are traditional centerpieces.
Drinkware appropriately refers to the vessels we use for our beverages — mugs, cups and glasses. There is a good deal of variety that falls under this broad term. For example, your cheerful home bar or mid-century modern bar cart might be outfitted with a full range of vintage barware, which might include pilsner glasses and tumblers. Specialty cocktails are often served in these custom glasses, but they’re still a type of drinkware.
Every meal should be special — even if you’re using earthenware or stoneware for a casual lunch — but perhaps you’re hosting a dinner party to mark a specific event. The right high-quality tableware can bring a touch of luxury to your cuisine. Young couples, for example, traditionally add “fine china,” or porcelain, to their wedding registry as a commemoration of their union and likely wouldn’t turn down exquisite silver made by Tiffany & Co. or Georg Jensen.
It’s important to remember, however, that when you’re setting the dining room table to have fun with it. Just as you might mix and match your dining chairs, don’t be afraid to mix new and old or high and low with your tableware. On 1stDibs, find an extraordinary range of vintage and antique tableware to help elevate your meal as well as the mood and atmosphere of your entire dining room.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A number of artists who were important in the history and development of Western art are considered Old Masters. They include Albrecht Dürer, Caravaggio, Jacques-Louis David, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Rembrandt. Find a large selection of fine art on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023A painting produced by a skilled, noteworthy European artist that was produced before the 19th century may be considered an Old Master painting. The informal term was derived from the title of an artist who trained in a guild long enough to become a master, such as Leonardo da Vinci, who studied in a Florence painters’ guild. However, Old Masters paintings, prints and other art is now used to refer to work made by any artist with a high level of skill in painting, drawing, sculpture or printmaking who worked in Europe between 1300 and 1800. Some artists considered Old Masters include William Blake, Caravaggio, Jacques-Louis David, Frans Hals, Francisco Goya, Peter Paul Rubens, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Titian and Jan Vermeer. On 1stDibs, find a variety of paintings from some of the world’s top galleries.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 17, 2023Who the greatest Old Masters in art history are is largely a matter of debate. Encompassing centuries of change in Europe between 1300 and 1800, from booms of prosperity to bloody revolutions, Old Masters describes a wide range of artists. The informal term was derived from the title of an artist who trained in a guild long enough to become a master, such as Leonardo da Vinci, who studied in a Florence painters’ guild. However, Old Masters paintings, prints and other art is now used to refer to work made by any artist with a high level of skill in painting, drawing, sculpture or printmaking who worked during this era. Shop a large selection of art from some of the world's top galleries on 1stDibs.
Read More
20 Inviting Dining Rooms Perfectly Arranged for Entertaining
Top interior designers show — and tell — us how to create delectable spaces for hosting dinner parties.
Paul Revere Crafted This Silver Coffee Pot 250 Years Ago
Perhaps best known as a Revolutionary War hero, Revere was also an accomplished silversmith, and this pot is now available on 1stDibs.
From Arne Jacobsen to Zaha Hadid, Top Designers Tackle Tableware
Clever objects like these make feasting even more festive.
How the Chunky, Funky Ceramics of 5 Mid-Century American Artists Balanced Out Slick Modernism
Get to know the innovators behind the pottery countercultural revolution.
Ready for a Cinderella Moment? This Glass Handbag Is a Perfect Fit
Glass slippers might be the stuff of fairytales, but glass handbags? Artist Joshua Raiffe has made them a reality, and they're far less delicate than you might imagine, but just as dreamy.
With Dansk, Jens Quistgaard Delivered Danish Simplicity to American Tables
When a visionary Copenhagen designer teamed up with an enterprising Long Island couple, Scandi-style magic landed in kitchens and dining rooms across the United States.
Hostess Extraordinaire Aerin Lauder Shares Entertaining Tips and Auction Picks
The arbiter of good taste, who has curated a collection for 1stDibs Auctions, invites 1stDibs inside her family’s Hamptons barn for a firsthand look at her welcoming style.
Handmade with Lab-Grade Glass, This Decanter Holds Your Favorite Cocktail Concoctions
Artist Simone Crestani conjures the fascination you remember from Chemistry 101.