Solid Gold Salt Cellar
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 1870s German Neoclassical Sterling Silver
Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s Italian Renaissance Sterling Silver
Silver
People Also Browsed
20th Century American Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Enamel
Antique Early 1900s European Gothic Revival Religious Items
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Gothic Revival Wall Brackets
Wood, Oak
Early 20th Century French Gothic Revival Religious Items
Brass
Early 20th Century European Gothic Revival Blanket Chests
Wrought Iron
Antique 19th Century English Baroque Animal Sculptures
Marble
Early 20th Century Unknown Gothic Revival Religious Items
Clay
Antique Mid-18th Century Baroque Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Giltwood
Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Gothic Revival Religious Items
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century European Gothic Revival Religious Items
Brass, Bronze, Gold Leaf
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Crystal, Ormolu
Vintage 1930s American Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
Maple
20th Century French Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Enamel, Gold
Antique 19th Century French Regency Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Bronze
Antique 19th Century English Regency Sheffield and Silverplate
Sheffield Plate
Antique Mid-19th Century Scottish Victorian Serving Bowls
Ceramic
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary European Sterling Silver
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary European Sterling Silver
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Sterling Silver
Silver
Antique 19th Century Rococo Revival Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s Belgian Napoleon III Sterling Silver
Crystal, Silver
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.
Read More
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.
28 Cheerful Home Bars, Where Everybody (Literally) Knows Your Name
Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.
Meet the Celebrated Hostess Whose Magical Tabletops Enhance Every Occasion
For Stephanie Booth Shafran, entertaining guests is about opening her heart as well as her home.
How to Identify Real Capodimonte Porcelain
Early examples by the Italian manufacturer can be hard to come by, but the best later pieces possess the same over-the-top charm.
How Noguchi Elevated Ashtrays to Objets d’Art
Smoking might have fallen out of fashion, but these ashtrays have enduring design appeal.