Sterling Silver Caviar Dish
Vintage 1920s German Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1910s French Art Nouveau Glass
Art Glass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Game Tables
Resin, Wood
20th Century American Organic Modern Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Silver
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century French Belle Époque Centerpieces
Crystal, Bronze
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Glass
Glass
Antique Early 1900s Czech Art Nouveau Glass
Art Glass
Antique Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Silver
Antique Early 19th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Pitchers
Crystal, Sterling Silver
20th Century German Wine Coolers
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Tableware
Sterling Silver
Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Edwardian Barware
Crystal
Antique 1890s Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Recent Sales
20th Century Austrian Baroque Revival Sterling Silver
Silver
1990s English Sterling Silver
Silver
Vintage 1930s English Decorative Bowls
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Organic Modern More Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s Italian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s Danish Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Serving Bowls
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Rococo Revival Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century European Sheffield and Silverplate
Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique 1870s English Victorian Centerpieces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Early 1900s English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique Early 19th Century English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 1830s English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century European Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century European Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century European Sterling Silver
Gold, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s French Hollywood Regency Sterling Silver
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Thai Serving Bowls
Sterling Silver
20th Century Swiss Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Danish Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Silver
20th Century Italian Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s Irish Tableware
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1930s Danish Serving Pieces
20th Century Danish Serving Bowls
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1920s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Crystal, Sterling 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.