Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more in our collection of Italian sterling silver cutlery on 1stDibs. A piece of Italian sterling silver cutlery — often made from
metal,
silver and
sterling silver — can elevate any home. There are 28 variations of the antique or vintage item from our selection of Italian sterling silver cutlery you’re looking for, while we also have 1 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. There are many kinds of the choice in our collection of Italian sterling silver cutlery you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. Each object in our assortment of Italian sterling silver cutlery bearing
mid-century modern or
modern hallmarks is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made option in this array of Italian sterling silver cutlery over the years, but those crafted by
Michael C. Fina,
Fortunoff and
Zaramella Argenti are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
Prices for a piece of Italian sterling silver cutlery can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $3,250 and can go as high as $32,500, while the average can fetch as much as $7,157.
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.