Stieff Silver Jewelry
Early 20th Century American Gilded Age Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s American Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1940s Silver Bowls
Silver
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Vintage 1920s English Art Deco Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
Antique 19th Century Russian Flatware and Serving Pieces
Gold, Silver, Enamel
Vintage 1920s Dangle Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Baroque More Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1950s American Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s American Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Russian Art Nouveau Figurines and Sculptures
Agate, Ruby, Silver
20th Century Persian Boxes and Cases
Silver
Vintage 1950s American Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Russian Modernist Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Cluster Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Purple Sapphire, White ...
Mid-20th Century Persian Pitchers and Decanters
Silver
Mid-20th Century Russian Modernist Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Silver, Enamel
20th Century Russian Flatware and Serving Pieces
Silver
Mid-20th Century Persian Platters and Trays
Silver
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Antique Late 19th Century Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Vanity Items
Sterling Silver
Finding the Right silver-flatware-silverplate for You
While early utensils were often shaped from clay, wood or bone, silversmiths later crafted flatware from precious metal. In the 19th century, mass production of electroplated flatware made silver utensils accessible to the middle class. Now, antique and vintage silver, flatware and silver-plate objects for dining and the home are heritage pieces reflecting this history of design.
Silver spoons were so prized in 15th-century England that people would travel with the valuable utensils. Forks in the 17th century were frequently made with steel and likewise only available to the upper class. Silver flatware continued to be produced in small workshops in the 18th century and was a luxury reserved for the elite. When George I came to the throne in 1714, the silver dining service — including plates, dishes, soup tureens, chargers and sauceboats — became all-important.
Innovative manufacturing techniques such as the electroplating process in the 19th century would transform silversmithing with industrialization. Sheffield plate was used from 1750 to 1880 and involved a fusion method to fabricate everything from knife handles to serveware. French industrial chemist Henri de Ruolz discovered a gilding and silver-plating process for metals in 1841, with the silver-like results so celebrated that Napoleon III ordered a 3,000-piece flatware set. The expansion of table service in the Victorian era also led to an increasing number of flatware and serving pieces in a canteen, or cutlery chest, all with specific uses, from toast forks to butter picks.
While affordable metal flatware is widely available today, historic brands including Gorham Manufacturing Company — whose legendary contribution to the history of silver making started in 1831 — and Christofle continue the tradition of silver and silver-plate flatware.
Browse 1stDibs for both antique and contemporary silver, flatware and silver-plate objects in a range of elegant designs to enhance your dining table.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024To tell if jewelry is silver, first look for hallmarks. Genuine silver jewelry will usually feature stamps that say STER, 925, 800 or 999. Another option is to take your jewelry to an expert jeweler or certified appraiser who can examine the piece and run tests to determine if it is real silver. On 1stDibs, explore a large collection of sterling silver jewelry.
- Is Napier jewelry real silver?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 16, 2024Whether Napier jewelry is real silver depends on the piece. The American jewelry maker is best known for producing costume jewelry and using plating to give base metals the look of precious metals like sterling silver and gold. However, Napier did make an assortment of genuine sterling silver jewelry. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Napier jewelry.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To keep silver from tarnishing, you can put activated charcoal or silica gel packets inside of your jewelry box. Both of these items help to absorb moisture to minimize the risk of tarnishing. Find a wide variety of silver jewelry on 1stDibs.