Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1860s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s Chinese Chinese Export Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1890s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Revival Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century British Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1920s British Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s English Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Amethyst, Stone, Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century British Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Islamic Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
19th Century Irish Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Federal Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1960s Javanese Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 1900s American Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1820s English George IV Antique Sterling Silver
Crystal, Brass, Silver
1980s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s British Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s American Art Nouveau Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1850s American American Empire Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Baroque Sterling Silver
Marble, Sterling Silver
1910s Portuguese Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1910s American Edwardian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1940s Danish Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Georgian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s British Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Baroque Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1850s Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Other Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s Italian Islamic Vintage Sterling Silver
Amethyst, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1990s British Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s English Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century German Empire Revival Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Art Deco Sterling Silver
Silver, Silver Plate
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-18th Century English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1940s Danish Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
2010s Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Vintage, New and Antique Sterling Silver
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.