Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1950s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Sterling Silver
Silver
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold Plate
1950s Unknown Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1860s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1960s Northern Irish Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1960s French Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century English George IV Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Italian Baroque Sterling Silver
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Steel
1910s English Edwardian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Russian Baltic Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian Renaissance Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-20th Century American Regency Revival Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Baroque Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Japanese Anglo-Japanese Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1820s Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-19th Century French Art Deco Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s American Art Nouveau Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1850s English Baroque Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1950s German Rococo Revival Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver, Pewter
20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1940s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s British Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1940s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1940s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver Plate
19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1870s Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1930s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Empire Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1780s British George III Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1850s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
2010s American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s Great Britain (UK) Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Swiss Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1930s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-18th Century French Louis XIV Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1920s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1790s English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Antique Sterling Silver
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.