Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Baroque Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-20th Century American William and Mary Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Other Sterling Silver
Crystal, Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Other Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s English Adam Style Vintage Sterling Silver
Multi-gemstone, Sterling Silver
1950s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Late 19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Crystal, Sterling Silver
1960s Italian Baroque Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1880s American Antique Sterling Silver
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Baroque Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
18th Century English George II Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1820s Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1910s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century Danish Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s English Neoclassical Revival Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
15th Century and Earlier Greek Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 1900s Dutch Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Canadian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s English Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Neoclassical Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Peruvian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Russian Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century European Victorian Sterling Silver
Metal, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Swedish Art Deco Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1910s English Edwardian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century American Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 1800s Scottish George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
2010s American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s Lithuanian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1910s British Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Baroque Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
18th Century French Louis XIV Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1960s Italian Renaissance Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Silver
17th Century German Baroque Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1950s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Steel
20th Century Italian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1870s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1870s American Aesthetic Movement Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1850s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1910s English Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Art Deco Sterling Silver
Silver
1920s Great Britain (UK) Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Other Sterling Silver
Silver
20th Century Peruvian Rococo Sterling Silver
Silver
1940s Japanese Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Crystal, Silver, Silver Plate, Sterling Silver, Silver Leaf
1780s English George III 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.