Sterling Silver
19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver Plate, Sterling Silver
1890s German Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century American American Classical Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1960s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s British Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s English Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s Israeli Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1800s English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s American Antique Sterling Silver
Crystal, Sterling Silver
1870s Chinese Chinese Export Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1930s Arts and Crafts Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s English Edwardian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Dutch Sterling Silver
Crystal, Silver
18th Century English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s Danish Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 1900s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s English Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1770s English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1770s English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Victorian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1750s British George II Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1880s German Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Baroque Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s Italian Queen Anne Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold, Gold Plate
1910s English Edwardian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1940s Norwegian Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Late 19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-18th Century British Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Art Nouveau Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1940s Edwardian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Baroque Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s British Late Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century English Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s Italian Vintage 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.