Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Portuguese Sterling Silver
Silver
17th Century English Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English George IV Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Other Sterling Silver
Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Sterling Silver
Silver
1980s Italian Renaissance Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s British Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1940s American American Colonial Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Vermeil
Mid-20th Century American American Colonial Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s British Arts and Crafts Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s French Belle Époque Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century German Jugendstil Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 1900s European Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver Plate
1930s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Adirondack Sterling Silver
Silver
1960s French Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s Danish Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1990s Italian Victorian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1840s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Enamel
1790s Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Brass
Early 1900s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century North American Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sterling Silver
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
18th Century British George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1730s British George II Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American William and Mary Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1760s English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Danish Art Deco Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
19th Century American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Late Victorian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s Indian Late Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1940s American American Classical Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-18th Century German Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Neoclassical Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1950s French Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Gold Plate
1950s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1830s Antique Sterling Silver
Malachite, Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
2010s Italian 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.