Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Danish Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century French Charles X Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Canadian International Style Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 1900s American Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Crystal, Sterling Silver
1880s English Late Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1810s English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1750s Danish Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Sterling Silver
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s European Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s British Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century British Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1870s English Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
2010s American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
18th Century Dutch Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1820s British Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
18th Century English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Italian Islamic Sterling Silver
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1890s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s British Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Medieval Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1870s American Late Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American American Classical Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century French Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1950s French Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Gold Plate
Early 20th Century English Chinoiserie Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 1900s Swedish Empire Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1890s Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Russian Sterling Silver
1890s English Late Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Early 1900s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Modern Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1780s English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s Russian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Enamel
1930s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1990s Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Iraqi Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1920s British Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Spanish Rococo Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century English 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.