Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s English Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century English High Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1870s Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century French Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century British High Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-20th Century French Napoleon III Sterling Silver
Porcelain
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1940s Edwardian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century European Sterling Silver
Stainless Steel
20th Century British Georgian Sterling Silver
Copper
Early 20th Century English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century French Art Deco Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s English Edwardian Vintage Sterling Silver
Crystal, Onyx, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century German Napoleon III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1850s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s British Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century European Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century American Georgian Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century French Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1830s English Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1870s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s Arts and Crafts Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Unknown International Style Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1880s American Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s British Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1940s Israeli Aesthetic Movement Vintage Sterling Silver
Agate, Silver
1950s English Neoclassical Revival Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century English High Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English George IV Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1940s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American International Style 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.