Sterling Silver
1980s English Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
15th Century and Earlier Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s British Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1990s British Sterling Silver
Silver
18th Century English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1780s English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1770s English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s British Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century European Rustic Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Portuguese Art Deco Sterling Silver
Silver
1780s British Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1780s English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1760s English Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Finnish Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Onyx, Silver
1780s Swedish Gustavian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1790s English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1770s English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1790s English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1770s British Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1980s European Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1980s Dutch Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Silver
1970s Finnish Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s Danish Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver Plate
1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s Danish Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1790s English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Enamel, Sterling Silver
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
18th Century Scottish George II Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 18th Century English Queen Anne Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
18th Century English George I Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Britannia Standard Silver
Late 18th Century English Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 18th Century English Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Mexican Country Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
18th Century English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
18th Century English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s English Other Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s British Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
EPNS, Sterling Silver, Silver Plate, Silver
Mid-18th Century English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1990s British Sterling Silver
Silver
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Silver
Late 20th Century French Louis XV Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
18th Century English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1790s Antique Sterling Silver
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.