Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Sterling Silver
Crystal, Sterling Silver
1870s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Sterling Silver
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Late Victorian Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century Spanish Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s Russian Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1960s Israeli Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s Italian Napoleon III Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s Dutch Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1940s American American Classical Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Danish Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century English Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Italian Modern Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century British Other Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1880s Austrian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1990s Italian Baroque Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Danish Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Sterling Silver
Crystal, Silver
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Italian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold, Gold Plate
1970s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Italian Sterling Silver
Silver
1910s British Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Japanese Chinese Export Sterling Silver
Silver
1660s Swedish Antique Sterling Silver
Rock Crystal, Silver
1910s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Danish Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Japanese Anglo-Japanese Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1960s British Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century English George IV Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century German Sterling Silver
Enamel, Silver
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1890s French Belle Époque Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1930s English Edwardian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s German Rococo Revival Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Gold
18th Century English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Agate, Sterling Silver
20th Century Danish Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1860s French French Provincial Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1930s Danish Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1850s Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s Arts and Crafts Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Russian Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century French Sterling Silver
Silver
1890s English British Colonial Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century European Sterling Silver
Silver
1940s English Arts and Crafts Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s Danish Rococo Revival Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, 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.