Sterling Silver
1880s Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Late Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
20th Century American Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s Art Nouveau Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1910s English Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-19th Century American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1830s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century British Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1940s English Victorian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Victorian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Victorian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1870s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century English Art Nouveau Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century British Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Danish Jugendstil Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-19th Century European Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century English Art Nouveau Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1870s American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Dutch Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Silver
1910s European Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 19th Century German Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1860s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century Dutch High Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Agate, Sterling Silver
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-19th Century Scottish Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 1800s English Early Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Metal, Silver Plate, Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Sterling Silver
Lapis Lazuli, Silver
Early 20th Century Israeli Jugendstil Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
19th Century Art Nouveau Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Jugendstil Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century British Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1860s British Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1850s English Victorian Antique 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.