Sterling Silver
1890s Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1870s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Israeli Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Other Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century English Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Other Sterling Silver
Crystal, Silver
19th Century Scandinavian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1870s British Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
19th Century American Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1840s Irish Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Other Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Belle Époque Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Other Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century Dutch Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s Spanish High Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s Italian Baroque Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century Indian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century German Greek Revival Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century European Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1980s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Austrian Late Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1990s American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Other Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s English Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Other Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1890s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century European Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century German Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1870s American Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s North American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century American Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Victorian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage 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.