Sterling Silver
1890s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1880s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1830s British William IV Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1880s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s British Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century French Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century English Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century French Antique Sterling Silver
Vermeil, Silver
Late 19th Century American American Classical Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American American Classical Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1830s Scottish Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1800s Danish Empire Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century English Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1850s American American Classical Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1880s British Late Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century German Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Silver
1980s Italian Other Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1980s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1970s American Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Napoleon III Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold
1830s British William IV Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century American High Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Baroque Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1840s Spanish Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century British Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 1800s English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1970s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1870s British Late Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1820s British Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1820s British Regency Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century French Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s British Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1870s English Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1860s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1850s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1870s English Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Approx: 310 grams
Mid-19th Century American American Classical Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century German Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1840s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver Plate, Sterling Silver
1890s British Late Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century Belgian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1860s English Baroque Revival Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1970s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Other Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1800s English George III 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.