Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1990s Italian Sterling Silver
Crystal, Silver
1970s English Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1990s French Renaissance Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
2010s English Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Sterling Silver
Silver
1990s Italian Sterling Silver
Crystal, Silver
1990s English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1980s Italian Napoleon III Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1970s Italian Baroque Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary English Sterling Silver
Copper, Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
2010s Portuguese Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Malachite, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1990s Italian Other Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Japonisme Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century French Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Baroque Sterling Silver
Marble, Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1970s Italian Islamic Vintage Sterling Silver
Amethyst, Sterling Silver, Enamel
2010s Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian George IV Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
2010s American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
2010s Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century French Sterling Silver
Silver
1980s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Baroque Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s English Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Other Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1970s French Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Metal
2010s Italian Medieval Sterling Silver
Marble, Sterling Silver
1970s British Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Sterling Silver
1990s British Sterling Silver
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Israeli Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Louis XVI Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
2010s Italian Victorian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Other Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Baroque Sterling Silver
Silver
1990s Other Sterling Silver
Silver
1980s American 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.