Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1990s British Sterling Silver
Silver
1920s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
18th Century English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century American Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Metal, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Danish Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1770s English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1780s English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1810s British Regency Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1920s English Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century European Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1870s American Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver
Gold, Sterling Silver
20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s British Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver
Gold, Sterling Silver
1980s British Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century American Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian Sterling Silver
Silver
1930s French Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Gothic Revival Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s British Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century European Rustic Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Portuguese Art Deco Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s European Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1780s English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s German Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Glass
1870s American Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1760s English Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Belle Époque Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1800s English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1780s British Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s Finnish Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Onyx, Silver
1940s Japanese Hollywood Regency Vintage Sterling Silver
Crystal, Silver Leaf, Sterling Silver, Silver Plate, Silver
1850s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1770s English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s English Adam Style Vintage Sterling Silver
Multi-gemstone, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian 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.