Sterling Silver
1880s Louis XV Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s American Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
18th Century Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s English Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 20th Century French Louis XV Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century English Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s American Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Rococo Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Rococo Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Rococo Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Rococo Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s European Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
17th Century French Louis XV Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Vermeil
1890s French Louis XV Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Canadian Louis XV Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 18th Century Portuguese Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Silver
1770s English Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1940s American Rococo Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Silver
Late 19th Century North American Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Rococo Sterling Silver
Silver Plate
1940s Louis XV Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Canadian Rococo Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Danish Louis XV Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Peruvian Rococo Sterling Silver
Silver
1950s Rococo Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
18th Century English Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
1890s French Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century German Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century Austrian Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Rococo Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Rococo Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Rococo Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1950s Rococo Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Rococo Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1930s Danish Rococo Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s English Rococo Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1740s English Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1760s English Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 18th Century Dutch Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1760s Italian Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Rococo Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
19th Century Louis XV Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1760s English Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century British Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 19th Century Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1740s English Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1840s English Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century English Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Italian Rococo Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1750s Austrian Rococo 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.