Sterling Silver
1960s Italian Napoleon III Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold
1920s English Egyptian Revival Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Gold
19th Century French Antique Sterling Silver
Vermeil, Silver
1980s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1970s Italian Louis XVI Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1960s Italian Empire Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1960s Italian Empire Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1960s Italian Empire Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1990s Italian Baroque Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Gold Plate, Enamel
1820s English Antique Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Silver
1980s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1960s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1970s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1970s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1970s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1970s Italian George IV Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1960s Italian Baroque Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1970s Italian Louis XVI Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1980s Italian Louis XVI Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
1960s Italian Empire Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1980s Italian Napoleon III Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1980s Italian Baroque Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1960s Italian Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sterling Silver
Vermeil
1970s Italian Napoleon III Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Napoleon III Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
1930s European Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Sterling Silver
Gold, Silver
1970s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 2000s Italian Islamic Sterling Silver
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
20th Century French Louis XIV Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
1960s Italian Napoleon III Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century American Sterling Silver
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary French Sterling Silver
Bronze
20th Century English Sterling Silver
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver
Bronze
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Jade, Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver
Bronze
2010s French Modern Sterling Silver
Bronze
2010s French Sterling Silver
Bronze
Late 19th Century American Antique Sterling Silver
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Arts and Crafts Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Italian Sterling Silver
Gold, Sterling Silver
19th Century German Antique Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Silver, Enamel
1820s French Restauration Antique Sterling Silver
Vermeil
1920s English Vintage Sterling Silver
Vermeil, 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.