Silver Service

I get a lot of questions about the silver I use.  Just after we got married in 2003, I started collecting random pieces of silver, but it wasn't until about 3 years ago that I completely got rid of my regular everyday silverware and replaced it with my silver collection.  This is what we use everyday for everything.  I love it!

Somehow, eating baked beans on any given evening in the summertime becomes as special as eating Christmas prime rib when you have a pretty, old piece of silver in your hand.  ;o)  That is the truth.  

 

   

When I first started collecting silver, I only knew two things:  that I love silver, and that I know what I like.  The latter applies to anything I collect.  I mean that I know what I like, and it does not matter if it has value beyond that.  I adore the mismatched look of my silver.  I am especially drawn to pieces that are engraved.

Once in a while, I get lucky and land on pieces with monograms that actually applies to us....  

 

Momma gave me a set of six pastry forks for my birthday.  So pretty!

 

I also use silver for the babies.  Shrimp forks and demitasse spoons are perfect for little mouths!

Now there are all sorts of rules with silver that I don't always follow.  I'm such a rebel.  ;o)  I am never really that careful with acidic foods, and I have put mine in the dishwasher.  Handwashing is recommended.  I try to handwash mine, but if I do, it's at the end of the day when I do the entire day's worth.  

Polishing seems to be what everyone is most concerned about with silver.  Yes, it tarnishes.  Yes, it needs polished.  The more it is used, the less often it needs polished.  But, honestly, polishing silverware is reasonably quick.  It has just become part of my routine.  My favorite polish is Wright's Silver Cream.  

 

How do I buy my silver?  This is the question I am asked most often.

I typically only pay $1 for each piece.  They are usually in the bottom of some box and black with tarnish.  Of the hundreds of pieces I have collected, there are only a handful I have not been able to polish.  It has been very few that I have relegated to yard work (digging holes in the flower beds for new plants).  ;o)   

Like I mentioned before, the value of a piece means very little to me.  I am not a silver snob.  The difference between the real silver pieces and silver-plated pieces are noticeable by weight, texture, and sometimes appearance, but not enough for me to mind.  There are some compositions I prefer, but I like all of it.  On the back of the neck of a piece is where you will find markings that tell you the composition and maker.  

  

There are several large online databases that will tell you all about your piece, including the age of your piece and the name of the pattern....my favorite parts.  

I also wanted to mention one of my favorite sites for finding old silver with monograms and engravings...  I found a Christmas gift here last year that was absolutely perfect! 

 
 

"You might be a Southern mother if you took the initiative to pick your daughter's silver pattern at birth." 
- Gayden Metcalf and Charlotte Hays

Comments

[Lauren]

Lovely!! I agree with you that eating with silver makes any meal special. I love the mismatched pieces; you may have inspired me to look for old silver pieces when I go antiquing!

I just had a little girl and oh my have I been searching for baby silver! Thanks for the site!

[JulieB]

Love that quote. I come from a long line of Gorham Chantilly girls myself, and you best believe I will strongly encourage LL, Boss' wife (she will surely deserve a boatload of silver. and diamonds. and pearls), and Anna Bea to follow my lead.

I'm like you though; I like it all. Especially the monogram pieces.

And does it surprise you a bit that Hendley requests eating off of a "pretty (sterling) spoon" at GranC's house??? It still pains me to this day that she had her first solid food out of a plastic spoon from the Winn Dixie. Shame on me!!!

[Stacy]

I love this idea. Being the youngest of 6 and one of 5 girls, there isn't much of the "good stuff" to be inherited. Looks like I'll be buying my own silver.

[Bri]

Again... you need to write a coffee table book about antique silver collections and how to incorporate them into your everyday life! I love how passionate you are about it. It makes me want to use pretty silver every day now!

[Ali]

Thank for explaining so much about silver in this post! It was so helpful!

You are so creative and I love each piece you have collected! So fun that you know what you like! :)

I'm still learning what I like and what I don't like! Funny that I'm in my 30's and I'm just starting to try to figure it out!

I need to start learning about silver so I can train up Ava Grace to have a deep LOVE of silver (and of course entertaining)!

I'm going to check out the website you suggested and start researching and hoping for a good deal! :) Love that you got such great deals on your silver! :)

You have an amazing collection of silver! I love each piece you showed! Such a sweet gift from your Mom, too! :)

~ Ali

[Shannon]

Those pieces are beautiful! I agree, that would be like Cmas dinner all year long. :) You are always inspiring me to find fun finds. :)

[Carrie Mizell]

I love this post, Katie! I think your "Peggy Ann" piece is my favorite. My momma always used good silver like you do. Every occasion warrants a little something special, she says. And that "something" is usually silver flatware.

[Gayle]

Thanks for sharing your silver service. I too collect 'odd' silver. We do not use ours everyday but I just might start doing that. I especially like your monogrammed pieces.

[Maria]

You have such great taste. I love your silver. LOVE IT!

[Charon Benton]

hmmm...you've given me an idea!! LOL
Love your silver collection!

[Susan]

I used to put up the "good stuff" for company, but then realized that family is more important, so use the "good stuff" every day. I totally agree with you, and I love your collection. It looks like you have several pieces of crystal too- one of my passions. Amelia and Jack's wife will be so pleased with all the pretties you hand down!
~Susan~

[Stacey]

I read your blog (which by the way I LOVE) all the time but I don't think I have ever commented. This was such a great post. I often wondered all these things about your silver. Thanks for sharing!

[paige]

great post & great tips too!
i'm so uncultured. i did not know that the more its used the less it needs polishing!
fantastic
i have a small collection of little pieces i pick up here & there. caroline is being raised right...she loves her antique monogrammed silver spoon...atta girl.
i will inherit the monogrammed collection from my hubby's family. priceless blessing!

love the peek at your collection
xo

[maggi]

Really enjoyed peeking in your collection of silver.

[Angie]

great post! I too, collect silver- the older the better! I find tons of it at our local thrift shops. In fact, just this morning I picked up four spoons and two serving spoons for a mere $4. It's so fun to polish it up and add it to the collection. I have mine displayed in a small wooden crate on the vintage buffet in our back screen porch- always a conversation starter!

[Jeannine]

I love it! And it looks so pretty in front of that new beadboard! I have some silverplate, and some odds and ends that have come my way, but the only thing I hope to inherit from my mother (in the very, very distant future) is her complete set of Old Master. So happy to find people who would understand!

[Farrah]

Hey there Miss Katie! I adore your silver! My 12 year old ate his first meals with Oneida baby spoons. Love it! Plastic spoons are not healthy but silver is. He and I prefer lightweight silver yet my husband prefers pewter pieces. Oh, and I like your kitchen "remodel"!

[Kelly Jo]

So those are pastry forks! I was wondering. I must put Mom on the hunt for some more of those. I LOVE them. I think I need some, but I don't eat pastries. Maybe I could use them for biscuits covered in sorghum. that is as close as I will get to a pastry. Have you tried soaking your really bad pieces in Tarn-X? It has helped on some of mine that I thougth were goners. It smells like rotten eggs but it works!

[Searcy]

Dear Katie, I love the old, heavy, familiar feeling of silver in hand. The dull gleam of old silver is a memory so deeply ingrained from my childhood. It is a fine legacy.

[LC]

Thanks for posting about the silver cream you use. I have been doing it the old way and as you know it takes forever:)