Vintage Fruit Bowls
Vintage 1940s British Art Deco Serving Bowls
Silver, Sterling Silver
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Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Chandeliers and Pendants
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Antique 19th Century Dutch Biedermeier Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
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Early 20th Century Danish Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1910s British Sporting Art Prints
Paper
Antique Late 19th Century German Rustic Cabinets
Zinc
Antique 19th Century British Regency Urns
Copper
Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Historical Memorabilia
Aluminum, Steel
Antique 19th Century British Jars
Metal
Antique 1780s English George III Dry Bars
Hardwood
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Tableware
Silver
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Mounted Objects
Bone
Antique 19th Century Tableware
Silver
Antique Late 19th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Wood
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Wood, Coconut
Recent Sales
1990s Israeli Edwardian Decorative Baskets
Silver
Antique 1870s American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Finding the Right Sterling Silver for You
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.
- What is the best fruit bowl?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021The best fruit bowl is a matter of choice, there are a variety of options in terms of design, material, style, and utility. On 1stDibs, there are fruit bowls available in vintage and modern designs.
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