Fun with Flatware

Once you get into collecting fine and pretty china, you will find that your 18/8 stainless steel that you either bought yourself or got as a wedding gift just won't do.  If you like serving on your mix and match collection of Staffordshire, wedgewood, noritake or mikasa, you will come to realize that to set off that pretty table just right you have to indulge in silverplate flatware.  I say "silverplate" versus "sterling silver" because none of us could really afford to own a solid silver flatware set. If you are fortunate enough to have one then good for you.  The message of this post is for you as well!

I began owning silverplate when I discovered a service for 8 of the popular "shell" pattern for sale at TJ Maxx about 15 years ago.  Even back then I knew how I preferred my holiday table to look.  This set, while inexpensive, was just the ticket.  I had been to a couple of bed and breakfasts and recalled being served a breakfast tray with two kinds of jam, some pastries and breads on a pretty plate and a delicate china teacup set...accentuated by the gleaming silver plate eating utensils.  I remember that being served this way made me feel special and the silverplate utensils added the exclamation point that, like a bug, bit me, and made me realize I wanted a set for myself.

Now some china that you have may be trimmed in 22 kt gold and in those cases, I do not use silver plate.  For those dishes, I also acquired a gold plated set that I use.  I use these with my Bretton Woods set of china which is trimmed in, you guessed it, 22 kt gold. Most pretty china has some kind of trim including platinum or silver. Some have no trim at all.  Whatever the case, using the silver flatware really enhances an already very attractive table.  Add a little candle light and you have the makings of a very special setting for most any occasion.

I have several sets of sterling in my possession.  Not only do I have the first set that I spoke of earlier, I also have a couple of sets of vintage flatware.  I remember when someone I know gave me a set that that had rescued from what would have been a very sad ending in the trash.  Lady Doris, which was manufactured by William Rogers in the '30's, looks like new and came in the original box.  I love, love, love this set and have used it for a few afternoon teas that I have held, just so that I would have a reason to pull it out from my closet!

On this flatware, there is a delicate curly engraving at the base of the tines on the fork and at the cradle of the spoons.  My set is shiny as the day it was given to me and I check it every so often to see that it stays that way.  I am fortunate in that it looks unused and no silver has been rubbed off of any of the pieces!  I got this from one of my sisters and it meant so much that she thought of me to give it to! It is a service for twelve and I have another set of the same in case I ever lose any pieces.  I will never part with it!

Another set I have is also in beautiful like new condition with just a few pieces showing wear.  It has a lovely baroque style to it which makes it only for really fancy occasions...I hope to have one of them soon.  The set has no name...no markings, and is unidentifiable without those things.  I took one of the forks to a dealer who looked at the markings and found the left facing lion and the "AP" mark.  These marks are supposed to indicate the markings of the age of the piece and the fact that the piece is solid silver. However, the dealer could not determine that this was true and after a little bit of hemming and hawing and suggesting that maybe I had come across a $30000 set of silverware for just $50, he did what you call an "acid test" and found that there is an underlying metal (not detectable with a magnet...another thing that fooled him into thinking the set was solid silver) and so my set could not possibly be solid silver. Too bad..but it is beautiful anyway and I really have no intentions of parting with it anyway.

You can see from the photographs how well taken care of this set is.  The dealer said that sometimes the shinier the silver plate the more chance of it being cheap/fake.  This set, however, he said, does not fall into that category, and while he could not identify the maker from the markings he found on it, he said I did very well since this is a very attractive pattern and it is in such fine condition. With the exception of a little tiny bit of wear between a couple of the tines on a couple of forks, it appears as almost new.

Here are the markings that appear on the set:

Then the other marking is an "AP" which I cannot seem to find on my google images search. 
Mystified to find out these markings indicate one thing, but the acid test indicated another, I wrote to someone online who claims to know these things. Still waiting for my answer on how to ID the maker of this set. Interesting to find out!

I purchased two other smaller sets and they arrived in not as good condition as the two sets I just featured. 

A close-up of the Morningstar design...quite pretty actually. A little art deco flavor..

These could use some good polishing and get into those crevices with a q tip and some polish.  Quite a big job really.  I haven't done it yet.    I see this set as a good filler for not so fancy gatherings, but just enough sparkle to make the meal, whatever it is, a little more interesting.  The pattern here is from Oneida and called Community, "Morningstar".  I paid $18 plus shipping for 16 pieces on Ebay.  I think that is a bit of a bargain even if I have to use a little elbow grease to bring out the shine in them.

I have one last set that I recently purchased also.  I was thinking that one day someone will have a shabby chic wedding and need this stuff and I could enjoy it in the meantime. So I ran across this offering on Craigslist and bought it.

In the close-up you can see the intricate delicate floral pattern. I think it is very romantic and picture using this with my Spode Billingsley Rose china for a Downton Abbey style luncheon!  They were in need of polishing when I got them, and actually, I am still working on that. The pattern here is called Distinction and was manufactured by Prestige in 1951.  I have 35 pieces and paid $47 plus shipping so just a little over a dollar for each piece!  I hate to think of these being used to make wind chimes..they are still in good enough shape to put on a vintage white table cloth and arrange your place settings in style.

My point is this:  If you have silver plated flatware, use it!  Maybe for a special Mother's Day tea or an Easter Buffet!  Have your sisters over and enjoy making them feel special with a nice meal, cozy surroundings and lots of floral and fawna for decoration!  Pair up your little used china and your special flatware and make a memory!  You will always remember it and so will your guests!