Dominick & Haff On Sale
Antique Late 19th Century American Aesthetic Movement Bottles
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Rococo Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s American Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Barware
Stainless Steel
20th Century Modern Barware
Marble, Stainless Steel
Antique 1890s European Napoleon III Barware
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Antique 1760s French Figurative Sculptures
Oak
Antique 1730s French Louis XVI Chaise Longues
Oak
Early 20th Century English Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Books
Paper
Antique 18th Century French Decorative Art
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Glass
Ormolu
Mid-20th Century Taiwanese Barware
Lucite
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Barware
Metal
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Table Lamps
Bronze
Antique Early 1900s British Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Silver, Enamel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware
Sterling Silver
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century Regency Tea Sets
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Serving Pieces
Metal, Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Victorian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century American Sterling Silver
Silver, Enamel
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.