topic Re: Sterling Silver Flatware? in Kitchen

Sterling Silver Flatware?

violann — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 15:37:33 GMT

Are any companies, American or elsewhere, still producing Sterling Silver tablewear?

I got a beautiful International Sterling pattern when I was married decades ago, and I've added to it since, mostly through Replacements, but I know it's no longer manufactured.

IHas anyone known a bride who has bought silverware lately?

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

Nhbelle — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 16:05:39 GMT

Towle, Gotham and Wallace do. They are on Wayfair.com. About 11,000-12,000 for 66 piece set. They have 5 piece place settings as well. I imagine some jewelry stores such as Tiffanys would carry it too.

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

Nhbelle — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 16:06:24 GMT

Sorry, Gorham.

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

Mint2 — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 22:53:47 GMT

My parents received a huge set on a handsom satin lined polished wooden case over 58 years ago. I think it is sterling silver plated though. Do they make pure sterling flatware? Seems to me 100% sterling would be very soft and bendable. If so interesting.

Mint

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

CLEM — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 00:22:52 GMT

I grew up in Germany. My mother grew up after WWI and got married in 1939. During that time period (between WW1 and WW2) absolutely nothing could be bought in Germany. So when my sister and I grew up in the 50s and 60s, she demanded that we give her 50% of our salary with which she purchased the two of us 12 of everything; the best linnens, bed sheets, and silver. She picked everything out and purchased it (we had no input). She was fulfilling her dream and was happy doing it.

When I came here in 1965, I did bring my valuable silver with me, but not the other stuff. I used the silver tableware for guests and I polished everything from soup ladle to sugar tongues twice a year. So a few years ago I decided to sell it knowing how valuable this was and expecting quite a bit of money. Each piece had a stamp on it which I looked up on the internet and found to my horror that it was only silver plated. So, when I sold it, I received the grand sum of $230.00,

I consoled myself knowing that my mother had a lot of fun doing it and was very proud that her daughters had only the best of everything.

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

Kachina624 — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 03:28:37 GMT

@Mint2 wrote:
My parents received a huge set on a handsom satin lined polished wooden case over 58 years ago. I think it is sterling silver plated though. Do they make pure sterling flatware? Seems to me 100% sterling would be very soft and bendable. If so interesting.

Mint

@Mint2 Yes, they've always made sterling flatware but it has become prohibitively expensive. Maybe they harden it somehow but it's definitely made.

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

Moira7 — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 03:59:49 GMT

I think there are a lot of places that carry sterling, but it can sell for at least $1,000 a place setting. I have a Towle pattern service for 8 with all of the serving pieces purchased in the late 60's, and was quoted a price of $2500 for the set now. My pattern is still carried at Macy's. Sterling is not really that popular since the life style today seems to be casual and by the time you get all the serving pieces, you have spent a fortune for something you may not use. A good stainless steel pattern I think is much preferred, that is what I have heard from jewelers in my area. I have really never used my set. It is packed away in the closet and I forget about it most of the time. Silver is supposed to go up one of these days, I am waiting and then will sell mine.

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

Kachina624 — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 04:37:36 GMT

@Moira Newsflash! The price of silver has already gone up. Better get yours out of the closet and into a bank vault. You may be in for a big shock when you get it appraised again. Seriously, don't leave it sitting where it could be stolen.

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

suzyQ3 — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 17:40:04 GMT

We bought a set of Reed & Barton sterling flatware in the pattern "18th Century" in the late '70s or in the '80s. We only occasionlly use it. Instead of buying the serving pieces in sterling, we bought them in the same pattern but in stainless.

Our neighbors at our previous house used their sterling flatware daily and even put them in the diswasher. Their philosophy was that they wanted to enjoy it, not stick it in a cupboard.

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

sunshine45 — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 20:17:34 GMT

@suzyQ3 wrote:
We bought a set of Reed & Barton sterling flatware in the pattern "18th Century" in the late '70s or in the '80s. We only occasionlly use it. Instead of buying the serving pieces in sterling, we bought them in the same pattern but in stainless.

Our neighbors at our previous house used their sterling flatware daily and even put them in the diswasher. Their philosophy was that they wanted to enjoy it, not stick it in a cupboard.

@suzyQ3

that is what we encouraged my mom to do. she wanted to purchase a new flatware set a few years ago. she was also considering selling her LUNT ELOQUENCE set of silverware......and she has a lot of pieces collected over the years.

she got rid of her mismatched flatware, didnt buy a new flatware set, and began using her silverware for every meal. it is nice to see it just doesnt come out a few times a year for special occasions. she just puts it in the dishwasher with no problems.

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

Snowpuppy — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 05:25:06 GMT

Neiman still carries sterling flatware

While I still drool over sterling, I purchased silverplated flatware. Oneida, made in the USA then.

Liberty Tableware is the only USA made flatware still in production. The employees of the old Oneida plant purchased the facility and they turn out beautiful 18/10. Highly recommend them.

Silver must still sell, they recently added 1 pattern in silverplate.

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

violann — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 22:03:57 GMT

Thanks to all of you for your interesting contributions.

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

GSPgirl — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 22:07:51 GMT

@Mint2 wrote:
My parents received a huge set on a handsom satin lined polished wooden case over 58 years ago. I think it is sterling silver plated though. Do they make pure sterling flatware? Seems to me 100% sterling would be very soft and bendable. If so interesting.

Mint

Yes. I have a full set of Sterling Silver flatwear in a beautiful chest. My British in-laws believed in using theirs for lunch and dinner. Theirs were passed down a few generations.

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

hellokitty — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 22:59:21 GMT

I recently inherited a set of sterling plated flatwear that dates back to 1946. I would love to use it but looks like it could use polishing all the time. I don't have time to do that. Does anyone know if it stays nice by actually using it and washing it on a regular basis than keeping it stored?

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

151949 — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 23:05:15 GMT

@sunshine45 wrote:
@suzyQ3 wrote:
We bought a set of Reed & Barton sterling flatware in the pattern "18th Century" in the late '70s or in the '80s. We only occasionlly use it. Instead of buying the serving pieces in sterling, we bought them in the same pattern but in stainless.

Our neighbors at our previous house used their sterling flatware daily and even put them in the diswasher. Their philosophy was that they wanted to enjoy it, not stick it in a cupboard.

@suzyQ3
that is what we encouraged my mom to do. she wanted to purchase a new flatware set a few years ago. she was also considering selling her LUNT ELOQUENCE set of silverware......and she has a lot of pieces collected over the years.
she got rid of her mismatched flatware, didnt buy a new flatware set, and began using her silverware for every meal. it is nice to see it just doesnt come out a few times a year for special occasions. she just puts it in the dishwasher with no problems.

I don't use my silver every day , but when I do use it - I wash it in the dishwasher.

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

proudlyfromNJ — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 01:27:54 GMT

@hellokitty wrote:
I recently inherited a set of sterling plated flatwear that dates back to 1946. I would love to use it but looks like it could use polishing all the time. I don't have time to do that. Does anyone know if it stays nice by actually using it and washing it on a regular basis than keeping it stored?

@hellokitty I think when you use it regularly it doesn't need polishing. I keep mine in a silver chest. I have had it since 1967 and never had to polish it. The chest has a special lining. Oops, mine is sterling silver, not plated.

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

Snowpuppy — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:12:04 GMT

@hellokitty wrote:
I recently inherited a set of sterling plated flatwear that dates back to 1946. I would love to use it but looks like it could use polishing all the time. I don't have time to do that. Does anyone know if it stays nice by actually using it and washing it on a regular basis than keeping it stored?

If you clean your pieces, store them in a properly lined silverware chest. If you don't have one you can get roll pouches at B B & B.

I only hand wash. Never, ever put silver/silverplate in the dishwasher w/ 18/10. You'll ruin the silver forever.

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

Mint2 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 23:07:18 GMT

Wow didn't know you could put silver in the dishwasher. Always thought you had to hand wash and then occasionally polish silver. I would have never thought. Thanks for sharing.

Mint

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

KatieB — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 00:45:10 GMT

@violann About 25 years ago, when I worked at Replacements, Ltd., I purchased a service for 8 of the Wallace Grande Baroque from them. It is absolutely beautiful. This was not for my wedding, but I just had to have it because it was so beautiful. I think it is still manufactured, but I could be wrong. This set dates back to 1941 I believe.

Re: Sterling Silver Flatware?

violann — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 00:45:26 GMT

@KatieB wrote:
@violann When I worked at Replacements, Ltd., I purchased a service for 8 of the Wallace Grande Baroque. It is absolutely beautiful. This was not for my wedding, but I just had to have it because it was so beautiful. I think it is still manufactured, but I could be wrong. This set dates back to 1941 I believe.

Always one of my favorites @KatieB, my pattern is Internationalangelique which was a relatively new pattern when we married.

my parents gave us our first service for eight, and we bought the second.