Home

[Oznell]

Oh, @Tigriss, I am so glad you posted and that you have experience with the "Hotel" pattern by Wallace!  It is always great to get a first hand review of a tantalizing item.

I also suspect that the picture of the place setting on QVC is not that accurate.  I'm goinig to guess that the engraved parts are more prominent or noticeable in real life, and I bet that the pieces are more glossy and polished than they appear in the photo. It just doesn't look like a good picture!

Would you say it is heavy enough?  I like stainless flatware that is quite heavy and substantial.  Thanks in advance and love to get your opinions.

I also really like your other choices! 

[GCR18]

I guess I never gave it much thought when I purchased.  I have a big set of the same pattern.

[candys mine]

Sorta?  I like different plates and glass ware at each place setting,  But I like the same forks and spoons at each plate even though they can be different for each person.  for some reason all bets are off when it comes to knives. Any one will do at any place seting. It think a variety is interesting and adds to the look of the table. 

[Witchy Woman]

I have a similar set, and love the look.  

On the table, it all blends and is fun and interesting.

It must be 10 or more years that I bought this stainless and it still looks beautiful.

I also have Francis First in sterling, but use my stainless all the time 

[Oznell]

Wow, @Witchy Woman, "Francis First" is probably THE most gorgeous of all the substantial, ornate silver patterns, in my opinion.  Even if you don't use it that often, how super to have it in your tableware "arsenel"!

[nyc1]

I'll do different plates, and glasses.  I have a collection of about 2 dozen champagne glasses that are all different and that I put out for New Year's Eve.  Never did the mix on my flatware though.   It certainly sounds like a fun idea.

[Witchy Woman]

@Oznell

I love it too!

When I was shopping for sterling, the prices weren't so high.  Maybe 15 years ago -- possibly longer. 

My mother in law had acquired Old Colonial, which is much simpler and quite lovely.  The bowl of the spoons have melon-like ridges.  I thought it was unique.

However, when I bought a few place settings, I perceived some negative vibes from her.  Maybe she thought I was on a countdown to get HER set.  

So....I looked at lots of patterns and decided if I was going to spend the money, I'd get the most ornate pattern I could.  Grand Baroque is also complex, but I liked the fruit on Francis First.

Admittedly, I don't use it often, but it sets a beautiful table.  I am fascinated by sterling/china patterns.  So much beauty!  Sadly, the days of formal dining are few if any.

I should get it out and use it daily.  Think I'm going to do that today!

[Oznell]

Good, @Witchy Woman, glad that such a beauty is going to get some use.  Love the fruit motif as well.  I can fuzzily picture "Old Colonial" too.  In grad school a bunch of us got interested and I studied those brochures like crazy!  Even some guys got into it.  One deliberated over "Francis First" and "King Richard"-- I think he finally went with "King Richard" as the more "masculine" one.  It made sense for him to have a silver service since he cooked and entertained constantly...

If I were choosing now, I wouldn't select "18th Century", but it would be so hard to narrow down.  I kind of like Tiffany's  "Audubon", for the bird motif.  But I also love so many of the interesting, heavy stainless patterns out there.  It's fun to express your moods in your tableware...

[Oznell]

@nyc1, I really like the idea of all your differing champagne glasses.  That's a great, versatile shape too, because you can also use them to serve fancy little desserts, mousse, etc.

[Tigriss]

Here is a good picture.  It is nice and shiny.  The pieces are substantial and do not bend in hard frozen ice cream!  That was important to have substantial flatware.  They are heavy but not so that you don't want to pick them up.  The heft is one of quality and assurance that they won't bend when you are cutting or scooping.  They get great reviews on Amazon, which is where I got them for $101 with Prime shipping.  Amazon has the better deal by far.

 I love it. I didn't have any of the issues some of the negative reviews had, but Amazon has 227 reviews with a rating of 4.6.  That is pretty darned good.