Sterling Silver Flatware
10 Tips for Collecting and Buying Silverware
“How can I tell if my flatware is sterling or silverplated?” This is the most frequently-asked question at SilverCollect.com. If it doesn’t have the word “sterling”, then it most likely is not sterling silver. The word “sterling” is found on American silver dating after 1860. Early American silver is very rare and was usually marked... »
How to Detect Modified Sterling and Silverplate Flatware
A number of modified flatware pieces regularly appear for sale on the internet at both auction and fixed-price web sites. A modified flatware item is a commonly-found piece which has been altered to make it appear to be a more valuable, rare or collectible piece. A large number of modifications occur with collectible or... »
Antique Whiting Sterling Teaspoons
Special promotion for our blog readers and subscribers - Our antique 1900 Duke of York sterling teaspoons are currently marked down from $17.99 to $15.99 each. Get an additional 20% discount off this sale price by purchasing 12 spoons using this special coupon code at checkout 06121407. This is a savings of more... »
Brief History of the Fork
While knives and spoons have such a venerable record that they cannot be attributed to any one place or time of origin, the introduction of the fork can be more definitely traced. The design of the fork is very ancient. Large forks are referred to as having been found in the remains of early... »
Brief History of the Knife
It has been mentioned in discussing the spoon, that knives were first fashioned out of stone. The close resemblance of some of them to modern knives indicates that types which are familiar to us were copied from stone predecessors. (Pictured at left: Flint Knife, 3000 B.C.) Following the period when flint and other suitable... »
Ten Steps in Making a Spoon
Silver is an ore – a precious metal. When refined to the degree of absolute purity it is melted into ingots weighing from 500 to 600 ounces. Nine hundred twenty-five parts of this pure or fine silver are alloyed with 75 parts pure copper in order to give it the strength and sturdiness of... »
Brief History of the Spoon
There is plenty of evidence that the people of very early times concentrated along the borders of the sea and large bodies of water. The shores of these waters provided shells which served as natural spoons with which to eat certain types of food. These were available long before man knew how to fashion... »
Antique Silver Berry and Strawberry Forks
Berry and Strawberry forks were produced for most antique sterling silver and silverplate flatware patterns. Some patterns had 2 tine berry forks and some had 3 tines. The 2 tine forks are often incorrectly identified as hors d’oeurves, oyster, seafood and other types of forks. If you have unsuccessfully searched for berry forks in... »
Is it Patina or Tarnish?
I’ve seen countless silver descriptions online which include claims that the tarnish on a piece of silver or silverware is actually patina. Tarnish is not patina! Patina is a rich, warm color which forms over time as a result of use and handling. Flatware straight from the factory has a “factory shine” whether it’s sterling... »
Antique Silver Lettuce Forks
Antique silver lettuce forks are fun to collect and use. Now obsolete, the lettuce fork was once offered with flatware services to the health-conscious and nature-loving Victorians. Fresh vegetables had become more readily available due to increased usage of the railroad and shipping industries. Victorian-era silver manufacturers were happy to oblige, and designed special... »
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