The 1893 Columbia silverplate flatware pattern was designed and produced by 1847 Rogers Bros. It was specifically designed for the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' discovery in 1492. The exposition was actually held one year later than planned.

The Columbia pattern features a stylized dolphin wrapped around the handle. As with antique glass and other items of this period, the dolphin has scales. Pictured at right - Tomato Server with gilded, pierced bowl.

The berry forks in the Columbia pattern had 2 tines instead of three - see illustration here

Below - Salad serving set which consisted of serving spoon and fork with 6

individual salad forks.

Below - Columbia cake fork.

The 1893 Columbia silverplate pattern was one of 1847 Rogers Bros. earliest attempts at producing a full line of flatware.

Resources:
Columbia Cake Fork
Columbia Tomato Server
Columbia Salad Serving Fork
Columbia Berry Spoon

Berkshire, by 1847 Rogers Bros., is a very collectible flatware pattern. The berry and nut spoon, measuring 8 3/4 inches long, was one of the most popular pieces by this silver manufacturer. Many of the serving pieces, such as the cold meat fork and soup ladle, were made in varying sizes. Rogers advertised the 8 1/2 inch cold meat fork as “…especially designed for serving either cold meat or cake.”

As you can see in the image below, the fish serving fork and knife are particularly lovely. The pie and crumb knives are outstanding as well. This 1847 Rogers Bros. advertisement is from a catalog circa 1905-06, several years after this pattern was first introduced in 1897.

The flatware pieces shown are as follows:

Top row, from left to right:

Fish Knife, individual
Fish fork, individual
Pie knife
Fish fork (serving)
Salad fork, individual
Pickle fork

Bottom row, from left to right:

Fish knife (serving)
Cold meat fork
Iced tea spoon
Beef fork
Child's set - knife, spoon and knife
Ice cream spoon
Cheese scoop with hollow handle
Berry fork
Crumb knife
Oyster fork

Note that these are not the only Berkshire pieces produced; this is just a selection.

The bottom of the advertisement reads “Patterns come and go. The popularity of some is very fleeting. The Berkshire has proved the exception to the rule. The demand

The two-handled, vase style silverplate spoon holder (also known as “spoon goblet”) is uniquely American. Some were made to match silver tea services and were considered necessary to complete the service. Some were not produced to match tea services and sold individually.

Most had pedestal bases and some were produced with 4 feet. The vase shape was popular during the 1850s and 60s. 

Revolving spoon racks became popular in the 1870s. Examples below of a silverplated spoon rack and a double spoon rack.

Also appearing in the 1870s was the combination sugar bowl and spoon rack which became the norm after 1900.

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With ice a rarity and mechanical refrigeration yet to exist, ladies of the Victorian era were tasked with keeping water cooled for their guests. The answer, for those lucky enough to afford it, was the multi-wall silverplate ice pitcher. These multi-walled pitchers were designed to insulate and keep water cooled over longer periods of time. Early ice pitchers had metal, glass or porcelain liners. The liners on these early models had seams which caused corrosion and leaks. These designs were soon replaced with one-piece porcelain liners.

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The dinner castor, or cruet holder, was a very popular table item in the 19th century. It consisted of a silver or silverplate frame which usually held 5 or 6 cruet bottles. Breakfast castors generally contained 3 or 4 bottles. Most dinner castors of the Victorian era were, as you’d expect, very fancy. Some had a call bell on the handle, others had a flower vase and some had a revolving frame. Some castors had a removable bottle rack so that the base could be used as a fruit stand.

Most Cruet bottles were made of plain or engraved glass but could also be purchased in the more expensive cut glass. The majority of cruets were clear glass but some cut glass designs were available in blue, amber and cranberry. Manufacturers offered buyers a choice of handles and cruet styles.

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1906 Grenoble, also commonly known as “Gloria” silverplate flatware pattern was produced by Wm. A. Rogers (now Oneida). This pattern is also known as “Japanese Lily” and was produced by Rogers exclusively for a Boston wholesale firm in the French Gray sterling finish. Below is an ad for Japanese Lily.

From the ad shown (right):

“Popular French Gray Finish - Each piece in the Japanese Lily Design is made in the new and very popular French Gray Sterling finish, which makes a beautiful

The ad also states the flatware is guaranteed for 20 years. We suppose they'd be

happy to know much of this flatware has survived 100 years and is very

collectible today.

Buyers of the “Grenoble” pattern had the option of the French Gray or gold plate

finishes. As with other patterns of this era, some of the serving pieces were

also produced with pearl handles. Rockford S.P. Co. marketed this pattern as

“Gloria”.

The serving pieces, specialty pieces and even some of the place pieces had

beautiful embossed bowls as shown in this gravy ladle image (right). These pieces

include:

Ice Cream Fork
Berry Spoon
Pie Fork
Sardine Fork
Ice Cream Spoon
Cream Ladle
Jelly Spoon
Orange Spoon
Pie Knife
Fish Fork
Fish Knife
Cucumber Server
Lettuce Fork
Honey Spoon
Cake Knife
Horseradish Spoon
Macaroni Server
Vegetable Server
Mustard Spoon
Salad Fork
Salt Spoon

to name a few.

Other neat pieces produced were: sugar tongs, food pusher, fruit knife, nut pick,

lobster fork, butter pick and cheese scoop.

We’ve been asked to show a few examples of 1936 Coronation holloware by Oneida Community Silver.

In the first image below:

4-Piece Tea and Coffee Set (Tray was sold separately)
Well and Tree Meat platter
Double Vegetable Dish
Gravy Boat and Tray
Water Pitcher

The next image shows the round cake plate with pierced pastry server; and the cold meat tray and fork set.

 See also More on Coronation Holloware and Coronation Flatware

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 your pattern, try using other names. You may have better luck but keep in mind that berry serving spoons are more commonly found than the berry forks. Strawberry forks are sweet collectibles. If you cannot find them in your pattern, consider adding a complimentary pattern to your collection. Sterling and silverplate patterns from the same era generally go very nicely together.

Strawberry forks were usually sold in boxed sets of 6, or as a boxed berry set which included the berry spoon and 6 berry forks.

Here are examples of both the 2 and 3 tine forks.

Above: Sterling silver “Venus” berry set with spoon and 2 tine berry forks.

Above: Silverplate “Melrose” berry set with spoon and 3 tine berry forks.

In 1948, 1847 Rogers Bros./International Silver Co. introduced the Remembrance silverplate pattern to commemorate 100 years of production of its silverplate

line. Enormous amounts of Remembrance flatware and holloware (aka hollow ware) were produced in the late 1940s - early 1950s. Just after WWII, thousands of soldiers were getting married and International heavily advertised to these newlyweds.

Duncan & Miller introduced the etched glassware pattern “Remembrance” to match the silverplate pattern.

Some flatware and holloware pieces are harder to find because they were produced in fewer quantities, such as punch ladle, napkin ring, wood salad set and candelabrum.

The following holloware images are from a 1950s International Silver catalog; and the etched glassware is from a Duncan & Miller catalog.

Above: Tea and Coffee Service, Well and Tree Platter, Meat Dish and Buffet Tray.

Above: Gravy Boat, Vegetable Dish, Dinner Dish, Sugar and Creamer, Bread Tray, Water Pitcher, Salt and Pepper Shakers and Candelabrum.

Left: Remembrance etched glassware by Duncan & Miller.

Top left to right:
10 oz. Goblet
12 oz. Footed Ice Tea
3 1/2 oz. Wine
5 oz. Saucer Champagne

Bottom left to right:
3 oz. Liquor Cocktail
5 oz. Footed Orange Juice
4 oz. Footed Oyster Cocktail
1 oz. Cordial

Sterling silver and silverplate cake baskets were fairly common in American households during the latter part of the 19th century. Most were round but some examples of oblong, square and rectangular may still be found today. They were made with short pedestals, tall pedestals and even legs (both short and tall), and most have a hinged, pail-type handle.

Often when silverplate cake baskets are found in original condition, much of the silverplating has worn off. Because of this, prices are generally much less than one might expect, averaging about $20. Even cake baskets with little to no plate wear may be found at very inexpensive prices.

The cost of replating a silver cake basket is approximately $90-100 making it a very reasonable investment. As usual, original condition is best, but if it’s a piece you love but cannot use or display because of poor condition, go for the replating or restoration. Sterling silver cake baskets generally cost a good deal more than silverplate, particularly in excellent original condition. If you have one with dings or other significant imperfections, consider having it restored.

Here are some examples of cake baskets from the original manufacturers’ catalogs, circa 1880-90s.

Above: Pairpoint cake baskets.

Above: E.G. Webster cake baskets.

Above: Reed & Barton cake baskets

As you can see, these beautiful antique silver cake baskets can serve either the original purpose as intended, or as unique decorative displays in American homes today. The uses are limited only to your imagination!

See also Antique Bride’s Baskets

Silver replating and restoration resources:

Senti-Metal Co.
Friedman Silversmiths
More may be found at Association of Restorers