Silverware Care – Victorian Household Tips

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The following tips for silverware care were found in a Victorian era ladies magazine from 1896. A reader wrote in to share her time-saving tips for keeping silverware shiny and ready for use at a moment’s notice.

The Care of Silverware

As only the few can afford a butler, or a maid whose special duties are the care of the silver tableware, it may interest many readers of this journal to hear of my labor-saving plan for keeping spoons, forks, ladles, etc., not in constant service, bright and ready for use.Fortunately today we have both new and vintage flatware chests with anti-tarnish linings. I’ve kept silver flatware tarnish-free in vintage silverware chests for more than a year.

When the articles are thoroughly washed and wiped dry – dry beyond a suspicion of dampness – wrap each in tissue-paper or chamois-skin, not letting the spoons or forks touch one another, and slip them into a clean, dry, self-sealing fruit jar, and seal until air-tight.

Quart jars will hold teaspoons and short forks. Two quart jars will accommodate tablespoons, the longer forks and ladles. I have found articles put away in this manner to remain bright for eight months. The saving of time and trouble that the method affords when unexpected “company” comes, will be apparent to all.

If one has a number of jars, it is a good idea to label the contents of each to avoid confusion in getting articles that one wants; for it is seldom that it is necessary to use all the silver at one time. J.E.J.

Victorian publications offered incentives for Victorian ladies to acquire silver flatware with interesting marketing techniques. Here is an offer for a set of 6 silverplated orange spoons in exchange for referring new subscribers to the 1896 magazine in which the ad appeared. For referring 2 subscribers, she would receive a set of 6 orange spoons by 1847 Rogers Bros., each spoon in a different pattern, and in a velvet-lined case.

Also offered in exchange for referring new subscribers was a Child's Fairy Set by 1847 Rogers Bros. which consisted of a knife, fork, spoon and napkin ring. This child's set also came in a velvet-lined case.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 8th, 2007 at 8:44 pm and is filed under Victorian Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.