Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Egyptian Egyptian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1880s American Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1790s English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1990s English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Late 19th Century English High Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s Dutch Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century German Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Victorian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Victorian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1850s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1970s Portuguese Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Stainless Steel
20th Century American Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel
19th Century Russian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1800s English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1960s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s Austrian Other Antique Sterling Silver
Amethyst, Malachite, Gold Plate, Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Vermeil
Late 20th Century Italian Other Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century English Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1780s English Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1890s British Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1910s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s Renaissance Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Danish Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1950s English William IV Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Folk Art Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Other Vintage Sterling Silver
Malachite, Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold Plate
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s English Adam Style Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Danish Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Other Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Vintage, New and Antique Sterling Silver
Dining and entertaining changed drastically when we began to set our tables with sterling silver for holiday gatherings, wedding receptions, engagement parties and, in some of today’s homes, everyday meals.
Often called the “Queen of metals,” silver has been universally adored for thousands of years. It is easy to see why it has always been sought after: It is durable, strong and beautiful. (Louis XIV had tables made entirely of silver.) Sterling silver is an alloy that is made of 92.5 percent silver — the “925” stamp that identifies sterling-silver jewelry refers to this number. The other 7.5 percent in sterling silver is typically sourced from copper.
Neoclassical-style sterling-silver goods in Europe gained popularity in the late 18th century — a taste for sterling-silver tableware as well as tea sets had taken shape — while in the United States, beginning in the 19th century, preparing the dinner table with sterling-silver flatware had become somewhat of a standard practice. Indeed, owning lots of silver goods during the Victorian era was a big deal. Back then, displaying fine silver at home was a status symbol for middle-class American families. And this domestic silver craze meant great profitability for legendary silversmith manufacturers such as Reed Barton, Gorham Manufacturing Company and the International Silver Company, which was incorporated in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1898, a major hub of silver manufacturing nicknamed “Silver City.”
Today, special occasions might call for ceremonial silver designed by Tiffany Co. or the seductive sterling-silver cutlery from remarkable Danish silversmith Georg Jensen, but there really doesn’t have to be an event on the calendar to trot out your finest tableware.
Event- and wedding-planning company maestro Tara Guérard says that some “investment pieces,” such as this widely enamored alloy, should see everyday use, and we’re inclined to agree.
“Sterling-silver flatware is a must-have that you can use every single day, even to eat cereal,” she says. “Personally, I want a sterling-silver goblet set for 12 to 20; I would use them every time I had a dinner party. Ultimately, there are no criteria for buying vintage pieces: Buy what you love, and make it work.”
Whether you’re thinking “ceremonial” or “cereal,” browse a versatile collection of vintage, new and antique sterling-silver wares on 1stDibs today.





