Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century Polish Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s Spanish Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1870s English Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Crystal, Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1790s English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Persian Sterling Silver
Silver
20th Century Danish Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Austrian Modern Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American American Classical Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1650s French Mid-Century Modern Antique Sterling Silver
Silver Plate, Metal
1910s British Edwardian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Danish Organic Modern Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-20th Century American Georgian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Dutch Sterling Silver
Silver
1920s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Crystal, Sterling Silver
1950s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1960s Italian Empire Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1940s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1940s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century French Charles X Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s English Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Danish Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Canadian International Style Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1960s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s British Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s German Baroque Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century English Antique Sterling Silver
Vermeil
18th Century English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary French Sterling Silver
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s German Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Crystal, Silver
Late 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Baroque Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 1900s English Georgian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 18th Century George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
17th Century French Louis XV Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century English Chinoiserie Sterling Silver
Silver
1910s English Edwardian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Mid-20th Century Danish Sterling Silver
Silver
1940s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century Japanese Art Deco Sterling Silver
Silver, Silver Plate
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.





