Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Silver, Enamel
1910s English Neoclassical Revival Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1870s American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century European Victorian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s British Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1890s Russian Late Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Gold, Silver, Enamel
1960s Italian Napoleon III Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1970s Italian Islamic Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
1910s Irish Rococo Revival Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century French Sterling Silver
Silver
1930s English Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Danish Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1850s Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1800s Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Empire Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Late 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s English Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Sterling Silver
Enamel, Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel
1890s American Late Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century French Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1820s Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
20th Century American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Other Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s English Neoclassical Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century German Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1720s English George II Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1920s American Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
20th Century Italian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1960s Italian Napoleon III Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Crystal, Silver
Early 1900s English Hollywood Regency Antique Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
1950s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1970s British Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Silver
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1740s British George II Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Silver
1890s British Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1880s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1890s American Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century English High Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1910s Russian Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s American Vintage 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.





