Sterling Silver
1970s European Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Late 20th Century Scottish Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s Danish Rococo Revival Vintage Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Silver
1970s Italian Renaissance Vintage Sterling Silver
Marble, Sterling Silver
1950s German Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver Plate, Stainless Steel
1870s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Baroque Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Israeli Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1960s Italian Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold, Gold Plate
1940s Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1930s English Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Copper
Late 20th Century Italian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Great Britain (UK) Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s American Edwardian Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Irish Rococo Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Modern Sterling Silver
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1950s Danish Vintage Sterling Silver
Enamel, Sterling Silver
19th Century American Empire Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1920s Danish Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1960s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
18th Century English George III Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1950s Italian Empire Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century German Rococo Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Other Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
19th Century French Antique Sterling Silver
Silver
1850s English Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century German Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Silver Plate
Early 20th Century Austrian Belle Époque Sterling Silver
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
1910s English George I Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1870s American Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American International Style Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Renaissance Vintage Sterling Silver
Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century American High Victorian Antique Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver
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.





