Most of the silver plate flatware that we use in our creations is hunted at thrift shops, garage sales, on Craigslist and on Ebay. We find pieces in varying conditions. Some pieces are absolutely stunning and appear to have never been used while others look like they have spent a lifetime outdoors. We do not discriminate when collecting. We know that no matter what the condition we will be able to find a way to re-envision the piece into something that will bring joy to its future owner.
The pieces in these photos were given to me by my friend Ian at Dunbar Disposal. All of these pieces were picked up by Ian during some junk removal jobs. He saved them from ending up in the landfill and passed them along for "...and then again" to re-purpose.
The details in some of these pieces are stunning. The large spoon with the shell motif is from 1896 by Rogers & Hamilton. It is a Berry Spoon in the Raphael pattern. The souvenir spoon from 1909, is sterling and depicts the Church of St. Mary The Virgin at Oxford University.
This pile of flatware pictured above is a 4 piece dinner service plus a couple of extras. I polished one spoon in the middle to show how well some of the silver cleans up. This particular pattern is Arcadia aka Margate 1938 by Simeon L. & George H. Rogers Company.
Identifying the manufacturers and patterns of the silverware is part of the fun as well. I have a few websites that I refer to regularly as they have great photos, with full descriptions of origin and date. The character and sense of mystery that accompanies every piece we find really brings them to life. I often wonder who they belonged to, and how and when were they used? They certainly carry a timeless beauty.
-Amanda
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