If you happen to own a popular sterling flatware pattern from the 20th century, you may be aware that there is a corresponding holloware pattern to match it. Gorham, Towle, and Reed & Barton to name a few all manufactured holloware to match their most popular flatware patterns.
Unfortunately, there is more preowned flatware in existence than matching holloware. Prices for the surviving holloware can be pricey as well. For example, a water pitcher in Gorham Chantilly can run over $4,000.
Fortunately, many manufacturers made "generic" holloware to match most flatware patterns. My favorite example of this is the Reed & Barton Windsor pattern.
Windsor offers many of the key holloware pieces: gravy boat(X958G), vegetable bowl(X959), bread tray(X959R), centerpiece bowl(X959F), meat trays, salad dishes, waiter trays, bon bon bowls and even an individual ashtray(X958A). The later frequently gets mislabeled as a nut dish or butter pat.
Windsor is often described as a "Chippendale" design. This pattern is probably the most easily obtainable holloware series and typically sells for a lower price than a holloware pattern specifically designed to match a particular flatware pattern.
The primary disadvantage is that many of these generic patterns don't offer a complete holloware selection. For example, there are no salt & pepper shakers in the Windsor pattern or bread plates. Reed & Barton does have generic salt & pepper shakers and bread plates as well as other items in sterling to round out the table.
If you don't require everything to match perfectly, generic holloware patterns may be the way to go.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Building Your Table: Buying Sterling Silver Holloware
Many considerations need to be made regarding constructing your dining table with holloware. Fifty years ago, fine holloware of many styles was easily procured at a local department store. We are of course talking about sterling silver. As late as the 1970s, one could obtain a holloware pattern that matched one's flatware in many instances.
When the price of silver skyrocketed to $50 a troy ounce in the late 1970s, most domestic manufactures stopped making sterling silver holloware altogether. As a result, the only place one can find a domestic holloware pattern to match their domestic sterling flatware is the secondary marketplace. One can still purchase foreign made holloware from high end stores in New York, Palm Beach and Beverly Hills. Also, there are bespoke makers of sterling silver holloware here in the US. The point is that all the large traditional domestic manufacturers have either gone out of business or sharply curtailed their offerings of sterling holloware. In a way, this is good news.
Mr. Bowen like most individuals is on a budget. This budget does not allow him to buy brand new sterling holloware on Rodeo Drive. Instead, he uses the secondary markets. There are many reputable firms. Mr. Bowen has dealt with many of them. None of them have disappointed him. The advantage in purchasing preowned sterling holloware from one of these establishments is that you get first rate used holloware. For example, there is not likely to be alot of pitting in a bowl for instance that one can't see often in pictures. Or the general polishing of the piece has been done correctly-no circular patterns. Another advantage is these dealers generally know what they are talking about with respect for which a piece was originally intended. Is it a butterpat or an ashtray? Sometimes only the catalogue knows for sure. Prices are moderate with the professional dealers, but generally very reasonable in that one pays about twice the value of the silver in many instances (depending on rarity). This leads us to online auctions.
The chief disadvantage in buying from an online auction, is that you don't really know what you are getting until it arrives at your doorstep. Sometimes the seller is ignorant of what they are selliing. Other times they may not disclose or may disguise flaws by not polishing the item. Heavy tarnish can hide pitting and other issues. Prices can be downright bargains if you know the value of the item you are viewing. We'll deal with some of the issues touched upon here in upcoming posts.
When the price of silver skyrocketed to $50 a troy ounce in the late 1970s, most domestic manufactures stopped making sterling silver holloware altogether. As a result, the only place one can find a domestic holloware pattern to match their domestic sterling flatware is the secondary marketplace. One can still purchase foreign made holloware from high end stores in New York, Palm Beach and Beverly Hills. Also, there are bespoke makers of sterling silver holloware here in the US. The point is that all the large traditional domestic manufacturers have either gone out of business or sharply curtailed their offerings of sterling holloware. In a way, this is good news.
Mr. Bowen like most individuals is on a budget. This budget does not allow him to buy brand new sterling holloware on Rodeo Drive. Instead, he uses the secondary markets. There are many reputable firms. Mr. Bowen has dealt with many of them. None of them have disappointed him. The advantage in purchasing preowned sterling holloware from one of these establishments is that you get first rate used holloware. For example, there is not likely to be alot of pitting in a bowl for instance that one can't see often in pictures. Or the general polishing of the piece has been done correctly-no circular patterns. Another advantage is these dealers generally know what they are talking about with respect for which a piece was originally intended. Is it a butterpat or an ashtray? Sometimes only the catalogue knows for sure. Prices are moderate with the professional dealers, but generally very reasonable in that one pays about twice the value of the silver in many instances (depending on rarity). This leads us to online auctions.
The chief disadvantage in buying from an online auction, is that you don't really know what you are getting until it arrives at your doorstep. Sometimes the seller is ignorant of what they are selliing. Other times they may not disclose or may disguise flaws by not polishing the item. Heavy tarnish can hide pitting and other issues. Prices can be downright bargains if you know the value of the item you are viewing. We'll deal with some of the issues touched upon here in upcoming posts.
The Lost Art of Setting and Furnishng a Table
Over the past fifty years, what was once ubiquitous knowledge relating to the components, pieces, and layout of a table for dining purposes, has been largely forgotten. Ignorance is bow rampant throughout society regarding this subject matter. This ignorance is found even at the finest dining facilities, who quite frankly should know better.
What is disheartening is the mocking and blatant disregard for table manners and manners in general in popular media. Civility is portrayed as a weakness. This blog endeavors to enlighten, entertain and bring about greater enthusiasm for the dining table and its' proper operation.
What is disheartening is the mocking and blatant disregard for table manners and manners in general in popular media. Civility is portrayed as a weakness. This blog endeavors to enlighten, entertain and bring about greater enthusiasm for the dining table and its' proper operation.
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