Country Living Magazine: Top 10 sterling flatware patterns

Just a quick note of interest - we're mentioned in Country Living magazine's October 2011, issue. See the article:

• Top 10 Flatware Patterns

Gorham "Pattern M" - Fairfax??

I received a question on my AllExperts site today that stumped me. The question regarded a set of Gorham sterling flatware identified on the back of the pieces as "Pattern M". The questioner included a picture of a few pieces and they looked like Gorham/Durgin Fairfax. I've attached my own picture of a Fairfax piece below.

I would like to hear from anyone who might be familiar with the terminology, "Pattern M". Email me or add a comment below.

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U.S. Government Restriction on Pattern Pieces?

A blog reader sent in the following question:

I remember reading somewhere that the US government limited the number of pieces that could be made in any pattern. I believe I remember reading this was after the Victorian era because they created so many pieces. Is this true and if so what did they limit the number to?

No one in our group is aware of this. Can anyone out there help? Send an email or post a comment.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Top 10 Most Popular Patterns of Sterling Flatware

This ought to get us in trouble!

Here's our opinion concerning the ten most popular sterling flatware patterns in terms of units still being purchased regularly. We have some "loose" statistics to back up our opinion but we don't have access to all sales data for new and used pieces. So, take it for what it's worth. It's just our opinion. The list is ordered more less by popularity as we see it but one could definitely argue that a particular pattern belongs higher or lower in the list.

• Chantilly by Gorham
• Francis I by Reed & Barton
• Prelude by International
• Repousse by Kirk-Stieff
• Old Master by Towle
• Royal Danish by international
• Grande Baroque by Wallace
• Strasbourg by Gorham
• Rose Point by Wallace
• Buttercup by Gorham

Please send us an email or post a comment if you have other ideas. We're going to post this list also in our Examiner.com column to see what arguments we can generate there.

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Another Reference Source - Hallmarks & Patterns

We received a comment today from the folks at Antique Sterling Research. Their blog has an impressive list of hallmarks and pattern identification information. If you are trying to identify hallmarks or a sterling flatware pattern, check it out.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Which Pattern Should I Select?

The selection of a sterling flatware pattern can be a tough decision. So we thought we would give you some points to consider, trying to add some logic and order to what is otherwise an emotional, and sometimes irrational, decision process.

We're going to focus on the new bride. We realize that pattern selections are made by people in other situations but we think the vast majority of pattern selections are made during the time leading up to a wedding. So, here's our list of points to ponder when considering a pattern. They start out with pragmatic considerations, then moving toward more abstract thoughts.

1. Is the pattern still being manufactured? A "yes" is not required absolutely because many patterns are available in the secondary market but it's nice to know you can buy new pieces if you like. You may actually enjoy the challenge of finding discontinued pieces.
2. Is there a robust secondary market for used pieces? Because costs keep rising, more and more people are purchasing used pieces in good condition. It makes sense financially. A good place to check is eBay. Search for pieces being offered in the pattern you're considering. A robust market would be indicated if you see more than 200 individual listings. For example, it's common to see more than 500 listings for Gorham Chantilly pieces. A robust market could be a negative indicator for you personally if you are someone who likes to own unique things. You will not be unique if you select Chantilly as your pattern.
3. What's the price for new and used pieces relative to other patterns? If you plan to collect place settings for 16 with 8 pieces per setting, expensive patterns could be a burden. Of course, you are also affecting the pocketbooks of people who might give you pieces.
4. What pattern does Grandma have? Are you likely to inherit her flatware? If you don't like Grandma's pattern, forget this point.
5. Does tarnish drive you crazy? Look at the Gorham Buttercup spoon below. Tarnish will accumulate deep within the design and many Buttercup owners think it actually enhances the outline of the pattern. We agree. There is a nicer term for this called, "French gray". Would you agree or would you be constantly trying to remove the tarnish from the crevices? If the latter is the case, Buttercup probably is not for you.
6. How does the pattern look sitting beside your dishes?
7. How does it relate to the size, style and furnishings of your home, especially the dining area? Are you Bauhaus or Baroque? Is the pattern heavy and intricate or does it have relatively clean lines?
8. Do you plan to use your sterling flatware every day or only on very special occasions?
9. Do you like tried and true solutions or are you adventurous? Is it important for you to have a unique presentation? (Refer back to point 2.)
10. Does the pattern add special value? Does it remind you of family dinners past? Does it take you somewhere - New Orleans or Boston or Paris?
11. What pattern does your fiance's ex-girlfriend have? You might want something else!

The bottom line question is, "Is it you?" Does it relate to your taste in other areas? Does it already feel familiar to you? Will you value it for years to come?

Your pattern will be part of your "signature". Look at the two spoons in the pictures below. You may not be inclined to select either as your pattern but you will be drawn to one more than the other. Maybe that will help reduce the number of choices you are considering.

Comments from others are welcome.

Gorham Fairfax

Gorham Buttercup

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Mystery Piece Number 2

Gwen, a visitor to this blog, sent in our second mystery piece. Here are her pictures, followed by a description.



Here is a summary of Gwen's description:

On the bottom, it is stamped #1062, Gorham Mfg Co., and sterling. The hallmark is very small, and even with a magnifying glass, and looking at Gorham hallmarks on the Internet, I'm unable to find a similar hallmark.

I'm pretty sure it belonged to my grandmother, who was born in 1881, and was handed down to my mother, who was born in 1918, and I received it after my mother passed away, in 2001.

I've searched all over the Internet, trying to identify the pattern, but it doesn't appear anywhere that I've looked. The design on each scalloped edge has a bow
in-between each scallop, and what appears to be (maybe) an acorn in the middle of each scallop.

Weight is 1 lb. 2.50 oz. It is 5" tall and 9 1/2" at it's widest, from the edge of one scallop, to the edge of the one across from it.

This is a tough one. I do know that Gorham has used numbers etched on the bottom of pieces to identify patterns of some pieces but that's about all I can help with. Can anyone out there help Gwen identify this pattern? Please post a comment or send us an email by clicking on View My Complete Profile in the right column.

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eBay: Searching Tip

If you are buying on eBay, you might want to consider this - sellers often make mistakes in spelling, especially with regard to certain pattern names. A good example is the Wallace pattern, Grande Baroque. Many sellers forget about the "e" at the end of the word, "Grande". To work around this, you might do two searches with these search terms:

• Wallace Grand Baroque sterling


• Wallace Grande Baroque sterling
  

Or, you might take an easier, quicker approach. The following search terms will search for both spellings:

• Wallace (Grand, Grande) Baroque sterling

The eBay search engine will understand that you are looking for the "grand" OR "grande" spellings.

Savvy sellers include both spellings in their listings so that their listing will be found even if the searcher spells it "grand". In our Grande Baroque listings, the word "grand" is included in the item description but it is hidden from view. So, it will not be seen but it will be examined during eBay searches.

Other pattern names often mispelled include Rose Point, ("Rosepoint"), Strasbourg ("Strasburg"), Chantilly ("Chantily"), Buttercup ("Butter Cup") and Versailles (many!).

By clicking on "Comments" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions/comments.

Mystery Piece Number 1

We're adding a new feature to the blog with this post. We're calling this series, Mystery Piece.

This series was suggested by an email from a visitor to this blog. The purpose is to help blog visitors identify sterling silver flatware patterns and specific pieces within patterns. We'll depend upon posted comments or emails from other visitors to help with identification.

The first mystery is a Gorham Chantilly fork and was submitted by a visitor on November 11, 2008. The picture below illustrates two forks. The fork on bottom is what we normally consider a luncheon size. It is 7 inches long and is 7/8 inch wide at the base of the tines. The handle at its widest point near the tip is 7/8 inch wide.

The fork on top in the picture is the mystery. It is 6 7/8 inches long and is 15/16 inch wide at the base of the tines. The handle at the widest point near the tip is 13/16 inch wide.

So when compared to the standard luncheon fork, the mystery fork is slightly shorter and slightly narrower at the handle tip, but it is slightly wider at the base of the tines! The mystery fork has the old Gorham hallmarks and it has the original retailer die stamp, J. C. Grogan. So, it must be very old.

Does anyone out there know what the proper nomenclature for this fork is? Or, perhaps, did Gorham make luncheon forks slightly differently one hundred years ago?

If you have any ideas, you have two ways to respond.

1. You can add a comment by clicking on "Comments" below this post. After review by the blog moderator, it will be posted to the blog.
2. You can send an email to the moderator by clicking on View My Complete Profile in the column on the right. You will then see an "Email" link. The moderator will summarize your information and add a comment to the blog.

Tell us what you think! If you have your own mystery piece, send us one or more clear photographs via email and describe it. We'll post it soon afterward.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions/comments.