Quite often, we are asked the question ‘What is Antique Silver?’ The definition of antique silver is any item that is at least one hundred years old.
Antique Silver is special for many reasons. First and foremost, one should love the piece. Whether an aesthetic look, exceptional workmanship, or even a particular maker, period or company all contribute to the reasons why the piece appeals to you. A very good investment contributes to another reason. Whether you have one piece or many, taking care and maintaining them ensures they will remain in good condition. This helps the piece retain its value or even appreciate. One should also be as informed as possible regarding any piece of antique silver. This includes knowing hallmarks and learning what they can tell you about the piece. You should have confidence as well as trust with the person and/or company you are working with. As our family has been in business for over 130 years, we always have stood behind our merchandise. We have the knowledge and expertise in dealing with antiques and would love to pass this along to our new and old customers. (See the About Us section which will describe Hallmarks, some of the well known Makers and Timeline).
Silversmiths began crafting silver jam spoons in the 19th century as the popularity of jams and preserves grew in Europe. With the increase of preserving fruits, these specialized spoons became essential tools for serving and enjoying sweet spreads during breakfast and at tea time. In …
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Sterling silver sugar tongs have been used for hundreds of years as they are a sign of the prosperous and well-to-do in English, Scottish, and Irish cultures. They emerged on the scene in England in the 18th century and quickly were adapted by other countries. …
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For as long as tea has existed in the Western world, it has been sweetened with sugar. Covered sugar bowls were often sold along with teapots and tea caddies during the early 1700s. The rules of etiquette dictated that sugar tongs were also required to …
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A charming and diminutive Antique American Silver Sugar Tongs. Having an attractive intricate openwork design on the body and round grips with shell decoration, our Sugar Tongs are quite attractive. The marks are located on the interior of the piece near the openwork design.
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A pair of Antique George III English Silver Sugar Tongs beautifully made with bright cut floral engraving. The condition is excellent.
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A pair of Antique George III English Silver Sugar Tongs having a bright cut engraved decoration that resonates throughout the body. They are quite attractive in design and have a script monogram ‘IO’ at the top of the piece. The hallmarks are quite clear and …
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A very attractive pair of Antique George III English Silver Sugar Tongs. There is a crisp bright cut engraving which resonates throughout the piece. Also, an elegant script monogram ‘EB’ is at the top of the piece. The hallmarks which are located in the interior …
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Cast silver holds a great appeal due to its fine quality. Cast items are handmade, often in two halves, resulting in fine and delicate detail. Cast Sugar Tongs are relatively rare and were complex to make. They were made in 3 pieces, the two arms …
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The Georgian Silver Skewer was introduced during the mid 19th Century. Silver skewers were both decorative and functional. They were predominately used to serve meat and poultry in a nice elegant, refined way at the table. The skewers held the joints in place while the …
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Silver Decanter Labels (name tags) were created to declare the contents within decanters. The decanter label was also known as the “bottle ticket” during the 18th century. Colored Glass Decanters were predominately used at this time and it was difficult to determine what was inside …
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Grape Scissors/Grape Shears have been gracing the tables of elegant dinner parties and assisting in grape harvesting for centuries. They bring a touch of sophistication and practicality to any occasion. They were introduced in the late 18th century and have always taken a scissor-form. These …
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Originating in Europe for the royalty and the aristocracy, crumbers were used to clean the table during the meal. Crumbers did not become widely used in America until the 19th century when dining became quite formal. Americans also believed it was important to behave in …
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The Fish Server is a broad blade or trowel shaped article, most often used for dividing and serving fish at the table. The flat surface of the fish servers suggests that they can also be used with food such as cake and breads. The earliest …
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Salt Cellars have been in existence for thousands of years. Salt was seen as a sign of purity, and was extremely valuable as it was used for preserving and flavoring food as well as many other uses. Ironically, it is the derivation of the word …
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A fish slice is a wide flat blade used for lifting and turning food while cooking. It was originally a serving implement, shaped basically like a trowel, for use in serving and dividing fish at a dinner table. The earliest examples of fish slices were …
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This very elegant 19th century American Silver Punch Ladle was made by the American silversmith Volney Boardman. Born in Franklin County, Ohio in 1810, he first learned the trade of watchmaking and jewelry in Ohio. He decided to relocate to Alabama in 1832 and settled …
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Mustard dates from the 17th century and was first used as a spice. It was applied in a dry form. Mustard pots though were not produced until the late 18th century and yet mustard as we know it today was not conceived until 1904 in …
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The Fiddle pattern was the dominant flatware pattern in Great Britain in the 19th century. However, it came from a French pattern which had a thread edge design near the border. In Great Britain, this pattern became known as Fiddle & Thread and it quickly …
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Decoration on silver bowls varies depending upon when the piece was made. Many bowls were decorated with hand-chasing or engraving to reflect what they were used for e.g. flowers, fruit. However, there are some common styles that have been quite popular throughout history. These include: …
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This Antique George III English Silver Strainer Spoon is a must for any collector. Basting Spoons are identical in form without the strainer, and are relatively common. Strainer Spoons like this are quite rare. An elegant Antique George III English Silver Strainer Spoon in the …
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A heavily elaborate Antique American Silver Soup Ladle in the Versailles pattern. This pattern was created in 1888 by Gorham’s chief designer, Antoine Heller. Gorham was so impressed with his work that they convinced him to leave Tiffany and Company and design for them instead. …
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A very attractive Antique George III, English Silver Waste Bowl. By the middle of the 18th Century, small circular or octagonal bowls were added to the serving of tea. Slop Bowls, as they were called, were used for pouring out the remaining tea which had …
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A elegant Antique American Silver Christening Mug. Hand chased with an intricate design of detailed leaves and flowers that resonate throughout the piece, this is a wonderful example of that type of workmanship. It is decagon (10 sided) in shape which is rare to find …
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A lovely pair of 20th century square cut – cornered English Silver Trencher Salts that are replicas of a highly desirable early Georgian style, circa 1720. The salts have gilded interiors and are in very good condition. They do have clear hallmarks but please note …
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The Art Nouveau style originated from the Arts and Crafts movement, which began about 1880. This style was popular from 1895 to 1910 and is known for its organic, flowing lines and asymmetrical shapes. Art Nouveau designs often feature natural elements like flowers, plants, and …
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This is an elaborate late 19th century American Silver Waiter. The border features an ornate 1 inch chased leaf design. The surface of this waiter is decorated with an intricate diaper pattern and has an unmonogrammed cartouche at the center encircled by foliate detail. The …
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When tea was first introduced to England in the 1700s, it was an expensive commodity. In order to keep the tea safe as well as fresh, people use to store it in a tea chest or tea box, which later became known as a tea …
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An elegant Antique American Silver Waiter. It is of lovely quality with its shaped thread edge border. A fluted design also resonates throughout the piece. This fluted design is located right near the border. Although the surface on this piece is quite plain, there is …
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Although there are many types of desirable antiques on the market, Tiffany Silver is considered one of the most coveted and sought-after types of silver around. Tiffany sterling refers to hollowware, flatware, and all kinds of sterling silver goods made by Tiffany and Company. While …
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With the arrival of the elegant and sophisticated new style of dining in the 18th century, the demand for objects on the dining tables started to emerge. As a result of this, the silver wine coaster started to make its presence felt. The original purpose …
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A handsome Antique George III English Silver Sauce Boat with a plain body and a gadroon border. It has a wonderful acanthus detailed flying scroll C handle and is set on three shell feet. This Antique George III English Silver Sauce Boat is in pristine …
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Even though people sometimes think that a silver chalice and a silver goblet are the same, they are not. There are several differences between the two pieces. The first difference is the religious aspect. A chalice is decorated in a manner which denotes its ties …
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A superb Antique George III English Silver Hinged Serving Slice in the ‘Hourglass’ pattern. This pattern was first produced around 1805 and was based on a French eighteenth-century design. It is a lovely combination of shells and scrolls, with an hourglass in the center. This …
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Asparagus Tongs are an interesting item as their popularity has never diminished. This is the 21st century and we are still using them as often as they were used in the 18th and 19th centuries. Asparagus was first cultivated and consumed by the Ancient Romans …
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An exceptional Antique George III English Silver Slice/Pudding Trowel. Beginning in the 1740s, these serving trowels first appeared and were not produced in quantity until the 1760s. At first, they were used to serve pudding/custard and eventually they became recognized for serving what we are …
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Silver Salt Cellars have been in existence for thousands of years all over the world. Salt as a commodity was extremely valuable. Its main purpose was to preserve and flavor food. In England, standing salts were owned by the wealthy class and were always placed …
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This handsome Antique George III English Silver Waiter has three ball and claw feet and a shaped gadroon border. It is in pristine condition and is a lovely example of a Georgian Silver Waiter with its design and workmanship. Due to its size, this Waiter …
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Our family has been in the Antique Business for over 130 years. During that time, we have seen many exciting and interesting articles. However, we have never purchased an exceptional and impressive pair of Antique George III English Silver Strainer Spoons. Perhaps my Grandfather had …
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A magnificent Antique American Silver Tankard that is quite stunning in design. It has a wonderful floral and grape decoration which is prevalent throughout the body. There is a cartouche in the middle of the piece and one can engrave their initials within it. There …
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A stunning pair of Antique George I English Silver Salt Cellars that are quite elegant in design. These George I Salt Cellars are in a classic elongated octagonal trencher form and are of solid weight with stable incurved corners. They also have an oval sunken …
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A very handsome Neoclassical style Antique George III English Silver Teapot. It has an oval straight-sided body with hand-engraved upper and lower bands of floral work. This detail work resonates throughout the body. There is a plain cartouche on one side and on the other …
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An exquisite Antique American Silver round shaped Bowl. The workmanship on this bowl consists of intricate repousse raised floral decoration. Also, exceptional scrollwork is placed near the top of the bowl as well as on the pedestal foot. This also helps show off its highly …
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We are often asked what is the difference between a salver and a waiter. The difference is size – we refer to waiters as anything smaller than 9 inches and salvers being larger than 9 inches. All waiters have borders and their designs have evolved …
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The Adams style, sometimes referred to as the Classic period, emerged in the mid-1700s. Previously, Rococo silver pieces were extremely ornate, extravagant and elaborate and thus, were quite popular. However, styles change and people wanted a simpler look. Thus, the subtle and classical influence of …
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An exceptional antique 19th century oval American Silver Platter made by the company Kennard and Jenks. As the firm was only in operation for a few years, their pieces are quite rare and are always in great demand. Thus, we are thrilled to have recently …
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Flatware can be so creative and fun – not to mention styles of entertaining from our predecessors. Our Pair of American Silver Tiffany and Company Spoons are a perfect example of that as they were made when Edward C. Moore was the driving force at …
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The Silver Wine Ewer was first introduced in the late 17th century. Originally, ewers were used for washing fingers. A waiter would hold a basin in front of each dinner guest to wash their hands with rose water. At that time, people were eating with …
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The vast majority of salvers in the 18th Century were made round but other shapes were also produced including oval, square, rectangular, and hexagonal. This stunning Antique George III English Silver Salver, is oval in shape and has 4 reed and beaded detailed feet. It …
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Hester Bateman (1709 – 1794) was the most famous 18th century English female silversmith. Hester was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Nedem. She married in 1732 (at the Church of St. Botolph’s, Aldergate, in the city of London) the goldsmith John Bateman, whereby together …
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Early Coffee Pots made before 1730 were always plain without any chasing, and were often straight – sided or octagonal in shape. This stunning Antique Queen Anne English Silver Coffee Pot, follows the prevailing fashion of the period, as it is quite simple and elegant …
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The derivation of the word ‘jug’ is from the Middle English word ‘jugge’ used to describe a large rounded vessel. Jugs are generally used to hold and serve liquid and usually have a handle and narrow neck. Wealthy Ancient Greeks and Romans stored their wine …
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Britannia standard silver was introduced as part of the great recoinage scheme of William III in 1697 and it lasted until 1720. This was done to prevent British sterling coins from being melted. Unlike sterling silver which is made of 92.5% silver, Britannia silver is …
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A magnificent set of four Antique George III English Silver Entree Dishes. In general, entree dishes tend to be either oval or rectangular in shape. Thus, these being octagonal, tend to make them more unique and very special. Each one features shaped gadroon borders and …
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A spectacular Antique George II English Silver Oblong Salver. This piece is quite wonderful as the shape is quite rare, and the workmanship and the design are exceptional. In general, most salvers are round-shaped and as this piece is oblong, it becomes very sought after. …
View Item >A very attractive Antique English Silver Small Bowl. Residing on a round pedestal base, this English silver bowl has two floral round cartouches. As both cartouches are plain, one can engrave either initials, a monogram or anything else which would personalize the bowl. Above each …
View Item >The mustard pot form has adapted to the current trends and fashions and therefore have become highly collectible and sought after. A very attractive early Antique 20th century English Silver Mustard Pot. It is oval in form and has a wonderful pierced design which resonates …
View Item >A very elegant Antique George III English Silver Marrow Scoop. In the 1680’s, the marrow spoon was introduced and it had a rounded spoon at one end and then a marrow scoop at the other. Soon, this marrow spoon evolved into the marrow scoop. This …
View Item >A Fish Server was originally a serving implement, shaped basically like a trowel, and used for serving and dividing fish at a dinner table. The flat surface on a fish server suggests that it was intended for use with food such as meat, cake and …
View Item >A charming Antique Coin Silver Creamer and Sugar Bowl which are in the Arts and Crafts style. Coin Silver is different from Sterling Silver which most people are familiar with. Coin Silver is a type of metal that makes up silver dollars and other pieces …
View Item >An exquisite Antique American Tiffany and Company Silver Crumber in the ‘Saratoga’ pattern. There is a nice contrast on this piece as the handle has a lovely Aesthetic design and the blade is quite simple and elegant. Even though we are considering this piece to …
View Item >The Fish Slice is a broad blade or trowel shaped server, most often used for dividing and serving fish at the table. The earliest examples of fish slices were made about 1735. We are thrilled to have recently acquired this elegant Antique American Tiffany and …
View Item >An elaborate Antique American Silver early 20th century Mustard Pot. It is embellished with exceptional Repousse workmanship of acanthus leaves and floral chasing. Also, it features reed borders to the base and handle. This embossed Antique American Silver Mustard Pot also is being sold with …
View Item >Antique Silver Soup Ladles were not in use until the mid-18th century. By this time, the Silver Soup Tureen had become quite popular and a companion was needed to be used with this article. A long silver serving utensil was needed which would have a …
View Item >Silver cream jugs (creamer) and sugar bowls (sugar basket) are quite often sold separately but at an earlier time, were always part of a complete tea and coffee set. The creamer or milk jug, was said to be introduced by the French to accompany tea …
View Item >Perfect for tea time, an Antique Silver Sugar Basket is an elegant way to serve your sugar. During the 18th and 19th centuries, sugar baskets were used for the purpose of holding sugar for tea and coffee as well as sweetening foods. In today’s society, …
View Item >This handsome American Silver Christening Mug, made by Tiffany and Company, is straight sided and has a side loop handle. It is quite elegant in design with its 3 reeded bands which resonate throughout the body. These three reeded bands have monograms inscribed on them …
View Item >A 2 handled Antique George III English Silver Caudle Cup, having a bulbous body. This cup was made for caudle, a drink of warm ale or wine mixed with bread, eggs, and sweetened with sugar, and flavored with spices. Caudle often was prepared for the …
View Item >A Bowl is a container that has been utilized throughout history for the preparation and serving of various foods and drinks. The form of a bowl makes it ideal for holding liquids and loose food. The shape of a bowl is most often round but …
View Item >We can thank France and its court in the late 17th century/early 18th century for introducing us to the world of sauces. To help with this idea of sauces, you needed a vessel for the serving and pouring of them. Most vessels (sauce boats) have …
View Item >An exquisite Antique Early American Silver 19th century Mug. The mug is baluster shaped and quite elegant in style. Although it is very plain in design, there is an acanthus detailed scroll handle which greatly enhances the piece. The mug resides on a pedestal foot. …
View Item >The Neoclassical style of silver originated in 1760 and continued until the Regency period (circa 1830) and used many classical motifs. Some of the designs that were quite popular at that time were palm leaves, garlands, and swags. This style of silver is synonymous with …
View Item >Sterling silver dinner ware has a prestigious history. Silver bowls are one of the more frequently used as well as favorite items within a set. While bowls have been produced for thousands of years, it is rare to find sterling silver examples prior to the …
View Item >A very attractive Antique George III English Silver Bowl. It is quite elaborate in design with floral and scroll decoration which resonates throughout the exterior of the piece. The bowl has exceptional workmanship exemplified with the figural handles which are quite appealing. Residing on a …
View Item >An impressive pair of Antique American Silver plain Entree Dishes that are oval in shape. The surface of the dishes are embellished with an applied band of scroll and other ornamentation to the rim. The scroll design is also retained on the original handle which …
View Item >A very handsome Antique George III English Silver Coffee Pot, in pristine condition, having a plain round baluster body with applied gadroon borders. It features a wooden scroll handle and acanthus detailing to the spout. The hallmarks are quite clear on this lovely Antique English …
View Item >This striking set of four Antique George III English Silver Candlesticks, are set on square bases and are chased with guilloche and beaded lobes. Rising from these bases, are the corinthian columns which extend until the sconces and detachable nozzles. These lovely candlesticks have been …
View Item >The Rococo style and its origins can be traced back to France beginning with the reign of Louis XV. This popular style which continued throughout the reign of Louis XV was a reaction to the previous controlled and rigid style of Louis XIV’s reign. The …
View Item >We'd love to help you find the right item in the price range you need. Contact us today to receive personalized service.
Contact Us >Once or twice a month we send an informative email to our subscribers about all things antiques. We love to answer questions and dive into the history of antique silver, porcelain, and glass. Read our email archive here.
Greetings from Wyler Antiques!
We hope that everyone is having a wonderful Holiday season. No matter what holiday you celebrate, here are several more suggestions for those who still need last-minute gifts. Hopefully, this helps you at this busy time of the year.
