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updated COUNTRY FRENCH

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Country French Vintage Silver

By Anita 23 Comments

 

vintage-silver-sm

Vintage silver is one of my very favorite things. It gives a room a French feel, even if the silver isn’t actually French. I have some French pieces, but many that are not actually French.

 

macaroons-and-silver

I know vintage silver isn’t in vogue much any more, because it is considered high maintenance, due to tarnish, but I love it. It reminds me of days gone by when it was revered and used. The upside to using your vintage silver often is that it doesn’t require polishing, since you are wiping it with a cloth to dry it on a regular basis.  The sugar scuttle with scoop above was inherited. I filled it with macaroons which is not how it was meant to be used. I can be irreverent that way.

You can collect silver trays or water pitchers. I got both of these below at a nearby thrift shop. The pitcher is tarnished and missing a bit of silvering, but that doesn’t take away from its charm.

 

old silver 3

 

I especially love to use vintage silverware at the table for parties and even everyday meals.  I will caution you about washing it in the dishwasher though. It can be done, but if mixed with stainless it will become milky.  Since the blades on most silverware are stainless, I would not put those in the dishwasher.  At the end of the day, hand-washing really is your best option.

Although we inherited the family silverware, you can usually find silver-plate very reasonably priced on eBay. I found lots of goodies there.

silverware-and-bluebonnets

 

My favorite find was my “Cedar Hill” silverware.  It was actually HC for ‘Harmonie Club’, but hey it looks like CH to me!

 

I honestly have fun looking at the silver in thrift shops and on eBay even if I don’t buy any. It feels like I am seeing into the lives of people long gone, and for some reason, that fascinates me.

flower 1

 

This covered butter dish is also a favorite of mine. I like to keep old silver sitting out and use it to hold things.

antique silver butter dish

 

I use a vintage silver water pitcher to hold my wooden spoons and whisks. It was a wedding present and it was new at the time.

 

silver pitcher utensil holder

If you don’t mind spoons and forks that are mismatched, you can find silver-plate even cheaper, than if you buy it in a matching set.

silver at cedarhill

And look at all of these fun patterns I found!

tarnished-silver

Some pieces are super ornate like this repousse tea strainer. The large one is actually reproduction, but again, still charming to me.

silver tea strainer

Many of my pieces are not French, but I am delighted to own a few things that are French. This set of dessert forks below as you can see are from Orfevres in Paris. It’s a complete set!

French-silver

 

The vintatge silver below is also French. The markings typically are on the top of the spoons and forks, and the more ornate part of the spoons and forks is on the bottom.

 

French-silverware

 

So here is the ‘bottom side’ of the fork,

 

fork-bottom

 

and here is the ‘top side’.

fork-top

 

Fish sets are really unusual looking to our modern eyes; they were only used for the fish course. My friends don’t know that, so I often use these for dessert.  Shhhh… don’t tell them.  I suspect this set is English, but I’m no expert on silver.

 

fish-set

 

I have so much more to show you, but I have run out of time and space here.  I found this silver syrup pitcher at a thrift store too, and I love to use it as a vase for fresh flowers.

 

French-silver

 

I hope that gave you some ideas about where you can find silver and how you can use it in your home.

 

Please join the other country French bloggers that are part of my country French event today.

 

COUNTRY-FRENCH-DESIGN-BUTTON-LARGE

 



 

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Filed Under: country French, silver

Comments

  1. Kim says

    August 31, 2014 at 06:34

    You have some beautiful pieces, Anita and found some great ways to use them.

    Reply
  2. carol@6WilsonBlog.com says

    August 31, 2014 at 06:43

    I love old silver, too. Yours are just beautiful, especially the CH monogram and the forks with the yellowish handles. What a gorgeous post.

    Reply
  3. Sharon Mynhier says

    August 31, 2014 at 06:52

    Love your blog, where did you get those wonderful Macaroons?

    Reply
    • Anita says

      August 31, 2014 at 17:43

      A macaroon shop in River Oaks. Can’t remember the name right now.

      Reply
  4. Peggy Thal says

    August 31, 2014 at 07:08

    Silver pieces are beautiful and I use them through out my home. The only downfall is constant polishing. I like mine clean and polished. Some I just put away in a large cabinet and polish once a year. A whole buffet table in all silver with food is gorgeous for a party. I love your monogram silverware. It is perfect!

    Reply
  5. Lory at Designthusiasm says

    August 31, 2014 at 08:55

    I’m a big vintage silver fan too. You have a wonderful collection. The butter dish is particularly gorgeous, as are the varied spoons. Love that you found the CH, and it does look like CH to me too… 😉 I really enjoy finding silver in European markets, because it’s so much easier to bring back than worrying about shipping furniture, and of course it reminds you of your travels. I’m also a big repousse fan, repro or not… 🙂

    Reply
  6. Cynthia says

    August 31, 2014 at 09:35

    Anita, I just love this series you, Kin and Debbie take art in, what fun. I love the vintage silver and I don’t mind it tarnished. I think it adds charm. You have such great pieces, love the sugar scuttle.

    Cindy

    Reply
  7. Gee says

    August 31, 2014 at 09:40

    Such a beautiful collection Anita. I luv bringing my pieces out in the Fall.

    Reply
  8. Confessions of a Plate Addict says

    August 31, 2014 at 13:36

    You have some wonderful pieces, Anita! I especially love your butter dish…gorgeous! I hope you are having a wonderful holiday weekend!…hugs…Debbie

    Reply
  9. Courtney says

    August 31, 2014 at 18:35

    All your pieces are so pretty Anita. I have a large collection of mismatched monogrammed silver flatware as well- love that you found some with your initials on them.

    Reply
  10. Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon says

    September 1, 2014 at 17:32

    I am so in love with your glasses. Love the silver. I need to go polish mine.

    Madonna
    MakeMineLemon

    Reply
  11. Pat says

    September 1, 2014 at 19:02

    Anita,
    Gorgeous silver pieces, dear friend!!!
    Most of my silver pieces are heirlooms
    from my MoMa and Maternal Grandmother.
    However, I have a fettish for silver trays!
    Footed silver trays make me swoon!
    Also, a few ornate silver flatware teaspoons and serving spoons
    seem to “PoP” into my basket at the local Antique & Flea Markets!!!
    Your photography is exquisite, as always!
    Fondly,
    Pat

    Reply
  12. MJ says

    September 1, 2014 at 19:42

    My french SO, when setting the table, turns the forks tines down. This shows off the backs of the forks.
    I gave away all my wedding silver back in the 80s, because I didn’t want to clean it, but am buying more vintage now, since I made pacific cloth bags to hold all the pieces I don’t use regularly.

    My favorites are half a dozen coin silver spoons, American classics, but they look fine with the collection of more elaborate silverware.

    Reply
  13. ANN P. says

    September 1, 2014 at 22:26

    Anita,
    Love your silver collection. I understand sterling is getting harder to find. I have a lot that I am going to start using throughout my house….
    Maas Polish will revive the most tarnished sterling to its original mirror finish, btw.
    Ann

    Reply
  14. Leasa Hodges says

    September 2, 2014 at 05:22

    I also love the charm of tarnished silver . I especially love the silverware with embellishment on the back. But I have a question about the rabbits behind your syrup pitcher. I love it…where did you find it? Do you know the name of the artist?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Anita says

      September 2, 2014 at 08:41

      No I don’t and I bought it from a dealer years ago.

      Reply
  15. Robin says

    September 2, 2014 at 22:05

    You have a wonderful collection of great pieces! I too collect what I can from thrift stores and such and Love to use it any chance I can. I have a gorgeous butter dish that we use on a daily basis and numerous trays scattered around. But my favorite is Thanksgiving when I get all I have gathered up and use it all on the table. It makes me so happy.

    Reply
  16. Sharon Santoni says

    September 4, 2014 at 08:46

    I just love all your pictures Anita, especially the sugar/macaron bucket, … so sorry I couldn’t join you for this one

    Sharon

    Reply
  17. MaryJean says

    September 6, 2014 at 19:59

    Since I sell vintage items, of course, I would love vintage items. Like you I do enjoy looking at vintage silverware and I thought I was the only person who wondered about the person that owned the piece. My collection of silverware that I use for entertaining is only silver-plated since I bought it new not very long ago,but I do have some silver pieces from my mom and I am wondering what to do with them. Any suggestions? I have a large silver tray that was very tarnished and I tried to clean it up, but I was only able to do so much. A coffee urn with a warming tray underneath, teapot and sugar and creamer. I also have a compote bowl that has candle holders on 3 sides. Unfortunately one of the candle holders is broken off and it is part of the foot so I can’t stand it upright. 🙁 All pieces are heavily tarnished since my mom kept them in a box with no protection. I would especially like to use the compote, but I hubby says there is no way of fixing it without ruining the piece itself. Any suggestions from anyone would be appreciated.

    Reply
  18. sherry says

    October 26, 2014 at 11:03

    i have a set of those fish forks…i love mine and use them for dessert forks becuz my friends don’t know either

    Reply
  19. Savvysnowbirds says

    November 2, 2018 at 06:15

    Perfect blog for me to read today. I just purchased a silver tea/coffee set. I am so excited to use them.

    Reply
    • Anita says

      November 2, 2018 at 19:04

      Sounds wonderful.

      Reply
  20. Jana Rinehart says

    November 2, 2018 at 08:33

    Anita, I love your silver collection. I have collected many pieces over the years. I love to use smaller round silver trays for chargers. They look so gorgeous under plates.

    Reply

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