Silver with a Past

Yes, I have been saying tarnished silver is in, but I think some of you didn’t believe me.  Well, I took the advice of Carolyn at Leftovers (Click here) and got a tarnished piece of silver, that I don’t plan to polish.  (Don’t tell my mother-in-law!!)  I admit that I will still be polishing some of my silver but I think I will be letting some of it tarnish, you know, not because I am lazy, but because it is the new look.

I also put a set of silver in my flatware drawer in the kitchen so that it is easy to get to and use.  From what I have read you can wash it in the dishwasher, so long as it is not next to stainless steel flatware.  I know that at my mother-in-law’s, we put the silver in the dishwasher all of the time and it does just fine.  And often someone (and I think you know who you are) would put it in the dishwasher next to stainless, and it still looked great when it came out.  This same person washed my old crystal in boiling hot water and was shocked when it cracked in two.  ‘Nuff said.

A lot of my silverplated flatware was purchased on eBay, and I typically paid about $1 per piece, including the CH silver shown below. (click here).  In case you missed the post, I found this silver on eBay, and purchased it because of the “CH” for Cedar Hill.  The “CH” is actually meant to be “HC” for Harmonie Club, but that doesn’t matter to me.  For $50 to have a complete set of service for 8 “custom” monogramed silverplaste is a great deal.  And FYI, if you look for silverplate on eBay, you can get an even better deal on it if it is monogramed.  The unmonogramed is worth more and therefore sells for more. If it has been monogramed, the people that want it are pretty much only the ones with that particular monogram.

Cedar Hill silver

Most of the French pieces were more, but that is a pretty good deal, I think.  I love silver and I feel so pampered when I use it, even if I have to wash it later myself.  But I think I will try washing some (not my favorites though) in the dishwasher.  If you have silver then why not use it?  If you aren’t going to use it, then why not sell it so that you can get something else that you will like and use?

The pitcher and tray I got at The Guild Shop and the other things are from eBay and the Round Top Antique Show.  I think my neighbor Sue’s garden is just beautiful, so I took many of these photos there, and yes, I asked for permission first.

The Crystal is handed down from my mother-in-law

Butter keeper and butter knife found on eBay

French silver from eBay

I also purchased a few more sets of French silver, and below are a few photos.  The French silver has the most ornate part of the design on what we would call the back of the forks and spoons, while the maker hallmarks are on what we would call the front or top.

Hallmark on top of French fork

The French spoon and knife below are shown next to a hand-painted French plate.

More French silver from eBay

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CEDAR HILL FARMHOUSE - updated country French style

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