When the first colonists arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607 they were looking for silver, along with other precious metals. The value of silver was so great that those adventurers were willing to travel across an ocean to find it. Silver had long been desirable in Europe as a decorative way to display wealth, but the American colonists would have to import the majority of their silver for another 150 years, until the discovery of the Comstock Lode in 1857 in Nevada. This new source of material, combined with the development of electroplated silver in the 1840s, fueled the rise of some of America's most famous silver manufacturers, including Tiffany & Co., Roger Bros., and Reed & Barton.

 

 

FLATWARE

Today a place setting of flatware usually has five or seven pieces. A five-piece set includes a table knife, a fork and a spoon, a salad/dessert fork and a teaspoon. A seven-piece set has an additional salad/dessert knife and spoon. However in the late 1800s, because of the number of competing manufacturers, silver companies began to produce a myriad and confusing variety of utensils. These ranged from meat and fish carving knives to ice cream forks, lemon saws, pickle forks, grape scissors, and tartlet servers. For the middle-classes that developed during the Industrial Revolution, ownership of these silver accessories, combined with the knowledge of how and when to use them, was a sign of sophistication and respectability.

 

 

 

 

 

TROPHIES

The Victorians were competitive for business, money, and social position. In the last half of the 19th century, silver trophies became common rewards for a job well done. They came in various shapes, sizes, and styles and were awarded for many different types of competitions. Silver objects were also presented to individuals for service to organizations and communities. Silver was the metal of choice because of its beauty and affordability.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOVELTY AND DECORATION
The late Victorians often displayed silver objects throughout public rooms of the house as a sign of their money, social status and good taste. Most of these objects, in all but the wealthiest homes, were not sterling silver but rather silver-plated. This less expensive alternative was available in all the standard pieces found in a well-furnished middle-class home of the time.

Whether plated or sterling, silver is a high maintenance material that requires frequent polishing to retain its desirable shine. A house with many silver objects was often a sign of a house with domestic servants – another symbol of Victorian respectability.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SERVING          

Silver serving pieces were in frequent use, as the typical Victorian routinely gave or attended dinner parties – often as many as five times a week. The dinner would often last for several hours, and would regularly consist of at least six to nine courses. As there were different flatware pieces for eating each course, so there were different pieces for serving them, and it was crucial that the guest know how to use each piece correctly. A middle-class hostess would typically place all the dishes for a course on the table and let guests serve themselves, which required both the hostess and the guests to know how to use the serving utensils. For those who could afford a butler and other dining room staff, "à la russe" was considered the most fashionable type of dinner service. In this style, the staff would offer each guest menu options from a platter, then place the choices on the guest's plate. In this case, only the staff had to worry about which serving piece to use.

 

 

 

 

SILVER FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE
 Although silver was a desirable metal for centuries, it reached its peak of popularity during the 19th century, when the development of silver plating made "silver" objects available to almost everyone. From a baby's cup to a coffin plate, silver objects were present throughout Victorians’ lives as items they strived to own as symbols of financial success and social respectability.  As the 20th century developed, objects in silver often took design inspiration from the past, while objects of more modern design used "modern" materials, such as aluminum and stainless steel.