This weekend my mom, sister-in-law, my girls and I went to an estate sale. I'm sure you can guess what I ended up finding there. (smile)
I've been wanting a matching set of antique silverware for quite some time. My mom first spotted this set still in its box and quickly called me over. I thought the pattern was one of the prettiest I had ever seen and the sellers offered a price that I couldn't possibly pass up.
When I left the sellers also handed me an envelope with a polishing cloth in it. Look at that price!
When I peeked inside the envelope I also found the original instruction booklet, a certificate of analysis and an ownership guarantee registration. When I saw the name and date registered I couldn't help but think of the original owner of this silverware. Of course I'm only speculating, but I wondered if this was perhaps purchased before this lady married, as it is for a "Miss". I felt a little sad that the family didn't feel like this silverware was special enough to keep. I love the thought of passing silverware down a generation.
This silver pattern is Royal Rose by Nobility Plate circa 1939. While I adore anything vintage, I especially love adding something to our home that was made around the same time period.
Isn't the pattern beautiful? Dainty and sweet.
While I realize not everyone may have the same outlook as me, I plan to use this silverware every day. My feelings are the days are too precious to wait until a special occasion and I just can't bear the thought of storing this away! This is a complete service of 6, but it also came with 6 additional teaspoons and serving utensils. Additionally there was another 16 pieces in a different pattern that I added to my mismatched silverware collection.
Although this silver plate flatware was in excellent condition, I did spend some time cleaning and polishing it. It made me smile thinking of the days when this would have been a common household chore. I love the history - something as beautiful today as it would been so many years ago.
Rosetta particularly loves the ice tea spoons, which are just perfect for those two little teeth coming in. (smile)
P.S. Thank you for reading and thank you to everyone who identified my Rose of Sharon bushes!
P.S. Thank you for reading and thank you to everyone who identified my Rose of Sharon bushes!
I agree with you... Why don't people keep things and pass them down? Oh well, think of it this way, you are honoring their precious things by using them everyday in your home. Lovely Silver!
ReplyDeleteA gorgeous set, you lucky girl! I'm like you, use what you have.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
I love silver and you picked a charming pattern!
ReplyDeleteYour silver you got is just lovely. Now that you have a pattern, you can start looking for more pieces to add to it. Having a collection is so much fun and I hope you can find more.
ReplyDeleteI love using old silver and I'm not even fussy if the patterns don't match. I've given each of my sons silver that belonged to my mother and aunt and it's one of their most cherished possessions.
Oh so dainty and pretty! I would have jumped at them too. What a great find!
ReplyDeleteIt is so beautiful! Glad we found it. Also, that picture of Rosetta is PRECIOUS! Love ~ Mom ~ (Now I need to get busy and do a post on my "find"!)
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty pattern! I think you are quite smart to use these everyday and not to save them for a special occasion.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe all the wonderful things you find on your shopping trips. This set might be the best thing yet. Bravo to you for using it and enjoying it everyday instead of packing it away!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely scored on the silver! You know they are selling a pattern that will come back into vogue and they will be sorry they let it go. ~ Maureen
ReplyDeleteAwesome find! Love the floral pattern. So pretty. I would definately use them everday as well. You were so lucky! I only have numerous spoons, butter knife, and a set of tea spoons, which I do use daily. Look at your darling Rosetta. She is getting so big already. On another note...picked up a vintage porch swing for our outbuilding we are building right now. I loved yours and happened on one this weekend at our local Kane County flea market. Can't wait til we can hang it. Yours just will be a visual inspiration til then:) Have a happy week.
ReplyDeleteI would have jumped on those, too! And yes, use them every day! They are beautiful. Like you, I so often wonder about things I've seen families let go. Amazing to me that there wouldn't be someone in the family who would want this lovely set. But, better to have them with someone who will love and use them than with someone who will stash them away in a drawer and think of them as clutter. Obviously, they were meant to be yours :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm so with you on the silver. I bought several sets on eBay and I use one set every day. A note of caution if you haven't done this before. I keep my favorite sets of silverware out of the dishwasher, but one set, my least favorite, I put in the dishwasher. They begin to turn a little milky and I understand that is a pretty permanent condition. I knew that from a set of my MIL's that constant dishwasher cleaning might cause the milky condition. So if you use the dishwasher... be prepared. Now having said that, I am not sorry we use ours every day, but I am glad to that I only hand wash my special silver.
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful! And I agree...use it and enjoy it everyday!
ReplyDeletebetty
What a lovely find! I agree 100% - use it and enjoy for every day is special!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty pattern, Andrea! It complements your brown transferware to a tee. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful find! I love old silver. That pattern is beautiful. It's unbelievable what people sell at estate sales.
ReplyDeleteLovely set. yes, be careful of the dishwasher especially as it's plate. i always wash my sterling and plate by hand, but i have read that the permanent staing is due to contact with stainless steel, so perhaps just keep it by itself in the DW. Still, how hard is it to wash them? Beautiful buy...using them everyday keeps them from tarnishing.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
What an incredible find! I love that it's a complete set and your ideas on using them everyday. I would totally do the same!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous ! Such a good idea to use it daily. It serves no purpose sitting in a box when no one uses it. :)
ReplyDeleteIf you want to clean it faster, try getting a large pan, cover the entire bottom with aluminum foil, place the silverware in the pan and make sure it touches the foil, sprinkle with baking soda. In the meantime, boil enough water to cover the entire silverware. Pour the boiling water in the pan. Let it sit for 5 to 10minutes, rinse the silverware with lukewarm water, dry and polish. TADA ! Restored to its formal glory. Might work to restore the finish of cloudy/milky silverware too, haven't tried.
I'd better warn you, the chemical reaction that happens when you pour the water really stinks. Stay away!
I love your new treasure! China, crystal and silver it's my favorite. There's nothing like a pretty table setting :)
ReplyDeleteI love this pattern. What a find! It has a slight art deco vibe to it with the vertical lines on it. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible find! I think the pattern is beautiful and happy to hear you'll be using it all the time instead of storing it away.
ReplyDeleteA fantastic find indeed!!
ReplyDeleteI am with you, why store the silver away for a special occasion, enjoy every single day.
Thanks for sharing.
Michele
What a lovely find :)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Australia♥
~Pernilla
I also have a full set we found them in the garage of our new house! We don't want them and would be willing to sell them! They come with the bonus carving royal rose collection the fork and carving knife and sharpener! It's a full set with sugar and creamer! Please let me know if your interested or know someone I can get in contact with to sell these thank you Jamie Beck
ReplyDeletejamiebeck52@yahoo.com
417-499-1148
That's a beautiful plate. I love the designs on it.
ReplyDeleteHi what a wonderful blog. I have a set of the Nobility plate, rose pattern. Do you have any idea what it would be worth?
ReplyDeleteHi I ahve a set of Nobility plate Rose pattern. Do you have any idea what it would be worth>
ReplyDelete?
Thanks for sharing soft nature of silverware. I really like your Special designed silverware products. How your sterling silver flatware looking different from everything visit Sterling Silver Tableware.
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