Friendly Village is so pretty for the holidays, I love it. Gorgeous photos, Awm. Pewter really would be beautiful with it.

Here is a handful (haha) of my orphan pieces. The rest are not accessible, buried deep in a blanket chest right now. Why do I have these unusable pieces? :-)

Several years ago, I was watching Antiques Roadshow, and a lady was having her ornate silver pitcher appraised. The silver expert said it was made by Dominick and Haff, which in his opinion made silverware every bit as fine as anything made by Kirk or Stieff or any of the other well known names.

So I looked up Dominick and Haff items on ebay, and there was a 12 piece set, a great old 1920s pattern called Basket of Flowers! Monogrammed with my initial on it! For $1300! Which I didn't have at the time because we were paying two college tuitions! Tears still come to my eyes!

12 pc. Dominick and Haff Basket of Flowers, sold for $3750

Em11 - gw, I hope you don't have to endure too many family functions with that new member.

I got my Francis I appraised for insurance purposes. I was shocked that the total for all the pieces were appraised at $12,000!!

I brought back crystal from a factory in Germany. I've finally displayed some of the pieces. Looking back I can't believe that I carried them on the plane considering how heavy they were; I didn't break one piece. I could of had them shipped; talk about being cheap.

I love all the pictures!! That Friendly Village looks so.....friendly, Awm! I also have off white dishes that will look fabulous with the FV, very excited. Aunt Jen, your hammered flatware is PERFECT for your new home, and jlc I like your "orphans" too. And mustangs, your crystal....fabulous!

mustangs, that is amazing, carrying all that crystal on a plane with no breakage. It's a beautiful set.

The picture that sent me down the rabbit hole....

gasp, that beautiful hurricane glass! And such a fabulous mix of china, glass, flatware, and nature -- I'd probably sit there in oblivious bliss, just gazing at the place setting!

I have two good sets, one the set we got when we were married and a few years ago I inherited a beautiful set from my mother, with a ton of serving pieces. I also have a good many pieces from an old set that we use here and there.

I understand your wanting the pewter, I have a love for pretty dishes. I have stopped buying sets. I now buy plates (usually 6). Sometimes I will get six dinner plates and 6 salad/dessert plates, sometimes only the dinner plates. I have various salad plates, bowls, dessert plates, etc. that work with the dinner plates. I like to mix and match - like a transferware dinner plate, ironstone salad/dessert, etc. I have some of the friendly village plates, have used them before at Christmas. I love setting a pretty table, what can I say?

Two I guess. One is a very plain dansk pattern that I bought at an outlet when I lived alone. It's just a set of eight though and we started having more guests than dinner forks. So before last Xmas I bought a cheap set of reed and Barton on sale at Costco which I think is a set of 12. So now we have more than enough.

My mother has a set of 12 sterling and a set of 12 plated and monogrammed from my great aunts house. She won't give them up though.

kswl - this is where DH bought the flatware. It's heavy and doesn't nest well so it requires more than normal drawer space. Our pattern is the Forged Flatware. Note that you have to hand wash it......and dry immediately.

http://www.ironaccents.com/flatware.html

About a million or so it seems...

Well, I didn't think I needed or really wanted anymore flatware until this thread... :) It's so darn pretty.

Jen I really like that hammered set.

Nice pictures everyone!

China and flatware don't do anything for me, specially if they need to be hand washed or require special handling. When I host, it tends to be larger groups with a buffet style meal and I use my Corelle plates and SS flatware. I have old Christofle silver flatware that came from my great-grandmother, but doubt I will ever use it. As long as the food is good, I don't care what they serve it on!

Flatware takes up so little room and it is nice to have different styles for varying china pattern styles. It makes entertaining interesting and fun for guests, not seeing the same thing all the time. I keep two sets for daily use in the kitchen in drawers and the rest are in flatware trays in the dining room buffet. Silver in an ancient lined silvercloth chest.

Two sets we use. The daily stainless, Gorham Nouveau, which I've had about 35 years and most of it still looks almost new. Had service for 12 but a few pieces have been lost. I've bought a few replacements in eBay, but since it's just us, I don't really need more. And have service for 12 of Gorham Strasbourg sterling which we use often. Some of it was my mother's and I added to it. My DD also has some now, so between us, we can feed a crowd. We just count it before and after to make sure nothing gets lost/thrown away.

DH also had some stainless we never use that is monogrammed. I don't care for it really but it's in the cabinet if we need it. And I bought an 8-pic set for the lake that is very simple.

Mtn, I love the tortoise pieces in your collection. Aunt Jen, love your hammered set. Everyone has such great pieces and stories to go with them!

Ok now you make me admit to another addiction besides dishes. Geesh, I hate to admit how much I have collected. I have Gorham Buttercup sterling service for twelve plus eleven more teaspoons and a few bullion spoons and a serving pieces. I have a set of eight antique Gorham sterling in the King Edward pattern (everyday use) with serving pieces, eight place settings of antique Stieff sterling in engraved Betsy Patterson with serving pieces, four place settings of Wallace sterling Sir Christopher (missing a fork since last Thanksgiving), twelve dinner knives and twelve teaspoons in Wallace sterling Grand Baroque, and Oneida Michelangelo stainless I'm not sure if I have place settings for fourteen or sixteen. I use my stainless for outdoor entertaining. I never host more than sixteen at the top end but I have enough flatware for a big party. I use my sterling every day. I figure if you have it you should use it.

KSWL, I swore last year I was going to stop buying dishes. Then I bought those cute bunny dishes and some Friendly Villlage pieces. Macy's had a beautiful white porcelain with gold trim for an amazing price so I bought a service for sixteen. I AM NOT going to be buying more China and only the pieces that I need in the Grand Baroque sterling to complete the service. I have more than enough.

I am in good company with you all and there are some patterns mentioned that I'm not familiar with.

ETA: I justify this because I have two daughters, a step daughter, and two granddaughters. They will be happy some day that I loved flatware.

If anyone is interested, the hammered Oneida is the Illuma pattern and Macy's has it half off right now ($99.99 for the 50 piece set). I'm very pleased with the quality of these pieces. The weight is lovely.

mustangs, is that Nachtman Paris? I have wines, champagne flutes, small brandy snifters, and several vases in that pattern. On a trip to Germany a long time ago, if I remember correctly, I carried 6 home on the plane and had the rest shipped without any problem.

"They will be happy some day that I loved flatware."

Before, i had encouragement....Now i have rationale!

I think my one set has 12 place settings. I've never needed more because I don't have big dinner parties. The most I've had for a sit down dinner was 14...not sure what those extra people did. Maybe they ate with their hands. More often, we have casual parties with appetizer type foods that don't require silverware...or we have outdoor parties where we use plastic!

I do lust after this set, but I can't be bothered with flatware that has to be hand washed.

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/alton-flatware-place-setting/?cm_src=tabletop-flatware||NoFacet--NoFacet---_-&

Bbstx, Thanks for asking, your question made me look it up and I find that Macy's has it for $75 @ glass! It's Waterford, Lismore Collection.

I got it at one of the factorys on the Crystal Road in Bavaria.

I have 6 sets . . . but then again, if you've seen my post on Jen's "Dine By Candlelight" thread, you probably won't be surprised by this number (LOL). I have one set of sterling for 12 and then one set for 25 that has a concha design on the handles that's my everyday set (Place setting for 25 because we have that many for some of our holiday dinners). I have a set with white cottage-y handles for Summer and a set with dark brown and a set with light brown that I like to use during the Fall. And then, we still have the set DH had during his bachelor days.

News flash....I was searching for "twig flatware" and would you believe that Terrain has plastic twig salad servers?

wow! I had no idea they made Waterford in Germany, too. I've been to the factory in Ireland and found it fascinating (except the Dale Chihuly piece I especially wanted to see in the Waterford gift shop ceiling had been taken down because someone broke a portion of it while cleaning [sad face]). My "good"crystal is Clare by Waterford.

Thanks to this thread, I'm now getting emails from W-S "thanks for your interest in [fill in the name of any W-S pattern mentioned above]". I, of course, had to go see what each mentioned patterned looked like.

kwsl, those salad servers don't look like plastic!

kwsl, a few minutes ago, I got an email announcing The Enchanted Home has Vagabond House pewter ware at promotional prices.

I have 4 sets of stainless settings for 12 - 2 here @ home & 2 at our lakehouse.

I was never interested in owning sterling until I ended up getting some teaspoons that were sold with a sterling plated tea service I bought from eBay. Then I inherited a few odd pieces from my Mom. To my surprise, I find myself seeking out those silver utensils whenever I'm eating alone. I really enjoy how they look & feel. I prefer the smaller size compared to my stainless which are all Continental sized.

It goes against my matchy nature, as well as my intent to keep household items pared down since the remodel, but I'm tempted to collect enough sterling plated to make an extra set.

BTW, this thread led me to look up current prices on my stainless sets from Reed & Barton. I did not know that this year the company filed bankruptcy and are no longer in business. Really sad to hear about an American company with such a long history ending its run this way.

I have:

a set of 12 German silver pieces that I use for every day -- dating to pre 1900. I love them - the forks are monogramed on the back (to set the table the European way), the soup spoons are as large as serving spoons but alas, the knives need new blades.

My husband's grandmother's sterling to which I have added to -- it's what we use for company.

My mother's silver-plate which I rarely use (because I have the sterling)

A set of sterling that I bought for $25 (yes, $25 for the entire set) at a farm auction because I wanted some sterling but since I got grandmother's I rarely use it.

And then I have two whole drawerfuls of different serving pieces that don't match anything -- mostly Victorian and a lot are sterling because I love the old silver!

Whoa, bbstx---thanks!! Going over now to window shop :-)

And here I thought I had issues..ha! An 8 place setting stainless for every day. A 12 place setting of SS plated, but over the last 30 years I'm minus a couple of knives and teaspoons, but still have all the soup spoons as well as an assortment of various other utincels. Also 12 place settings of gold plated, which was my Mom's and used for every holiday. This is what I use since the SS always needs polishing, and the gold looks much better with my fine China, ....all three sets!

I had a dream about flatware last night! I don't believe I've ever had a GW-inspired dream (let alone a dream about flatware!). Based on the nature of the comments, and now one dream about flatware, it seems to me that flatware is more a part of our psyches than at least I ever knew!

Lol.

Might explain your chomping at the bit to get another set, kswl.

During the summers when I was in college I worked in an office. There was an elderly lady in the office who refused to eat with stainless steel, even when eating out. She kept a place-setting of sterling in her purse.

I'm not sure. Don't judge me! :D I'll explain ....

Two here in the house: a set my dad gave me (what we used in the 70s), and a set my late husband and I got for our wedding.

My husband now brought dishes and silverware when he moved here, but they're still in boxes, in the attic. I think he brought two sets, one being what he and his late wife got for their wedding. After reading this thread, I'm chomping at the bit to take a look! I'm laid-up with a bad back, so no getting up in the attic, maybe I'll ask him to tonight. His wife had lovely taste, I'm looking forward to seeing what's in the boxes! I'll report back. :)

I really, really want pearl-handled flatware, hopefully someday.

I feel vindicated and know that I am not alone in my love of flatware. I don't have a chest for any of it but it takes up three drawers in my kitchen. I also have a set for eight (stainless) at our other house, but I forgot about it because I have that home rented out right now.

I also have a small collection of sterling baby spoons. DD is using most of them as Moses is nineteen months old and the twins will be eating baby food in a few months. My favorite one has a bird engraved on it and is engraved with "who killed cock robin". I still have that one and two others.

Tib that is hilarious that you dreamed of flatware: Tib was nestled all snug in her bed while visions of flatware danced in her head!

amck2, I didn't know that Reed & Barton went out of business. How sad. When setting up my first house, I dreamed of owning a set of their 18th century pattern.

Couldn't afford it though, so went the time-honored route of saving Betty Crocker coupons to buy flatware! I love American history & rather liked this tie to the Depression era: promotions in products pitched to housewives of modest means, clipping & saving up the coupons, boatloads of hope & dreams. I must say the Oneida Community stainless & silverplate sets I bought through them in the mid-80s has held up extremely well. No rust problems with my stainless.

Reed & Barton's Wikipedia entry says they merged with Dominick & Haff in 1928, so that explains what became of that company.

The beautiful 1920s silverplate at the consignment store that was tempting me is gone. A good thing as I was conflicted about getting it.

awm03, your post reminded me of my Mom saving Green Stamps. My job was to stick them in the books. I took it so seriously, wetting them with a damp sponge on a saucer and lining them up just so....My kids would think I was making this up, lol.

It was such a thrill to go to the redemption store with all the goods displayed. I remember a set of ashtrays that we got that cost a lot of books! Wonder where that went.....

Thanks for conjuring up a sweet memory ;)

Ah, remembering the S&H green stamps myself, and yes, it is indeed a sweet memory!

Before we bought our most recent Oneida set, I fell head over heels for these pieces by Yamazaki. This is the Alexandra Ice pattern, and I love everything about it except the price ($166 for a 20-piece set; not a TON of money, but more than we wanted to pay since we would want two sets). Perhaps someday though ...

Just for fun, here's my one set--Gorham melon bud. (Still widely available 19 years after we got married.)

I didn't know how many flatware sets I had until I went looking around the house for flatware to use for Thanksgiving dinner. I knew I had my everyday stainless and my sterling (which I use only when I'm in the mood to wash by hand), but I didn't realize how many other sets I had. All silverplate and service for 12, there was the set from my grandparents, my parents, my mother-in-law, her sister's, and a couple of miscellaneous stainless from who knows where.

So, if need be, I can feed an army, and they won't have to use their hands. And because a friend gave me 6 dozen dinner plates and 9 dozen salad/dessert plates, the army won't have to eat off paper plates.

Between mom and me we have 3 sets of sterling or plate. Of course the ones I like the most are Georg Jensen

and then there are the China sets, the glass serve ware, etc

Kippy -- that should be another post -- the china sets and another post -- the glass ware!

We have our everyday stainless / set of 12+ and as well a sterling silver set that has been my grandmothers. The sterling is never used...just a tad of a pain to wash and keep polished. I should break it out for Christmas and try to figure out what some of the pieces are used for:)

We love all things sterling! We use sterling flatware daily. Might as well use it if you have it! My mother gave me my grandfather's set from his second marriage (after her mother passed away) - original box and all from the mid 1950s. Gorham Willow, 8 place settings. Don't LOVE it but it is nice to use daily. My thrifting uncle found and gave me 6 dinner forks in Tiffany Wave Edge which I love. Also found a few serving pieces. I would love to get more of that when budget permits. Then we have two toddler sets for our children, but just "upgraded" our 5 yr old son to a youth sterling set in Gorham Rondo.

I do have a silverplate set I purchased in Romania that was manufactured in the old USSR (stamped CCCP on the back). Still love it and the memories it holds but use the sterling more.

I haven't read all responses but have had lots of my flatware "walk away" over the years. So, now I have "everyday" stainless, which is a mix of 2 patterns, one of them from my original Oneida 50 years ago; and I have "good" stainless for holidays, etc. But...I also have a bunch of mismatched pieces purchased at Goodwill for the times when we entertain outdoors or with a very large group. Those can walk away or get thrown in the trash, and I don't have to go looking. :)

Do cellophae packages of plastic 'utincils' count as flatware? I have a drawerfull, at least 50+ or more! Why???

Then there's my SIL who inherited 2 sets of beautiful sterling - one from her MIL and another from an unmarried Great Aunt who worked in a department store and bought her sterling piece by piece over the years. My SIL didn't care for it so she stored it in a suitcase in the basement.......and now that she's moved has no idea what happened to it.

Patty, If we can count plastic utensils as flatware then count me in with 100 - 3 piece settings.

I love my sterling set, strausbourgh from gorham. It's a huge set from my husbands family. Tons of serving pieces & absolutely gorgeous candelabras. Helped that grandmother owned a jewelry shop in town with bridal registry!

But, I really want horn utensils!

I have two sets of stainless. One was made in Ireland and has a Celtic design on the handles. The other set is "Sea Shells" by Reed and Barton, which has a different shell on each handle.

This year I've bought a set of iced tea spoons with a pineapple design on the handle, and a set of grapefruit spoons with a stainless bamboo handle (to replace cheapo grapefruit spoons with a real bamboo handle that I've had forever).

It helps to keep kosher if you are a table-settings junkie! You can rationalize two sets of stainless and two sets of sterling, plus Passover if you are so inclined! So, Old Maryland Engraved 14 place settings; and 12 place settings of an inherited set of Watson Wild Rose--the old (larger) size/weight. WMFraser stainless--two different patterns that I've had a long time. My dream? Buccellati. But what an extravagance, even if I could afford it. (can't!)