I am rather like a crow when it comes to shiny things so it's no surprise when I am lured by something that sparkles.
Mother has already given me the lion's share of the family silver as my sister dislikes polishing what Mother gave her and poor Mother shudders every time she sees the tarnished items!
Polishing days occur twice a year here in The Humble Bungalow
with the exception of the everyday silver teapot which needs monthly attention with Twinkle.
I purchased this wee drinks tray recently for under $20.
Perfumes, toiletries and jewelry would look attractive massed on top.
Dainty tea sandwiches, wee cakes...
there is no shortage of uses for this newbie.
Made in England and artfully carved.
Where do you stand on silver?
If you inherited a box of it would you use it and keep it gleaming or hide it away?
Or would you sell or donate it?
Just wondering if I am old fashioned!
Hope that your week is ticking along nicely...
32 comments:
Love silver, dislike tarnish, and I even enjoy polishing it. Beautiful drinks trays!
Beautiful tray, I polish my silver about every two months, my family used to have a staff of people to do that for us!
It is a pain in the butt, but worthwhile non the less.
^
Snobby comment of the year award.
Love the silver and don't mind polishing . . . My parents started me with my first silver spoon on my first birthday and added to my Old Lace pattern by Towle . . . a treasure to never part with . . . I olson enjoy silver bowls and trays although pewter runs a fast second.
Hah! - I said I enjoyed doing it - I didn't say I actually did it. I enjoy doing one teaspoon. So I could be a runner up.
I inherited my grandmother's silver and I use it only 2 or 3 times a year. Since it is quite old and I really do love it, I decided to keep the sugar spoon out to use for coffee/tea each day. I don't like to polish, but hate tarnish.
I love it and don't mind polishing it one bit, I find it soothing. My Mother gave me a silver tea service when I got engaged and it's one of my favorite things. Lisa S.
What a great find! I adore silver trays, would love to find one like that. We inherited two family's worth of silver flatware, and I have inherited some silver serving pieces that date back to the mid-1800's. I do enjoy polishing everything periodically.
'At Home'cards are still sent out by some of the county people around,and when you turn up for tea the full silver service is in use, bet the hostess spent weeks polishing it.
Still have most of my inherited silver tucked away....my silver trays, bowls,cutlery are in use,polished every 6 wks Ida
I have passed onwards ( to M, who lives in her own home ) her silverware, the ones still left are for the younger M.
These are mainly flatware. I have sold the inherited pieces no one likes.
So, my silver things are minimal, actually only silver art pieces. I like them polished.
These days there are great stainless steel products for serving food or whatever. Functional and a pleasure for the eye.
I inherited all of my paternal grandmother's silver and could never bear to part with it. Even if it means polishing ever single piece of the sterling flatware set, I gladly do it.
Besides, now a days you can buy those silver wipes which make everything 10x easier!
Oh I would keep it and polish it. I am a polisher. Alas, my mother gave most of her silver away, because she found it too much trouble. I have a few pieces of hers. My daughter loves the tarnished look. I suppose it is all generational. Happy Wednesday! Bonnie
Have maybe 5 pieces of family silver that I use and polish every few weeks: trays, a water pitcher and several bowls. Then I have several large boxes of platters and cutlery, fairly ornate things of my mother's and grandmother's. I don't know what to do with it- my sons are not at the stage where they would use or value it, but I am loathe to sell it. Guess it can stay in storage for awhile. (I use a silver cream made by Birks, it is the best I've found so far. Pricey but lasts for years.)
Tarnished silver is unattractive and somehow depressing to me, like a pretty dress with a rip in it.
I am a polisher - and love the silver cream made by Birks as well!
Use daily and polish when I can! xo
We have a champagne bucket but I really really want a silver tea service! I promise I would polish it!!
I love silver and have a lot of pieces from my mother. I find silver tarnishes faster here near the ocean than it did in the Midwest. I never seem to catch up with the polishing.
Your tray is lovely, and as you say, just right for a drinks tray.
I love beautiful silver. It is such a shame to let it become tarnished with neglect. I even wrote a post about it. I find it so satisfying to watch it glow glow after a good polishing.
This new fad for tarnished silver seems to me nothing but an excuse for laziness. All this "shabbiness" has gone over the top. Tattered furniture, wallpaper in strips, white paint splattered over everything - just not a pretty sight - and definitely not for me.
I've always used my sterling for good and silver plate for everyday. After all, the more you use silver the more beautiful it becomes.
Tabitha- I think my family might have worked as house staff back a few generations!
Kathy- well at least you know how to polish the silver if ever you need to do it yourself :-))
Does pewter require polishing?
Oh my silver pattern is called Silvery Lace by Rogers...
I'm off to google your Towle silverware pattern and see if they are similar.
Silver does improve with age but too much polishing can remove the silver if it is a silver plated piece. Only sterling is pure silver and you could use it each and every day.
What a lovely gift your mother bestowed upon you...
I hope you serve tea often!
I'd love to see those patterns. Maybe a silver blog post is in order?
"At home cards" sound very aristocratic, or rather like a Jane Austin novel.
I'd love to pop in for a full silver tea served in a heritage estate somewhere in England.
Your Finnish pieces are artfully designed.
Silver seems to be something that is handed down through families. Probably because they would have been investment pieces and I would not have gone out shopping for silver when we got married in the 70's pottery and mid century modern was all the rage.
How fortunate for you to inherit that silver!
I must check out those wipes.
Shabby Chic distressed painted white furniture and tarnish are a popular look.
I prefer the look of aged furniture with a patina that has been earned honestly over years of use.
I think you would be wise to keep the silver for your sons.
They may marry women who are passionate about heirlooms and have an affinity for fine things.
Imagine how wonderful it would be to see the next generation enjoying something that has been in the family for several generations.
I'm thinking that you'd probably find a fabulous set in an antique or second hand shop. You might try looking. Here they are popping up all over and the prices are really affordable.
My Mother used to say that the salt air was nasty on the silver also she said that any moisture would result in tarnish and there is always moisture near the ocean.
Priscilla you sound like me.
I love the shabbiness of vintage antique furniture and belongings that have been used and have earned their patina and signs of wear. Like those images of English country estates and homes that are centuries old.
I have a few pieces downstairs that I distressed...a mirror and a bamboo shelf. They were used in the bathroom and will probably find a home in our laundry area which is currently undergoing a major renovation.
Your blog is quite lovely, I read your most recent posts.
I have heaps of silver, I polish the visible stuff once a year before Christmas. but I also have a lot in a sideboard that I store. I put all those silica packets from in shoes, handbags and the like, in a cup in the cupboard and I swear it makes a difference to the rate at which they tarnish. Is that a weird thing to do? I have lots of pieces including some large silver plate meat covers that need to be resilvered. There are companies that do it here in Aus and I need to get onto that business.
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