Silverware in the 19th century
13.03.21
The housewife, an 18th-century invention
The practice of placing cutlery on the table , around each plate, became widespread from the 17th century onwards, and especially in the 18th century. Grand royal, princely, and aristocratic dinner services then appeared, followed by other, more popular models that became part of private collections. Made of gold, silver, or brass, the cutlery was exquisitely crafted, decorated with marine and fantastical animals, busts of men or women, religious representations, naturalistic motifs, and even poems, particularly in the German-speaking world. True works of art during the Renaissance, tableware evolved in the 18th and 19th centuries into veritable pieces of art, sculpted in numerous ways, reflecting the styles of each era.
Important silver and mother-of-pearl flatware set - Original box, Tétard Frères
The term "ménagère" dates from the 1945-1950 period. It refers to a set of tableware housed in a compartmentalized box, often lined with fabric. It was first used in the 18th century when manufacturers developed a process for creating forks and spoons from silver leaf. Individual table knives, often with mother-of-pearl or ivory handles, were not included in these sets. They were only incorporated in the 19th century when, along with the fork and spoon, they formed the "couvert" (place setting).
From the mid-19th century onwards, solid silver flatware sets were given as wedding gifts, allowing wealthy people to travel with their silverware. A symbol of prestige and social status, these silver services often bore the mark of their owner: a monogram or coat of arms , like our Art Nouveau flatware , whose handles are monogrammed "WA", or the Gorini Frères flatware set , whose cutlery features a coat of arms and the monogram "NT".
In addition to the basic set (large fork, soup spoon, large knife and dessert spoon), a typical dinner service might include a dessert service and a few other more specialized sets , including:
- A fish service (with a fork with flat, wide tines, and a spatula-shaped knife),
- A shellfish service (with oyster cutlery, a shellfish or snail fork, and a lobster or crab fork),
- A dessert service (with a fork and several dessert spoons, ice cream spoons or mocha spoons).
The place setting for each guest could be supplemented by pieces intended for use by everyone . Among the most common were:
- Cutlery for serving vegetables (a soup spoon and a large fork),
- Cutlery for serving soup (a ladle),
- Cutlery for serving salad (a pair of large salad servers),
- Cutlery for serving sauce (a sauce spoon),
- Cutlery for serving fish (a large shovel and a large spatula), - Cutlery for serving pies (a flat knife or a pie server).
Typically designed for 12 guests, the most sumptuous sets could accommodate up to 60 or even 120 place settings. Our three silver flatware sets are very complete . They contain 108, 122, and 164 pieces respectively, with numerous additional items: dessert forks and spoons, small and large knives, and various serving utensils.
How to recognize antique silverware?
Most antique flatware sets found on the market today are made of solid silver. But how can you recognize silver, and more importantly, how can you distinguish solid silver from silver-plated metal?
Solid silver or silver-plated metal?
What is commonly called sterling silver is actually an alloy of silver with another metal. Indeed, silver is too malleable to be used in its pure form. Instead, an alloy is created, most often composed of 925 parts per thousand silver (92.5%), mixed with copper to make it more durable. The silver content varies from country to country and throughout history, but it is always subject to strict regulations.
Silver-plated metal refers to a metal object (usually copper or bronze) coated with a very thin layer of silver using the electroplating technique. Electroplating is a process invented in the 19th century by the Englishmen George and Henry Elkington, which allows for the coating of ordinary metal with a layer of silver. This process was developed in France by Charles Christofle, starting in 1844.
It is important to know how to differentiate between so-called solid silver pieces and those made of silver-plated metal, which have a lower value.
Silver hallmarks
There are several elements to consider when evaluating a piece of silverware: its weight , quality , the silversmith , its appearance , and its style . But the most reliable element remains the hallmark , which provides information about the precious metal used, the date of manufacture, the object's origin, and the maker.
In the 19th century, silverware made in France was required to bear the hallmark, often in addition to the manufacturer's hallmark:
The hallmark is affixed by the authority that guarantees the precious metal content of the object. There are two forms of guarantee:
1. The hallmark or standard mark : on domestically manufactured objects tested by cupellation for gold, or by wet testing for silver. From 1838 onwards, the standard mark for silver is a head of Minerva facing right. This high-quality alloy is composed of 950 parts per thousand (95%) of silver for the first standard, and 800 parts per thousand (80%) of silver for the second standard.
2. The small guarantee mark is applied to items tested using the touchstone or to objects that cannot bear the mark of the larger hallmarks. From 1838 onwards, the small guarantee mark is a boar's head (800 thousandths, or 80%), surrounded by a border.
The maker's mark is stamped by the manufacturer. In accordance with the law of 19 Brumaire, Year VI (November 9, 1797), it bears their initials and a symbol that is unique to each manufacturer. The mark is a lozenge, with the symbol in the center and the manufacturer's initials at each end. It represents the signature of the workshop that produced the object. Each manufacturer is required to register with the guarantee office of their department and to file a design of their maker's mark.
In addition to hallmarks and maker's marks, a silver piece may also be represented with the place where it was made, such as our knives marked "Paris", or the signature of a well-known silversmith, such as Henri Soufflot.
How to care for your silverware?
Sterling silver has a oxidation process ; it tarnishes after several months of exposure to air, but a good cleaning is usually enough to restore its original shine. Although tedious, cleaning silverware is very effective, and numerous professional and homemade techniques exist to revive and shine tarnished tableware.
Our solid silver flatware is in very good overall condition , showing only slight oxidation in places. A light cleaning with water and alcohol is sufficient to maintain these pieces. To do this, mix 50% rubbing alcohol and 50% mineral water in a container. Then, soak a cloth and gently rub until the black stains disappear. Finally, rinse with water and dry with a soft cloth, then lightly polish to bring out the shine.
Once the silverware has been cleaned, it is recommended to store it in a sealed container (in its original case, for example). The aim is to minimize contact with the ambient air in order to prevent oxidation.
Where to buy silverware?
Antique, complete, and restored flatware sets are highly sought after today. They are available for sale in flea markets, on specialized marketplaces, or in antique galleries like ours. In our online shop, you can find solid silver flatware sets of exceptional quality. They include a large number of individual pieces and service sets , and are crafted by renowned silversmiths such as Henri Soufflot , Edmond Jamet , and Gorini Frères . Complete and in excellent original condition , our flatware sets are distinguished by their exquisite decoration in Louis XV, Neoclassical, or Art Nouveau . The silver cutlery is kept in its original wooden boxes, monogrammed and marked by the silversmith.
