Knives, forks and spoons are usually termed “flatware” by silver collectors. Depending on your budget there are many ways of collecting flatware. Complete services, which usually comprise settings for 12, may seem prohibitively expensive, but odd numbers of spoons and forks in the most common patterns, such as Old English, Fiddle, or Hanoverian are relatively easy to find, and it’s often far less costly to build up a service piecemeal. Flatware services do not usually include knives. These often had thin metal handles which may become worn; most collectors prefer reproductions, which arc more robust.

Antique Collection

flatware

APOSTLE SPOONS

Apostle spoons (so-called because the handle is decorated with the figure of an Apostle), are among the most valuable of spoons. Sometimes they’re faked by reshaping ordinary 18th century spoons – you can spot these by the stiffness of the figure. £1,000+

PATTERNS

Different patterns are identifiable by their names; these are some of the most popular ones which have been repeated continually since they were first made. The date of flatwares can affect their price even more dramatically than other types of silver.

OLD ENGLISH PATTERN

The most desirable services contain a dozen tablespoons, table forks, dessert spoons, dessert forks and teaspoons. This 77-piece Old English pattern service has the added bonus of a basting spoon and other serving pieces and this will increase its value. £6,0008,000

BEWARE

Badly worn flatwares are virtually impossible to restore and are worth only scrap value. Only the fork on the left is in good condition. The one in the centre is badly worn, the other has been trimmed to disguise the damage.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Flatware by Silver Craft Collectors