Our new silverware

[Fierce Critter]

It's called "Silver Tear" and it's from the Handmade line by Gourmet Settings.

I'm so excited about this. Yeah, I know - it's just silverware.

But we didn't have your typical wedding, so we didn't get a shower/reception and all the gifts that come with it. We had seen this brand at Service Merchandise and loved many of the patterns, but we just couldn't afford it. All this time, I'd been bummed over that.

Over the weekend, we were in Marshalls, a discount store, and they had several of the patterns we'd seen way back then on clearance, and we decided on this one.

They make such beautiful, unique silverware, you should check them out - just google "Gourmet settings" and you'll see lots of patterns come up. This "handmade" line features styles that look like they're hand-forged by a blacksmith. One style in particular, I think it's called "Treble clef" is REALLY medieval looking.

We had picked up a beautiful 1950's silver plate set from a yard sale we were going to keep for ourselves, even though it's probably worth over $50 on eBay. But now we'll sell it to offset the cost of our new set.

[Onyx]

Very nice set

[JaneDead]

yes that is pretty cool.

[Lilith]

When i got my first full set of matching silver ware i was soooo extreamly excited too. I felt silly about it but for the longest time when i would open the drawer i would get a little smile.

Isnt it great how small things can make ya smile and feel yeppie inside.

I am happy for you dear.

lilith

[Fierce Critter]

Thanks!

I enjoyed all the ceremony involved in setting up my set yesterday. Washed out the silverware organizer for my drawer, washed all the new pieces, dried them and put them away.

This set is SO big. It's hard to tell from the picture, but the handles are actually thick twists of metal, with a silver "teardrop" at the bottom. The business-end of the pieces are oversized - the "teaspoons" are closer to tablespoons, and barely fit in the section of my organizer where they're supposed to go.

[mallochai]

Very nice, critter.

When I get to pick out neat silverware someday... I want a set with three pronged forks and long handles spoons with tiny heads. They're my favorites.

[JaneDead]

this reminded me of when we got our silverware for our wedding. it was just the forks, knives and spoons (none of the serving stuff, etc) but it was still very expensive to me - 70 bucks from target for just teaspoons, tablespoons, forks, salad forks and knives.

so then one day my husband had taken some to work i think it was and didn't bring it back. so i was like make sure you bring it back i dont want any of it getting lost. he said what's the big deal we will just get another set or something. i was like really? you want to spend 70 bucks on another set? the expression on his face was funny as shit. he yelled out something like holy shit or something and how he thought it was just some cheap crappy set that his aunt bought for us. i said no no that is why she got us just this silverware- it cost more than just about any other one thing we registered for. come to think of it - that is funny that my silverware was the priciest thing we wanted.

[Soulrev]

I have to go on a quest some day to find 3-tined fork silverware sets.. Yes 3 tines instead of 4. Why? I don't know, I grew up on 3-tined forks, it's what my parents have.. And their set is probably older than I am, and finding silverware with 3 tined forks is going to be a bitch. Heh.

I'm odd leave me alone.

[ManicQueen]

Wow ~ I think I'm in love with your silver wear! That has got to be one of coolest sets I've ever seen.

[Fierce Critter]

Wow ~ I think I'm in love with your silver wear! That has got to be one of coolest sets I've ever seen.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks - it really is a beautiful set.

It is taking some getting used to. The pieces are so heavy, that due to the roundness of the handles, it's really hard to cut with the side of your fork, 'cause the fork wants to twist in your hand.

Just forcing us to be more "proper" and use an actual knife for the cutting. Whoop-de-doo.

Soul Rev, check out this set, also by Gourmet Settings:

It's called Treble Clef. 3-tines, and the handles look like hand-forged, unpolished blacksmith iron.

That was the set we originally wanted 6 years ago. It wasn't available at Marshall's, and I think I like the more elegant style of the set we got better now.

[gothicmom]

oooooo, I like those!!!

[Soulrev]

sweet! I guess there is still hope then

[Fierce Critter]

I love silverware with a medieval flavor. This Gourmet Settings/Handmade line is just the ticket.

This goes so well with our Pfaltzgraff dishes, which feature leaves, berries & woodland animals.

Now, someday, I'd like to enlarge THAT set from 4 place settings to 8.

[pomba gira]

that's really tight FC... what's the pattern name? I like the Treble Clef pattern even better. I have a set of stainless that's kind of similar- the stems are cylindrical & hammered into a wavy shape, with a knob at the end. Like yours, they're quite thick & can be difficult to maneuver 'cos of the weight & round shape.

I had an art prof at Wayne who made these very eccentric flatware sets. Some of them would be damn nigh impossible to actually eat with, but they were all helly cool. I think at that time he had some on exhibit at Cranbrook... I remember one set was made from these big long bolts, with nuts & washers at the end of the stem.

For my "good" flatware I'm trying to complete a set of Medality/Friendship silverplate... it's an art deco pattern from the '30s. I have a box full of vintage plate waiting to be listed on eBay... it's godawful tedious tho, wish I could just make bracelets out ov it all! I've managed to ID almost all ov the patterns... now it's just a matter of taking pics (HARD!) & writing the descriptions. Grrr...

[Fierce Critter]

that's really tight FC... what's the pattern name?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The set we bought is called "Silver Tear". They have an identical pattern, except instead of the "tear" at the tip, they just finished the twist in a circle-shaped loop. I think it's called "twist". You can see their other styles on their website, Gourmet Settings. The stuff I've been mentioning is from their "handmade" line.

I like the Treble Clef pattern even better. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Originally, that's the set we wanted. But now that I have the "Silver Tear," I'm glad the Treble Clef wasn't available for us to jump on first. The ST set is elegant enough to use for fine dining as well as daily. I can enlarge the set I've got at a later date if I want to pay more - a 4-place setting set can be found for around $57.00 online.

For my "good" flatware I'm trying to complete a set of Medality/Friendship silverplate... it's an art deco pattern from the '30s. I have a box full of vintage plate waiting to be listed on eBay... it's godawful tedious tho, wish I could just make bracelets out ov it all!  I've managed to ID almost all ov the patterns... now it's just a matter of taking pics (HARD!) & writing the descriptions. Grrr...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

To complete your set, consider Replacements Ltd. But be forewarned - they're not cheap.

Also, consider contacting them to sell them your odd pieces if they don't seem to do well on eBay. We've got a 64-piece set of vintage, 1950's Oneida Silverplate listed right now, and MIGHT be lucky to get $50 for all of it.

The pictures ARE a bitch. I would have thought scanned images would be best - nuh-uh. They came out grey. And we have the cheesiest, ancient 1mpxl camera, so that didn't do much better.

[pomba gira]

I looked at the Gourmet Settings site last nite & it was weird, I couldn't get the Handcrafted & Function collections to show. =( All the others did, just not those 2. Tried again today w/same result. Strange.

Yes I am well acquainted with Replacements LTD! They are indeed quite pricey... I plan to build my set from eBay; there are usually several listings for Medality/Friendship pieces. There're other things I need more than fancy flatware right now tho!

AFA selling the odds & ends, unfortunately I have a taste for ornate 19th c. patterns, which Replacements is seldom looking for. Or else I only have 2 or 3 pieces so it isn't really worth it. I can usually tell by their list price, or the Tere Hagan guide, if it's gonna be worthwhile. eBay is just easier all around, altho you lose money if pieces don't sell the 1st or 2nd time you list 'em.

Flatware is sooo hard to shoot! Especially the older very detailed patterns. I have a very nice 5mpx camera, which I bought largely to shoot eBay pics... only to find out that 3 mpx is actually better for shooting small detailed objects. Duh.

There's one eBay seller who actually scans lingerie- just puts a bra & panty set on a mannequin & slaps it down on the scanner. The pics are HORRIBLE- you can't tell what color anything is, & any lace or embroidery looks totally funky. I can't imagine buying any of her stuff based on those cruddy pics.

[Fierce Critter]

I looked at the Gourmet Settings site last nite & it was weird, I couldn't get the Handcrafted & Function collections to show.  =(  All the others did, just not those 2. Tried again today w/same result. Strange.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hm. I wonder why. I know their main pages only show the knives - which I think is dumb. But perhaps just do a google search on "gourmet settings". I did so, and lots of places popped up that sells them, including Macy's New York.

I have a very nice 5mpx camera, which I bought largely to shoot eBay pics... only to find out that 3 mpx is actually better for shooting small detailed objects. Duh.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why is that? I've been using a 1mpx camera my entire 5 years on ebay, so I'm not well-versed in the best camera settings to use beyond that. I actually do use a scanner for much of what I sell, but I photoshop the hell out of stuff so it looks as close to the original as possible.

Also, I recently have been reading up on digital cameras in Consumer Reports. Shouldn't you be able to use a 5mpx camera on a less fine setting and get basically 3mpx shots?

[pomba gira]

OK, I found some pics at imageimports.com. I really like the "Twist" and "Twist & Shout" patterns (love those 3-prong forks!)... "Grid" is kind'a cool too.

AFA the camera, I'm going by what more experienced seller/photogs on the eBay boards say. I have spent a fair amount ov time browsing the manual for my camera, & haven't run across a pixel-down function like you mention... but then who knows. There is a detail feature, which doesn't seem to do much good.