Victorian Flatware was very ornate with elements of nature in the design.
The last popular silver plate flatware design was in 1980. It was nothing in comparison to the quality of silver plate of the 1880s to the 1930s. Old silver plate was heavily covered with fine silver. The silver plate after the '30s has just enough silver (about one millionth of an inch) to cover the base metal.
Silver Plate Flatware 1880
The Victorian Era created a style of ornate designs.
Victorian silver plate flatware of the 1880s and earlier is quite rare and hard to find in today's market. Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901 in England, setting a period of style that was very decorative. The silver plate reflected that style in ornate patterns of flowers, birds, and leaves. Much of the silver plate is in high relief, or repousse, in pattern. Later in the Victorian era, the world was influenced by Japanese art and culture. In and around the late 1800s, the "Aesthetic Era" took hold. The style of heavily decorative birds and flowers added an element of geometric lines and forms. Nature in delicate detail remained, but a new element of angles and shapes were introduced. This style is easily identifiable.
Rogers Brothers was a leading silver manufacturing company that produced several patterns in both Victorian and Aesthetic style. Some pattern names to look for from the Aesthetic Era are: St. James, Rival, Geneva, Marquis, and Regal. These were all made by Rogers Bros. in the 1880s.
Early 1900s
Curving lines were characteristic of art nouveau.
The decorative styling of the Victorian era moved through to the art nouveau movement. Silver plate flatware reflected this form with intertwined organic forms of stems and flowers. This design trend was sometimes called the "noodle style," however right-angled forms were also typical.
Gorham Silver Co. made both silver plate and sterling silver flatware. Some patterns to look at include: Saxony, Easter Lily, and Dewitt.
Art Deco, 1920s to 1930s
Art deco style simplified the curved forms and introduced more angles.
Art Deco represents a movement toward the modern world. This style of art and form moved away from the curved lines and decorative flowers of art nouveau. Silver plate flatware became more angular and simplistic.
Reed & Barton is a well-known silver manufacturer of the art deco style. Some flatware patterns to look for are: Modern, Socialite, and Waverly.
1940 to 1980
Silver-plated flatware has been popular of necessity since the 1880s. The cost of sterling silver prevented most homes from being able to afford silver flatware. With the production of stainless steel flatware, silver plate is no longer desired. The production of silver plate through the 1980s saw a combination and reemergence of styles mentioned above.
Rogers continued to make flatware, changing names and partnerships through time. Other leading silver plate manufactures were Oneida, Wallace, Alvin, and Holmes & Edwards.
Identifying Silver Plate Flatware
Each time a new pattern was introduced, silver plate flatware reflected the style of the era. To identify the pattern of a silver-plated flatware, turn the piece over, and note the trademark stamped on the back. The trademark is the name of the manufacturer. The style of the piece and the manufacturer's mark date the piece.
