Silver Linings

Today, we use stainless steel flatware daily - in our homes, in restaurants, pretty much any time we eat a meal, other than disposables. However, stainless steel was not invented until 1913, so prior to that, the tableware was made from different materials. Silver, wood, and pewter were commonly used for flatware.

If you were to look up the word "silverware" in the dictionary, you will find two definitions.

1. dishes, containers, or cutlery made of or coated with silver.

2. eating and serving utensils made of any material.

"Flatware" is defined as eating utensils such as knives, forks, and spoons.

So, back to silverware, meaning cutlery made of silver...it is made of sterling silver, which is silver that is 92 1/2% pure. It is sturdy, and was traditionally used for silverware. It was preferred because it is less reactive with foods than other metals, and so did not add any unpleasant taste to the food. Steel, pewter and wood utensils were also used, but these may have had an effect on how food tasted.

Many of us have a set of real silverware. It may have been a wedding gift, or it may have been passed down from our mothers, and now is in our care. If you use your silverware at all, it is most often used this time of year. Special holiday meals often mean pulling out the china, and the good silver out of storage.

Here is my silverware in use - set for a tea from last winter.

And a holiday table setting.

Storage of your silverware can be a bit tricky. Since most of us use it rarely, we need to get it out ahead of time and see that it is ready for use. It may need to be polished.

My silverware set was my mother's, and is kept in a nice wooden box that it came in, on the occasion of her wedding in 1953.

The box is nice... but wait....

I first found some of these at an antique store a few years ago. Then, I found this nice set at a rummage sale last week.

They are hand made, and embroidered. They are often linen, or cotton, and lined with flannel.

The flannel is cut so that a little flap folds over the silverware. Some flannels are now specially made to resist tarnish, although these vintage linens are not likely made of this special fabric.

I like to think about the women who made these. They picked out a pattern, and some colors, and stitched them with care. Maybe the pattern was free, in a lady's magazine.

So, now that I own a few of these cute holders...what to do? Well, I am going to store some of my silverware in them.

This is a set I bought at an antique fair in California a few years ago. I do not know how old it is, or really why I bought it, but I sure do like the set. I like the green handles. I do not believe the cutlery is silver, more likely stainless. But, I like to baby it all the same, since it is kind of fancy.

I keep the green handle set in this "Salad Fork" holder.

I use this one for special meal times. After I iron and fold the napkins, I tuck them in here.

My silverware is still in the box from Mom. She gave it to me with these tea towels to protect it.

But, not all of the silverware has it's own little slot in the box! So, I will put these "extras" in the "new" set of silverware holders from the rummage sale.

The "extras' include baby spoons, and baby forks.

Look! This is the baby spoon used by my mother to feed my sisters and me. It must have been a promotional from Gerber. SO cute!

So, I gathered up the "extras", and placed them safely inside, a few in each of the embroidered holders. Then, I tucked them all into the big silverware box. After replacing the tea towels Mom had in there, it all fit nicely.

When you have an occasion to use your silverware, I hope you do it. Don't let it just sit in the box. Get it out, and make your special meals even more special!