August 19, 2010

Tea or coffee?

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I know that everyone isn’t a fan of antique silver, but I’ll be the first to admit that it makes this belle’s heart go pitter-pat. Such was the feeling that came over me recently at a church rummage sale when I spotted a 6-piece silver service. Everyone else was passing it right on by, possibly because of the tarnished state it was in. If there is anything I have learned from being raised by the queen thrifter, it’s how to distinguish good silver from not-so-good. I could tell from first inspection that I had found the goods.

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The set includes a teapot, a coffee pot, a creamer, a sugar bowl, and another bowl I haven’t identified (lemon maybe?). Also a cute little napkin holder. I’ve been polishing for days and still haven’t quite finished all the pieces. But the ones I have done look gorgeous. Each item is marked Wm. Rogers with the name surrounded by an eagle and star. I researched this mark and found that it was used by the Rogers company between 1825 and 1841. The same mark was also applied by International Silver Company until at least 1939, so it’s hard to tell the exact age of the set. 

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If antique silver feels too stuffy for your style, you can always repurpose it in new ways. I even kind of like leaving it tarnished sometimes for a different look. But I enjoy polishing so much, it never stays that way for very long in my house. Are you a lover of silver like yours truly or does something else give you something to write home about? I’ve already given full disclosure about my other obsession as well. Now, pray tell…what is yours?

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