'Our aim, ' say the authors, 'has been to impart the knowledge which will allow a collector to rely more confidently on his own judgment' The emphasis throughout the book is on good taste and good design, and while the first chapters deal with the marvelous English and American silver of the 18th century, highly prized for its fine craftsmanship, the largest part of the book is devoted to the long-neglected and underrated 19th century which is now becoming so popular.

Spectacular silver centerpieces, tea services, and candelabras are among the tablewares covered. All of the top manufacturers of the 19th and 20th centuries are represented: Gorham, Kirk, Steiff, Shreve, and more. Eras of silver design are included: Empire, Gothic Revival, Rococo, Neoclassicism, Colonial Revival, Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts, and Art Modern.

"Taking as their brief the design of a simple fish server or cake slice, the British and American silversmiths whose work is represented in the collection of Benton Seymour Rabinovitch have produced a range of variations on a single theme. From the minimal simplicity of the purely functional to the lavish ostentation of the truly baroque, these pieces utilize elements of sea life, Scandinavian design, Florida Art Deco, eighteenth-century Rococo and totemic, timeless symbols of the natural world to forceful effect. Whether entirely abstract or startlingly representative, what these pieces have in common is the immense technical mastery that has gone into their design and construction - as well as the fact that, no matter how fantastic their appearance, they are all meant for practical use." "Each piece in the collection is illustrated in colour with a specially commissioned photograph and accompanied by an account of the work's conception. Personal accounts of the artists' guiding aesthetic and technical principles provide a long-needed, unique and authoritative window into current design practice both in Britain and the United States." "The authors provide a step-by-step guide to commissioning one's own pieces, as well as a design-historical context to the last fifty years of the craft. Designers and makers, curators and collectors, craft writers and historians, as well as anyone interested in the beautiful, will find in the volume a fund of information and inspiration."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

In this richly illustrated book, Richard Osterberg provides a thorough look at the sterling silver utensils which have entranced collectors throughout the years. The perfect complement to the crisp linen, fine china, and elegant crystal of a well-set dining table, sterling silver flatware by many of the most renowned makers and in the loveliest of patterns is pictured here. While sterling silver patterns can be simple or elaborate, this book makes clear that all of them are beautiful. From delicate berry spoons to poultry shears, bouillon ladles, and carving sets, individual place settings and serving pieces are organized in chapters to make matching your pieces an easy task. A newly updated price guide and helpful research charts are included for use with your own collection.

A colorful and useful tour of fine antique silver, covering patterns, forms, and functions. With color photos it explores the sterling flatware serving pieces and place settings, giving essential information to the collector. Also, the silver flatware is coupled with linen, china, and crystal to make beautiful place settings that will inspire the modern host and hostess. Throughout the text value ranges are given, making it easy to look up prices of antique silver.