The 5 Most Sought-After Antique Sterling Silver Bowls
- Posted on 16th June 2023
- in Antique Silver, antique silver bowls, antique silver buyers, Antique Silver Tea Set, antique sterling silver, Antique Sterling Silver Trays
- by Alan
Sterling silver dinnerware has a prestigious history, and sterling silver bowls are among the most frequently used items in a set. In addition to their practical use at the dinner table, the shape and beauty of sterling silver bowls make them excellent decorative objects. Their natural luster and shine, combined with their elegant design, make sterling silver bowls perfect as gifts or even trophies to commemorate special achievements.
In both England and the United States, sterling silver utensils and dishes, including bowls, are associated with elegance, and some patterns are even linked to royalty. Over the years, sterling silver bowls have become essential elements of formal table settings. Antique sterling silver bowls are often highly decorative, featuring intricate natural designs depicting scenes such as plants, fruits, or even people, which wrap around and enhance the bowl exteriors.
Silversmiths and silver makers traditionally marked their creations with a name or symbol, known as markings or a hallmark. These symbols can be searched online, or an antique seller or buyer can assist in identifying the manufacturer, age, and style of a sterling silver bowl.
#1. Georg Jensen
Georg Jensen, a Danish silversmith, found inspiration in the curving lines of Art Nouveau, drawing from the shapes of flowers, fruits, and the female torso. Jensen established his firm in Copenhagen in 1904, and his passion for these designs is reflected in his silver flatware and hollowware creations, which often include motifs such as grapes, birds, and flora. Over the years, Jensen’s company has produced over 1,200 hollowware and other pieces, ranging from vases, pitchers, and bowls to tea sets and fish platters. His sterling silver bowls are highly sought after for their exquisite craftsmanship and artistic beauty.
#2. Reed & Barton – Paul Revere
Reed & Barton, one of the leading silver companies in the United States, offers a wide range of sterling silver, silver-plated, and stainless steel flatware and giftware products, including the iconic Paul Revere bowl. This bowl, resting on a small base, complements many other Reed & Barton patterns and decors. The Paul Revere bowl shape is widely recognized as one of the most iconic silver items in America. It remains a popular choice for engraving, gift-giving, and corporate awards.
#3. Reed & Barton – Les Six Fleurs
‘Les Six Fleurs’ is one of the greatest American Art Nouveau patterns, patented in 1901. The pattern showcases dramatic flowers and foliage with intricate detailing, elegantly cast onto the large gilded bowls. The spoon bowl has a slightly scalloped and irregularly shaped rim, while the fork bowl is pierced. The handles of both the spoon and forks feature lovely Art Nouveau foliage designs. A typical ‘Les Six Fleurs’ sterling silver set includes 14 luncheon forks, 12 teaspoons, 12 coffee spoons, 12 gumbo soupspoons, 12 dinner forks, 12 hollow luncheon knives, 12 hollow dinner knives, 12 cocktail forks, 10 bouillon soupspoons, as well as a fish slice, soup ladle, serving fork, and meat fork.
#4. Sterling Silver Tiffany
Tiffany & Co., one of the world’s top sterling silver manufacturers, has been creating highly sought-after pieces for over a century. The Tiffany & Co. legacy dates back to 1837 when Charles Lewis Tiffany founded a small dry-goods and stationery store in New York. The company began selling silverware in 1847. Over time, Tiffany’s has created many classic, timeless, and valuable sterling silver sets, plates, and collectibles. Sterling silver Tiffany bowls are elegant additions to any home collection, and larger and more ornate bowls tend to be particularly desirable. It’s important to note that monograms can devalue a piece.
#5. S. Kirk Repousse Landscape Pattern
The S. Kirk & Son Co. Repousse Landscape sterling silver tea set features a circular form resting on a pedestal base. The handles showcase angled ram’s heads and chased floral decorations, along with landscape scenes featuring figures. This beautifully decorated set includes a coffee pot, creamer, and sugar bowl with a lid. Elaborate scenes with trees, castles, flowers, and birds adorn the set.
The price of a sterling silver bowl is typically determined by its condition and craftsmanship. However, pieces with a unique history may be auctioned off at much higher prices. It’s worth noting that bowls in the best possible condition will fetch higher prices compared to those that appear damaged or used. Monograms also tend to devalue a set. If you possess any of the sterling silver bowls listed above, our leading Sarasota antique buying team is happy to appraise and evaluate them. We have expertise in various antiques from around the world and regularly visit places like Nokomis, Ellenton, and Bradenton to purchase antique items of all varieties. If you’d like to know the value of your antiques, bring them in for an appraisal, and we can provide you with detailed information about the sets you own.