Fetish for Flatware?

Here’s a picture of shelves in the closet where I store flatware. Collection or fetish? You decide!

The chests contain vintage sets of silver flatware. Most are silverplated which, to me, is just as beautiful as sterling, and can be had for very reasonable prices these days. I inherited a couple of sets, but most have been purchased via eBay or at estate sales (on the second day of course, when prices are better!). I think of plated flatware as being akin to ladies having good quality costume jewelry. It’s not the very best, but it offers a variety of styles to fit the mood and the outfit (or tablescape!).

I’ll go ahead and admit that I use stainless flatware for everyday; that’s what’s in two kitchen drawers --- one set from Ross for constant use, and a set of Oneida from Belk for “once-in-a-while” (the better set doesn’t do as well in the dishwasher … pieces come out with spots that have to be wiped away with a soft cloth).

I love the richness of silver as it reflects the colorful hues of flowers and the warmth of flickering candlelight. Stainless flatware has come a long way, but the color generally has a cool, slightly bluish cast. Silver, whether it’s bright, shiny, and new or softly glowing with the patina of age and loving use, makes any dining experience feel several degrees more special.

Shopping tips and warnings:
· When shopping for vintage silverplated items, be very cautious of heavily tarnished pieces. Dark tarnish can hide plate loss and scratches.

· If you notice green spots or rusty-looking areas that are rough to the touch, avoid purchasing the piece. It can’t be successfully polished.

· There’s what I think of as an “oil on water” look of bluish and brownish colored areas, but with an underlying shine/glow showing through. That usually indicates that the silver pieces will be beautiful after polishing.

· What’s generally referred to as “patina” is a fine network of tiny scratches (from years of use and polishing) that blend together over time to form a soft sheen. Once the process has taken place, it can’t be reversed except through professional polishing. That’s really only an option for sterling pieces, since the layer of silver on plated pieces is only a few microns thick.

· Avoid using liquid tarnish removers. They emit an unpleasant odor of sulphur whenever they come in contact with tarnished silver. Even worse, they remove the dark lines in recessed areas that make silver patterns beautiful. Worst of all, they can cause a chemical reaction that turns silver pieces white, and the whitened areas are more difficult to remove than the original tarnish!

· My favorite brand of silver polish is made by Wright’s. It’s a cream that comes with a foam applicator. I try to avoid getting the foam pad too wet, because it can cause the polish to get into recessed areas and wash away the darkness that enhances the patterns. If you’re into being “green,” you can use soft cotton cloths to wipe away the polish and tarnish. Otherwise a paper towel works (try not to rub too vigorously if you want to avoid tiny scratches and maintain the factory shine).

· Don’t put sterling or plated flatware in the dishwasher. It can remove dark patina in recessed areas, and the heat from the drying cycle can loosen the glue used to attach stainless blades to the silver handles of hollow-handle knives.

· If you’re determined to wash silver in the dishwasher (some people do and say it comes out OK) try not to let stainless and silver pieces touch each other in the flatware basket. It can damage the silver. Don’t let dishwasher detergent touch the silver directly.

· Never use lemon-based products to clean silver. It’s corrosive … as is salt. Always empty silver salt shakers before storing.

· Never put rubber bands around silver flatware. It causes a chemical reaction that tarnishes and eats away the plating.

The chest below contains "King Cedric" flatware introduced by Oneida in 1933. Six 5 piece place settings are absent in the photo. They're a few feet away on the table ... waiting to be part of this week's Tablescape Thursday event hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.

That’s all the silver talk for now. I hope you’ll write and tell me about your favorite flatware, how you acquired it, and how you care for it!