What a fun day antiquing in Pennsylvania with my friend Deborah Buck!
We both found so many beautiful things, but for her, the best find of the day were these serving pieces and place settings in the silver pattern she’s been collecting for years.
First manufactured in the 1820s by Stieff Silver, a prestigious silversmith in Deborah’s native Batimore, the pattern is called Repousee, named after the art of repousse (meaning "raised in relief"). Typically, the relief design is achieved by pressing through the back of the item.
Since the reverse of the pieces are flat, they’re the perfect place for a monogram. The piece with the "W" first belonged to Deborah’s Grandmother Willet. The others are just a few of the pieces she’s found over the years, each engraved differently, adding charm and modernity to her collection.
When we got back to the City, we thought it would be fun do a quick little table setting with some of Deborah’s new pieces. From her own collection, we used hem-stitched linens in pale pink, together with Pickard plates, a pale green Venetian glass bowl and gold-rimmed trumpet flutes. Although this setting is formal, the repousse flatware would look just as beautiful and appropriate in a more casual setting as well.
And remember, if you have a collection of flatware that you want to grow, be sure to know both the name of your pattern and its mark. That way, finding more will be that much easier next time you’re out and about.
