One of my old obsessions has reared its ugly head. I had kept it covered up and put away…hidden for a long, long time.

Then, the other day, I was in a vintage shop and I saw it, and all of a sudden, became obsessed…. again.

Vintage silver flatware has long been to my drug of choice. All patina and old world elegance.
Breakfast in the morning room.

A roast beef dinner in the dining room.

A beautiful square box holding filter-less cigarettes…when cigarettes were considered a necessity to be chic and were smoked in a long, enameled holder….and lit with a huge, cocktail table-sized lighter that took two hands to operate….like our neighbor growing up…Wilda S.

A place setting with a story, laid out on crisp white linens.

There it was…a beautiful, well-worn flatware chest.

I slowly opened the lid and, I swear, Shirley Bassey was singing “Diamonds are Forever” in the background….or at least in my head.

As I gingerly picked up each piece and looked at the classically beautiful pattern, I was again, transported to a simpler, elegant time…the 1940’s. Beautiful rooms done in what we now refer to as the Hollywood regency style. When all women in movies spoke with that vaguely British accent…. even when the movie was set in suburban Connecticut.

There are so many reasons to buy vintage Silver flatware and use it everyday…. here is my short list:

1. It’s really pretty reasonable, usually being sold in vintage shops, garage sales, flea markets and on Ebay for far less than a good set of stainless steel flatware from a trendy home store.

2. Silver is silver….what can I say. The color, the shine and the cool patina that no other metal offers, while still having a certain warmth to it.

3. Vintage silver is like vintage jewelry…it has a history. Who owned it? Where has it been? Was it a wedding gift? Why is it here?…I have to have it.

4. The vintage patterns from the 30’s and 40’s are fresh, current and really chic.

5. Use your silver everyday and less polishing is required.

Like I always say, people are like birds…shiny things make us go gaga!