What Francis I & The White House Have In Common...

You never know what to expect when going to estate sales. There have been many times where I have been disappointed, grossed-out, happy, and excited...and sometimes all in the same house! I know I just did a feature Blog Post, A Love Affair With Silverware, but this is just so exciting that I felt like I need to share it here!

I have lived in Portland for 4 years now and Jared has lived here his whole life. Neither of us has even seen or heard of this home until we had stumbled upon it the day of the estate sale. When Jared and I pulled up to it, we both laughed at the fact that there was going to be nothing that we could afford in this home. We were right...

I am a history buff, as well as a lover of old architecture, so I did some research and wanted to give a little background to this grandeur home. In 1912 this beautiful mansion was built for a mere $46,000.... YES, $46,000. Most people today own a car on the road that costs as much as this home did in 1912. In fact, this was actually the most expensive billed home of its time in Portland! The architect was David Williams who was well known around Portland for his great homes built by the rich and famous. This home in particular was built for a lumberman, Robert Lytle and his wife Ida. This was going to be there summer home (nice, right!), which is reflected in its style. The style of the home is a mixture of Colonial Revival and Mediterranean with the Corinthian columns that dress the front entrance, and the Italianate boxed window shapes with arches and the tile roof. It was like they could vacation to Italy, without the long travel! By the way I minored in Italian Art & Architecture, so I am weird when it comes to old homes, I tend to get excited...

After a few years, the house changed hands a few times going from a lumberman to a pulp mill owner to a forest products industrialist and then to an occasional radio station broadcasting studio. A cool fact too is that in this home the very first paid commercial broadcast by a radio station in the US took place on behalf of a Portland ice cream store. In the 1960s the home was badly neglected and needed a major overhaul. Recently the home has been carefully restored and turned into a reputable bed & breakfast. 

Most of the Original fixtures & finishes remain in the home, and the furnishings have all been carefully selected to complement a fine early 20th Century home. Even the original hand-painted French wallpaper and African mahogany trim can be found!!! Jared and I unfortunately were not able to see the whole house, only a few sections, but I can just imagine all the cool and interesting features I would find if I was able to be let free to roam! Ok, so enough about the home, this post is after all about THE FIND!

Now, I know what you might be thinking, I found this c.1540 Painting of Francis I by Francois Clouet...fooled you! Turns out, I did not but instead I found something much more useful, tangible, and exciting than this painting...

I found a 60-piece Sterling Silver Set of Reed & Barton Francis I Silverware! Francis I was king of France from 1515 to 1547. After looking at this flatware, it may not surprise you that he was the first King of France to be called, "Your Majesty." It is also said that this pattern is the sterling flatware of princes and presidents, which is fitting, right? He was also a Renaissance patron of the arts. Since it is a Renaissance-inspired pattern it exudes ornateness, decorated with voluminous scrollwork, leaves, blossoms, and fruit. Also, the sterling silver doesn't hurt the eyes with its eye-catching glittering qualities. 

It would only be fitting that Reed and Barton would hire the famous FRENCH silver maker, artist, and designer Ernest Meyer to create the pattern inspired by the opulent Francis I considering he ruled over France for 32 years. Since, Francis I was a lover of Renaissance art, the best person to model this flatware after would be no other than a 1515 metalwork artist, Benvenuto Cellini (to the left is an example of the detail in his work). I should note that Cellini was also in King Francis I court of artist and sculptors, so it is very clear who Meyer should use as a model! Something interesting that I came across in doing my research is that Meyer made an executive decision to create fifteen ornate designs that would decorate each piece of the flatware. Why, you ask? Because King Francis I ascended the French throne in 1515, hence, 15 pieces as a lucky number!

So, the interesting story with this silverware is that when Jared and I got married, we had this on our wedding registry, but seeing how expensive it was per a place setting and per a piece for that matter, we never received a single piece. I fell in love with it when I saw it then, and at the estate sale I fell in love with it all over again. I was unable to purchase it, because clearly I do not have a "Francis I - 60-piece - Sterling Silver - Flatware Fund" set up. However, the asking price was insanely a good deal! I called up one of my buyers, aka Mom & Dad, and now they have a beautiful set of silverware (in my opinion the best set of silver ever made). The best part is that I am going to get to use it and enjoy it for the holidays when we all come together and they put it on the table! So, thank you Mom & Dad for having the prowess to purchase the set!

You ask what Francis I and The White House have in common? I will tell you, one exquisite set of sterling silver flatware that is both historical and beautiful!

Below are more images of the flatware, I would advise you to click on the images because they will open up to a much larger size so that you can appreciate the fine intricate detail in the pattern better...

A Love Affair with Silverware

 There is just something about old Silver Plated flatware that I love, and I am not sure exactly what it is. Something about the patina of the pieces, their imperfections, and unique intricate details etched into them makes me smile each time I open the drawer and pull one out. Even the thought of how these pieces were adorning Thanksgiving & Christmas dinner tables any where from 60 years to 138 years, brings an inner warmth and smile to me each time I use them. 

 A few weekends ago I made an unexpected stop to an estate sale I found the mother-lode. Upon arriving at the house, I waited in line... for 40 minutes. I was hoping that all this waiting would actually amount to finding something super awesome inside. Boy, was I happy I waited around! Walking through the house, I came to the conclusion that this was obviously someone who collected and had an extensive collection of the coolest, oldest, and most random things (probably what my house is going to look like in 30 years). I started to get a bit disheartened however, because everything was price at or 10% less than what I would sell it for on Etsy. Unfortunately, there was no profit to be made, nor did I have $60 to spend on a set of Jadeite mixing bowls.  

 By the time I made it into the kitchen, I thought all hope was lost at this awesome estate sale, until I came to three... large... rubbermaid boxes. Above the boxes was a piece of paper with the words written: "All Silver Plate - $0.25/each". I immediately got so excited I ran over the the cupboard, found a large mixing bowl, and started filling it with all the most unique and intricate pieces I could find! I do believe that people thought I was going mad, but I did not care. My blood was pumping, and I was excited! In the end I purchased 110 pieces for $27... TWENTY SEVEN DOLLARS!!! I felt like I had just struck gold... or silver!

 For me, these pieces turn an ordinary meal into something that is special and elegant. Not to mention, part of the fun with getting these pieces (for me, because I am a big nerd like that) is doing the research!  I love to know how old each piece is, what the pattern is, how much it would sell for, who and what the company was that produced it, and all the other information that will do no good unless I am ever on "Jeopardy - Silverware Edition". Because I know you all care so much, I have photographed most of the pieces that I have and categorized by the year, maker, pattern, and value!  

Serving Forks...

1.) BM Norblin - Pattern: Unidentified - Serving Fork - $?

2.) 1881 Rogers - 1910 - Pattern: Leyland - Meat Serving Fork - $21

3.) Stratford Silver Co - 1909 - Pattern: Lilyta - Meat Serving Fork - $45

4.)  SL & GH Rogers - 1911 - Pattern: Minerva - Serving Fork - $30

5.) 1847 Rogers Bros. - Pattern: Unidentified - Serving Fork - $?

Serving Spoons / Table Spoons...

6.)

7.) Wm. Rogers Bros. - 1911- Pattern: Old Colony - Serving Spoon - $25

8.) Wm. Rogers - 1910 - Pattern: Vintage - Serving Spoon - $24

9.) Vanderslice & Co. San Fran, CA - 1870 - Pattern: Unidentified - STERLING Serving Spoon - $?

10.) Wm. Rogers - 1878 - Pattern: Laurel - Tablespoon - $24

11.)

More Spoons...

12.) International Silver - 1894 - Pattern: Florida - Tablespoon - $28

13.) R.C. Akerly - Pattern: Unidentified - Tablespoon - $? - Engraved: "Mother to Willie"

14.) 1835 Wallace - Pattern: Unidentified - Fruit Spoon - $? - Engraved: "K"

15.) 1855 Sears & Son - Pattern: Unidentified - Tablespoon - $?

16.) Wallace - 1899 - Pattern: Anjou - Teaspoon - $25

17.) International Silver - 1907 - Pattern: Alahambra - Sugar Spoon - $35

18.) 1847 Rogers Bros. - 1910 - Pattern: Sharon - Tablespoon - $25

19.) Community Silver - 1904 - Pattern: Fleur de Luce - Teaspoon - $14

Even More Spoons!...

20.) Holmes & Edwards - Pattern: Unidentified - Teaspoon - $?

21.) Oneida Reliance Plate - 1908 - Pattern: Wildwood - Teaspoon - $12

22.) Hall & Elton - 1867- Pattern: Medallion - Sugar Spoon - $49

23.) 1847 Rogers Bros - 1906 - Pattern Charter Oak - Teaspoon - $15

24.) Cuevee Silver - Pattern: Unidentified - Sugar Spoon - $?

25.) Holmes & Edwards - 1909 - Pattern: Bride - Teaspoon - $10

26.) cc & ss Cuevee Silver - Pattern: Unidentified - Sugar Spoon - $?

27.) 1835 Wallace - 1916 - Pattern: Athena - $29

28.) American Silver Co. - 1906 - Pattern: Moselle - Teaspoon - $20

Sugar Spoons

29.) 1847 Rogers - Pattern: Unidentified - Sugar Spoon - $?

30.) Rogers - Pattern: Unidentified - Sugar Spoon - $?

31.) Rogers - 1901 - Pattern: Mayflower - Sugar Spoon - $19

32.) 1847 Rogers - Pattern: Unidentified - Sugar Spoon - $?

Odds & Ends Spoons

33.) Wm. Rogers Bros. - 1913 - Pattern: Isabella - Round Soup Spoon - $30

34.) Community Silver - 1901 - Pattern: Avalon - Curved Soup Spoon - $29

35.) Community Silver - Pattern: Unidentified -  Fruit Spoon - $?

36.) 1881 Rogers - 1908 - Pattern: La Vigne - Teaspoon - $12

37.) Wm Rogers & Sons - 1920 - Pattern: Daisey - Sugar Spoon - $17

38.) Reed & Barton - 1886 - Pattern: Renaissance - Teaspoon - $100

39.) International Silver - Pattern: Grape - Table Spoon - $29

Interesting Forks!...

40.) R. Strickland - Pattern Unidentified - Dinner Fork - $?

41.) Community Silver - 1940 - Pattern: Milady - Salad Fork - $15

42.) 1847 Wm. Rogers - 1906 - Pattern: Charter Oak - Youth Fork - $24 

43.) Wm. Rogers Bros. - 1908 - Pattern: Arbutus - Salad Fork - $19

44.) Wm. Rogers Bros. - 1908 - Pattern: Arbutus - Youth Fork - $15

45.) Rogers - 1910 - Pattern: Grape - Lunch Fork - $12

46.) Wm. Rogers - 1898 - Pattern: Melrose - Youth Fork - $12

47.) Cereta Silverplate - 1902 - Pattern: Cereta - Lunch Fork - $28

Lunch / Dinner Forks...

48.) Community Silver - 1904 - Pattern: Fleur de Luce - Dinner Fork - $20

49.) LaShar Silver - 1913 - Pattern: Rosedale - Lunch Fork - $14

50.) 1847 Rogers Bros - Pattern: Unidentified - Dinner Fork - $?

51.) Community Plate - 1910 - Pattern: Sheraton - Dinner Fork - $12

52.) 1881 Rogers - 1936 - Pattern: Mystic - Lunch Fork - $12

53.) LaShar Silver - 1910 - Pattern: Grape - Lunch Fork - $9

The Old Forks...

54.) Anchor Rogers - 1879 - Pattern: Imperial - Dinner Fork - $12

55.) Rogers Anchor - 1883 - Pattern: Saratoga/Angelo - Dinner Fork - $10

56.) Wm. Rogers - 1879 - Pattern: Newport - Dinner Fork - $12

57.) 1847 Rogers - 1878 - Pattern: Lorne - Dinner Fork - $12

58.) Anchor Rogers- 1890 - Pattern: Embossed - Dinner Fork - $9

China, and Silver, and Gold! Oh, my!

Ahh... the weekend has come, and time to see what estate sales are going on. Sundays are our favorite days to go, because people are ready to just get rid of everything that is left. This particular Sunday, we only went to one estate sale, but were pleasantly surprised at all of the treasures that we were able to find!

Driving to the house, I was not expecting much at all, the house was in an OK area, but not one where you would imagine a bunch of beautifully kept items. Upon arriving at the house, I suddenly had a feeling that this was going to be a good pick! My first place I always like to look over first is the kitchen. Since I started my other blog, Cooking Through Lost Recipes, I always like to see if I can find any old recipes lying around, plus a good old Pyrex bowl doesn’t hurt to look for either! This particular home was full of unique finds, well kept, and unlike most estate sales and was NOT full of a hoarders dream – massive piles of junk. Instead, there were silver sets, china sets, quilts and ornate antique items – even a 1930 Boy Scout Uniform still in its original package!

I was in heaven…

The first item was an 80-piece, 1928 Rogers & Bro. Majestic Pattern Silverplate Set with Art Deco Cutlery Box.

When I saw this I fell in love. I felt as if I had literally stumbled upon a treasure chest of silver! There is something so intricate and ornate about silver patterns. The amount of detail that can be carved into one small space is beyond me. For some reason, this pattern reminds me of something that was on a Spanish fleet in the 17^th century. There is something very architectural as well as regal in the structure of these pieces, from the crest to the very angular column that leads down the handle, they are defiantly one of a kind pieces.

I was also in awe when I started to think about how these items must have truly been treasures in the Depression Era, when people were living off rations and had little to their name. The idea makes these unique pieces all that more special to me.

In this set there are eight place settings with each of the following: knife, salad fork, dinner fork, teaspoon, tablespoon, iced-tea spoon, oyster fork, and butter knife.

There is also a whole serving set with the following: master butter knife, two serving spoons, serving fork, casserole spoon, ladle, and sugar spoon.

I wish I could only let the woman who once treasured them, know how much I now treasure and value them!

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The second item that we were able to find was a 5-Piece, 1835 R. Wallace Anjou Pattern Silver Demitasse Spoons.

The filigree scroll pattern at the end of the spoons had me at first glance – then I turned them over, and saw the antiquity in the stamping on the back and knew they had to go home with me.

The pattern almost has a fleur-de-lis look to it with a garland that cascades down the sides like curled hair strands would fall down a face. They are in stunning condition and like the other silver set they will be treasured, for sure!

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The third item was a single Wm Rogers & Son Orange Blossom pattern fork. On the reverse it is stamped, “Pat. Nov. 29, 1910 Wm Rogers & Son AA”.

The detailing in this piece is simple out of this world. I have never seen a fork with the kind of embellishments that this one possesses. The amount of intricacy near the tines of the fork is undoubtedly gorgeous.

There are three orange blossoms delicately splaying the sides all of the way down to the farthest outer tines. The handle of this beautiful piece is also equally worth note, because there are even more orange blossoms adorning the top half.

The only disappointing note with this item is the sheer fact that there was only one!

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The final item that we were able to find at this estate was a 22-K Gold Gravy Boat by National Brotherhood of Operative Potters.

The pattern is called Sylvia, which is adorned around the top with 22-K-Gold wheat stalks olive branches surrounded by an art deco-ish circular pattern. The bottom is interesting as well, because it is a asymmetrical square that just adds to the style of this piece, as well as, the fluting at the lower half.

This is probably dated around the 1930s due to the art-deco styling. The amazing thing is that this is in perfect condition as well. More often than not when I find these pieces, they have spider cracks, discoloration spots, nicks and dings – but this one is perfect. Isn’t it hard to believe that a piece that could be 75-100 years old has been cherished and taken care of as well as this! You can be sure that this thanksgiving this gravy boat will be parked on our table right next to the turkey!