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| 1923 Ad for the Bird of Paradise pattern |
Cooking vintage recipes ofttimes involves more prep than the modern "stick it in the oven and go" or "just add water" ready made stuff available in stores. It is indeed a labor of love and if you're going to pour your heart and soul into making something why just serve it the hectic way? You know what I'm talking about because we are all guilty of it, eating dinner in the living room in front of the TV warranting a rip-roaring case of indigestion as we are assaulted by the opinion-mongering that passes for the news of the day. We all have a dining room, perhaps you've even seen yours? That table is not a convenient place for keys, mail and misc junk. It is a place where families used to sit and be together.
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| With the lid open showing the set |
I've been on the search for a vintage silverware set for some time now but higher silver prices have created a roadblock towards my goal. Since Jacksonville had her boom years in the 1920's like many places, I have always focused on obtaining something from that era. My opportunity finally arrived the other day in the form of an auction on E-bay. It was for an Oneida pattern silver called "Bird of Paradise" that was discontinued in 1923. The silverware set in the auction was for a "wedding set", i.e. one given as a gift to a bride as a starter. It included all the important pieces, knives, dinner forks, serving spoons, teaspoons and a master butter knife and sugar spoon. I put in my max bid and waited out the auction expecting to be outbid as was normally happening.
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| Close Up of the Pattern |
Fate however was on my side in more ways than one. I won the auction and found out the seller lived in Jacksonville Beach, right down the road from me. We arraigned for a pickup and in the end I only spent $20 on a silverware set that is almost 90 years old. It's really beautiful too as there is no wear to the silver-plate and just minor usage scratches. As time and money permit I will add to the collection so I can have a full silver service for 6. Next step some 1920's china...
Hi! I'm your newest follower, found you via Tag Back Tuesday. You have a great blog!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited to see your blog about the Bird of Paradise Silverware! My late Grandma was an avid collector and, no doubt, saved some things from my Great-Grandmother and Great-Great-Grandmother. I only have a four piece set of dinner forks, spoons, and butter knives, but it's pretty cool to find out they are from 1923. What a treasure! Anyhow, I thought you might appreciate a fellow enthusiast of "old" things.
ReplyDeleteSorry it took so long for me to respond, I've been away from the blog for quite some time now. Yes I love collecting old things, I've put alot pics of my collection on the blog's facebook page, the link is on the sidebar if you want to join us.
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