10 Tips for Collecting Antique + Vintage Flatware

Whether you pride yourself on being the host with the most or you just appreciate the glamour of bygone eras, vintage and antique utensils, silverware and serveware are an easy-to-source collectible you can pick up a few pieces at a time. Get our best tips for sourcing, cleaning and using these beautiful, utilitarian pieces.

By: Marian Parsons

Related To:

Flatware: Jewelry for Your Dining Table

Antique and vintage flatware has a large fan base and, over recent years, has become increasingly popular with collectors. The appeal is understandable, because art and function come together in these beautiful, utilitarian pieces that tell a story of the time they were made and how they've been used over the years. For those wanting to start or grow a collection, here are some tips on identifying, collecting, and caring for various types of antique and vintage flatware, cutlery and silverware.

Where to Find Vintage + Antique Flatware

Antique and vintage flatware can be found just about anywhere used goods are sold including thrift stores, yard and estate sales, flea markets, auctions, antique stores and online marketplaces. The best bargains are likely to be found at estate sales, yard sales and thrift stores, but plan on doing a lot of hunting. At antique malls, flea markets and online marketplaces, plan to pay more for the opportunity to shop curated flatware that has already been cleaned, polished and researched.

Secondhand Silverware: What to Look For

There really isn’t a right or wrong kind of vintage or antique flatware to purchase. Just buy whatever speaks to you and catches your eye. A collection can be made by buying individual pieces one at a time, a complete set all at once (Tip: Always peek inside wooden cutlery boxes at estate sales!) or a mix of utensils from different eras and styles.

How to Use Your New/Old Scores

If you’re purchasing antique or vintage flatware to use as everyday eating utensils, keep in mind that some will be dishwasher safe and will stand up well to everyday use while others will not. Sterling silver and silverplate utensils are great options for everyday use, even if they tend to be reserved for special occasions. They are incredible hardwearing and can be repaired if needed. And, bonus: Regular use and proper cleaning will keep your silver tarnish-free.

learn more: Learn How to Clean Silver With This Easy (and Cheap!) Trick

Put Your Pretties on Display

Pieces that aren’t well-suited for everyday use are still worth purchasing. A collection of vintage or antique flatware displayed in jars, crocks, pitchers, trays and totes adds visual impact and interest to a cabinet, hutch, buffet or counter. If using pieces for their decorative value, look for pieces with interesting designs or handles, like the Bakelite seen here.

learn more: Antiques 101: 10 Tips for Collecting Vintage Linens

All About Bakelite Flatware

Bakelite was the first plastic made from synthetic materials. Everything from bracelets and radios to poker chips and flatware handles were made out of Bakelite primarily from 1910 to the late-1940s. Bakelite flatware is highly collectable and can be identified by its weight (it's heavier than other plastics), the clunk sound it makes when knocked against another piece of Bakelite, and by seeing faint surface scratches that happen with age. Bakelite will melt if put in the dishwasher, so wash these vintage finds by hand.

All About Bone, Ivory + Horn Flatware

Materials like bone, ivory and horn have been used for making eating utensils for centuries. They can be identified upon close inspection (especially with a loupe) by their porous appearance. These pieces typically pre-date the invention of the dishwasher and should only be handwashed in mild soap and hot water.

Sterling Silver Versus Silverplate

Sterling silver flatware is made almost entirely of silver (American-made silver is 92.5% silver) whereas silverplate is made of another material, like nickel, copper or brass, and is coated in a thin layer of silver. Sterling will typically be marked as “sterling” and/or “925” and will also yield a higher price tag than a silverplated piece. Both can be cleaned with silver polish and should be stored in silvercloth to prevent tarnishing if it's not regularly used. Sterling and silverplated pieces can be cleaned in the dishwasher provided the detergent doesn’t contain lemon or citric acid and it’s not washed with stainless steel. It’s also a good idea to rinse food from silver before allowing it to sit in the dishwasher (or sink) for prolonged periods so food containing salt, acid or sulfide doesn’t deteriorate the finish.

Tips for Cleaning + Care

Sterling silver and silverplate flatware have a bad reputation in the modern age for requiring a polish now and then. Silver that is used daily, though, needs to be polished less frequently than silver that is stored. Liberate the family silver from the silver chest and put it to use for more than just special occasions. Polish it once or twice each year with a mild silver cleaner and hand dry to prevent water spots. Or, follow our tips below to let science do the polishing for you.

learn more: Learn How to Clean Silver With This Easy (and Cheap!) Trick

Bamboo or Wood-Handled Utensils

Bamboo-handled utensils are still manufactured today, but they were at the peak of their popularity in the mid-1900s. Vintage pieces can often surface at thrift stores and yard sales, but quality sets can also be sourced online from specialty dealers. Watch out for faux bamboo flatware handles if you’re looking for the real thing. Some faux bamboo handles were shaped out of other woods and plastics to mimic bamboo. Genuine bamboo-handled vintage flatware should be washed by hand and oiled a couple of times each year to prevent the bamboo from drying and splitting. The handles may also need to be glued into place if it falls out due to use and age.

Generic Versus Specific Name Brands

In the case of Laguiole flatware, many people assume that's a specific brand, but it refers to flatware of a specific style made in a small village in the Auvergne region of France. The classic Laguiole knife started as a folding pocketknife in 1829 and has since evolved into an entire line of cutlery. The distinct handle design and name are not trademarked or protected, so this style of flatware is often produced and labeled as Laguiole even though it’s not made in France. When you identify a style, brand, era or type of flatware you like, take a few minutes to do some research, so you can start your collection off on the right foot with the genuine article.

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Photo By: Marian Parsons

10 Tips for Collecting Antique + Vintage Flatware

Related To:

Flatware: Jewelry for Your Dining Table

Where to Find Vintage + Antique Flatware

Secondhand Silverware: What to Look For

How to Use Your New/Old Scores

Put Your Pretties on Display

All About Bakelite Flatware

All About Bone, Ivory + Horn Flatware

Sterling Silver Versus Silverplate

Tips for Cleaning + Care

Bamboo or Wood-Handled Utensils

Generic Versus Specific Name Brands

Shop This Look

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