Teaching a friend

[MRBeyer]

As you may know I am in a major city on business. One of my friends in class there has been hearing me talk about what I have been finding at garage and estate sales while in town. After a couple weekends of missed opportunities he cleared his schedule this last Saturday and headed out with me. After picking through a couple yard sales without hitting anything really worthwhile we stopped at a church rummage sale. Right off the bat I spot a set of silver salt and pepper shakers. He spots them at the same time and picked them up first. While they didn't have sterling or 925 on them, they did have a makers mark. He elected to not buy them so I did. $1. Then we hit an estate sale. He had been drooling over crystal all morning that was too high priced. This estate sale however was being run by the family. I picked up a continental silver carving set for $2, and 12 crystal wine glasses for $9 plus odds and ends silver jewelry. I also picked up a silver drink jigger for $2. He picked up a crystal wine set including carafe for $5. I split the silver salt and pepper shakers so he wouldn't feel bad about not buying it. Weight in silver for me for the weekend. 6.5 ounces for $6 not counting the carving set. His half of the shaker set, 4.1 ounces.

Sorry, no pictures at this time.

[creeper71]

As you may know I am in a major city on business. One of my friends in class there has been hearing me talk about what I have been finding at garage and estate sales while in town. After a couple weekends of missed opportunities he cleared his schedule this last Saturday and headed out with me. After picking through a couple yard sales without hitting anything really worthwhile we stopped at a church rummage sale. Right off the bat I spot a set of silver salt and pepper shakers. He spots them at the same time and picked them up first. While they didn't have sterling or 925 on them, they did have a makers mark. He elected to not buy them so I did. $1. Then we hit an estate sale. He had been drooling over crystal all morning that was too high priced. This estate sale however was being run by the family. I picked up a continental silver carving set for $2, and 12 crystal wine glasses for $9 plus odds and ends silver jewelry. I also picked up a silver drink jigger for $2. He picked up a crystal wine set including carafe for $5. I split the silver salt and pepper shakers so he wouldn't feel bad about not buying it. Weight in silver for me for the weekend. 6.5 ounces for $6 not counting the carving set. His half of the shaker set, 4.1 ounces.

Sorry, no pictures at this time.

are you sure the continental silver carving set is sterling? most I have seen are plated

[MRBeyer]

Positive. yep, silver.

[creeper71]

Positive. yep, silver.

has sterling or 925 on it? an is it just the handles?

[MRBeyer]

No markings, the fork is all silver, the blade of the knife is stainless. Only marking on it says continental.

[MRBeyer]

according to this link, it is a Gorham made Chantilly design prior to 1903. Sterling.

http://www.silvermonogramfinds.com/h...6wgv4e1d36oge9

[creeper71]

according to this link, it is a Gorham made Chantilly design prior to 1903. Sterling.

http://www.silvermonogramfinds.com/h...6wgv4e1d36oge9

can you get me a pic? I am still leary it is sterling.. not tryin to take away from your find

[diggummup]

How can it be Gorham if it's marked "Continental," i'm confused?

[MRBeyer]

Actually, I was having difficulty finding an exact reference as the only thing on both is "Continental" and on both sides of the blade is Stainless. Kept varying my description until this one showed up. It matches the design and the limited markings. No, it is not monogramed. The balde in my set is very worn but still very servicable. According to the description on that era of Gorham it is a Sterling handled stainless blade and fork set after 1903 and the fork is solid sterling before 1903. The set I have has a sterling fork. They only made these in this fashion for 5 years. From what I can gather on the early Chantilly/Gorham carving sets, they are not marked as Gorhams or as silver or sterling. If it wasn't for the match of the limited markings and the handle's design I would have written it off as a fancy plate set for use at home. Just posting this as a wow find, not selling it. Putting it with the huge silver platter I got from my last trip. Will use it for turkey day carving at family gatherings.

[MRBeyer]

Bad news was the salt and pepper shakers were plate. Good news was the rest of the stuff was silver. Should have the camera problem solved soon so pictures will be forthcoming.