Sterling silver with tendrils that crawl up the side and flower. Austrian Dagobert Peche, metalworker. Living from 1887 to 1923 he was a member of the Wiener Werkstätte with Josef Hoffman and Koloman Moser.

Box in the Shape of an Apple. ca.1920. — Box in the Shape of an Apple. ca. 1920. In the public domain in the United States because the artist has been dead over 70 years. via https://venetianred.wordpress.com/2009/07/28/dagobert-peche-genius-of-ornament/

Four large candlesticks. Early 20th c. — Four large candlesticks. Each on four bowl feet and curved strings with corn, grapes and birds. Early 20th c. Forged and chased iron with silver paint. Image © Deutsch Auktionen, Vienna. Fair use license. via https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/dagobert-peche-1887-1923-circle-four-large-can-282-c-a8b4b93bd7

Melon shaped box, model number S5159. ca. 1920. Silver with a partial gilt interior. Image © Neue Galerie New York. Fair use license. via https://www.neuegalerie.org/content/melon-shaped-box-model-no-s-5159

Vase. ca. 1920. Image © Cooper Hewitt Museum, New York. Fair use license. via https://www.cooperhewitt.org/2017/04/16/playful-exuberance-dagobert-peches-silver-vase/

Bird shaped candy box. ca. 1920. Silver with coral eyes. In the public domain in the United States because the artist has been dead over 70 years. via https://venetianred.wordpress.com/2009/07/28/dagobert-peche-genius-of-ornament/

Church silver and gold for Christmas Eve, and of the most spectacular kind. Some actual Gothic and some Gothic Revival, but all with more whistles and bells than most.

Chalice. 1608 with later restorations. Westphalian (German). Gold, enamel and jewels. Probably made by Otto Meier (active 1604–21). In the public domain. via https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/193477?pos=50&rpp=30&pg=2&ft=chalice

Wanamaker cross. First used in 1922. Processional cross. Ivory, silver gilt and diamond. Walter Stoye, designer. Barkentin & Krall, maker. Collection of Westminster Abbey, London. Image © Westminster Abbey. via https://www.westminster-abbey.org/worship-music/worship-at-the-abbey/processional-crosses/

Chalice and paten. ca. 1867-1873. Barkentin and Krall, maker. Silver, parcel gilt, semi-precious stones and pearls. In the public domain in the United States as the makers have been dead over 70 years. via https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2018/03/chalice-by-barkentin-and-krall.html

Saint Bernard chalice. 1390's. German. Gold. — Saint Bernard chalice. 1390’s. German. Gold. Maker not known. In the public domain. via https://www.scross.co.za/2017/07/why-the-chalice/

Chalice. 1856-1857. Silver with gilding set with semi-precious stones. William Butterfield, designer. John Kent, maker. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London. via http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78077/chalice-william-butterfield/

A bit of silver to glitter up your morning. Home goods to sparkle up anyone’s living room from Josef Hoffmann, co founder of the Wiener Werkstätte. Austrian.

Caviar tray. 1910. Silver with a glass insert. Fair use licence. via https://www.dorotheum.com/en/auctions/current-auctions/kataloge/list-lots-detail/kuenstler/josef-hoffmann/auktion/91-art-nouveau-and-art-deco/lotID/182/lot/954-josef-hoffmann-a-caviar-tray-designed-in-1910.html?source=kuen

Bottle stoppers. ca. 1910. Collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Fair use license. via https://www.moma.org/collection/works/109287?artist_id=2694&locale=en&page=1&sov_referrer=artist

Centerpiece. ca. 1910. Fair use license. via pinterest.com.

Things sparkly from French silversmith Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot (1763-1850). If he’d had the money Napoleon would have put in an order to dress up that dreary little table in Saint Helena. Alas we must content ourselves with these.

Soupière with women on their knees. 1819. Silver plated brass. Plated by Christofle in 1907-1908. © MAD, Paris. Cc license 4.0. Photo credit : Jean Tholance. via http://madparis.fr/francais/musees/musee-des-arts-decoratifs/dossiers-thematiques/jean-baptiste-claude-odiot-1763-1850-orfevre/#&gid=1&pid=4.

Ewer. 1826-38. Silver gilt in two colors and ebony. Part of a composite tea service. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London. via http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O124411/ewer-odiot-charles-nicholas/

Model vase for a tea fountain. 1802-1819. Silver plated brass. Plated by Christofle in 1907-1908. Collection of the Musee des Arts Decoratifs. Photo credit: Musee des Arts Decoratifs/Jean Tholance. Cc License 4.0. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MAD_ODIOT_20161001.jpg

Hot water urn. 1798-1809. Silver and gilt bronze. Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Cc License 1.0. via https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Hot_water_urn_MET_DP102648.jpg/1024px-Hot_water_urn_MET_DP102648.jpg

"Leda" oil cruet. ca. 1819. — “Leda” oil cruet. ca. 1819. Silver plated brass. Plated by Christofle in 1907-1908. Collection of the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris. CC License 4.0. Image © MAD, Paris / photo: Jean Tholance. via http://madparis.fr/francais/musees/musee-des-arts-decoratifs/dossiers-thematiques/jean-baptiste-claude-odiot-1763-1850-orfevre/#&gid=1&pid=9

Silver and copper to brighten anyone’s wedding reception gift table from turn of the last century German firm Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik or WMF.

Centerpiece. Silver plate with a green glass liner. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://www.epigenetics-and-infections2017.org/large-silver-fruit-bowl.html.

Ewer. 1910.Copper and cast brass. Collection of the Cooper Hewitt Museum. In the public domain. via https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/52027743/.

Tazza or raised bowl with a pierced fretwork design. 1910. Silver plate. Image © loveantiques.com. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://www.loveantiques.com/antique-silver/german/wmf-silver-plated-tazza-comport-or-raised-bowl-with-pierced-fretwork-design-119331.

Urn. 1905-1910. Wrought copper and cast brass. Collection of the Cooper Hewitt Museum. In the public domain. via https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/52027741/

A few sparkly bits in sterling silver by Jules Habert-Dys who lived in France from 1850 to 1930 and mostly did other creative things much of it Art Nouveau in style. .pretty they are but the light just doesn’t bounce off the same. . .

Vase. 1904. A collaboration with goldsmith Fernand Poisson. Cc licence 3.0. Collection of the Musée d’Orsay, Paris. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jules_habert-dys_e_fernand_poisson,_vaso,_francia_1904,_argento.JPG.

Vase in the design of three cicadas standing on the tips of their wings. Patinated bronze, gilded, silver, enamel, agate and solid silver. Attributed to Jules Habert-Dys. Photo credit: Droits Reserves. Artwork in the public domain because the artist has been dead over 70 years. via https://www.letelegramme.fr/bretagne/rennes-a-196-000-eur-un-vase-d-habert-dys-enflamme-les-encheres-25-06-2015-10681355.php.

Lidded caviar server. 1905. Silver with blue enamel. Artwork in the public domain. Collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. via https://collections.artsmia.org/art/40885/caviar-server-jules-auguste-habert-dys.

An envisioning. . .1910, the New Years holiday, and the finest hotel in Siena.

Oh to be here.

Winter coming in and a lobby filled with the scent of evergreen boughs at the finest hotel in Tuscany. Queen Margherita coming for a week’s stay. The dining room all sparkly. Every maid in the hotel set to burnish every inch of the royal suite and the silver picture frames so shiny you can nearly see yourself in the dark.

Her suite not so happy but what can one do. Best spots in the servants’ hall for family dinner but not the same as the palace.

But the queen all smiles. A banquet that takes up the dining room. Ride to the cathedral and back for tea.

An outing to San Galgano up in the hills. A parade of cars filled with furs, mulled wine, rugs, and armchairs so her majesty can sit and watch the clouds. A few having had to be borrowed from the hotel down the street but not something for royalty to have a way to find out.

The last day and a gift. A silver box. Musa, it is. A place so ancient they were already old when Napoleon took Savoy and Sardinia took it back.

Something to treasure. On top of one’s jewelry box and locked up in the safe for holidays. Something to treasure your whole life long . . . .for generations not yet born . . . .wherever they are. . .

This is not my story. An honor it is to have been entrusted with it by my dear friend Colleen P. The story is that her late husband’s grandmother had the finest hotel in Siena from early 1900 to after the second world war. Queen Margherita di Savoia came to the hotel for New Years and gave her hostess several small gifts, with a small silver box with her seal amongst them. Brought to America by her descendants, it was lost in a wildfire. This lovely piece of silver must stand in its stead. A memory now . . . .all we ever really have.

Trinket or vanity box. 1884. London. Repousse sterling silver. Maker not known. via pinterest.com.

Silverworks by Charles Robert Ashbee (1863-1942). Arts and Crafts movement.

Salt cellar. 1899-1900. — Salt Cellar. 1899-1900. Silver, parcel gilt with carnelian. Produced for the Guild of Handicraft. #O94792, © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Inkwell. 1907. Silver and enamel. Guild of Handicraft, London, manufacturer. Collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. collections.artsmia.org

Bowl with lid and spoon. 1902-1904. Silver and enamel. Guild of Handicraft, London, manufacturer. Collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. artsmia.org.

Sporting cup. 1899. — Sporting Cup. 1899. Silver, enamel and carnelian. For The Guild of Handicraft, London. Collection of the Dallas Museum of Art. via uncrated.wordpress.com

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