AH Flatware Collecting

[Mons 1914]

Maybe it's been discussed before however it will make for an interesting topic.

We know that formal serving pieces are a lot less common and their for I guess more interesting/collectable
What about the standard formal knifes, folks, spoons.
Which of the types below do our members prefer..? is their any preference to the Luncheon knife or folk etc or larger dinner ones?

Luncheon Knife, Folk, Spoon

Large Dinner Knife, Folk, Spoon

Dessert, Folk, Spoon etc

[ErichS]

I have a very small collection that includes a dinner knife and fork along with an ice cream spoon. I also have an AH napkin. All the siver pieces are of the formal pattern.

[Br. James]

The so-called "informal pattern" of AH flatware has long attracted me, and that is what I have focused my collecting on for a good number of years. Today I only lack a coffee/tea spoon to complete a place setting; I have a dinner knife, dinner fork, salad fork, dessert fork, and a soup/serving spoon in that understated and elegant pattern. That being said, I have just recently seen offered what was called a "luncheon knife" in the informal pattern -- it was already sold when I saw it -- and I didn't realize that there could have been both a "luncheon" and a "dinner" service made in this pattern! Some of the pieces may be intended to be interchangeable, of course, but this "luncheon knife" was 8 1/2" long as against the dinner knife in my collection which is 10" long. As is so often said, "You learn something new each and every day!"

Br. James

[Mons 1914]

Were does the salad folk rank among these pieces?

[Br. James]

Say more; not quite sure what you mean.

Thanks,

Br. James

[Mons 1914]

Were does the salad folk rank among these pieces?

James, are certain examples of the formal pattern more desirable than others.

ie, the salad folk vs the dinner folk. Ice cream spoon vs fruit spoon etc.

[ErichS]

James, are certain examples of the formal pattern more desirable than others.

ie, the salad folk vs the dinner folk. Ice cream spoon vs fruit spoon etc.

You may want to contact member Eric Von Rader who has a large collection of AH silver and he may have the info you seek.

[Mons 1914]

Anyone else want to chime in?
I guess all the standard dinner pieces are about the same, or maybe the dessert items rank higher?

Thanks Erich

[Br. James]

Thanks for your response, Erich (Mons 1914),

Now I see what you mean. I have no response regarding pieces of the formal pattern since I have never collected it. But as regards the informal pattern, most of the pieces in my collection came at generally the same price each (within $150.00 or so, depending upon the prestige of the seller), regardless of the placesetting position. If this is true for the formal pattern, which is always (in my experience) more costly to buy than the informal pattern, then the type of utensil is probably irrelevent, given the rarity of both patterns.

Br. James