Silver and sentiments

The other day, I was flipping through some old silverware in a cabinet drawer and happened upon a spoon that I thought was so pretty, this middle one, that I've been using it for everything: grits, soup, ice cream, cottage cheese, and of course, stirring my tea. A pretty English teacup, a French porcelain bowl, and/or an elegant silver spoon just makes anything taste better, if you ask me.

Now that I use Google Lens on an almost daily basis, I no longer have to wonder about what pattern something is. Now I can know! And so it was that I went digging for more info on my vintage silver-plated wares. These three spoons in particular are currently making me quite happy, especially after I pulled out the Wright's Silver Cream and polished them. These patterns are, from left, Rosedale Manor Plate, Arbutus by Wm. Rogers and Son, and Dresden Rose by Reed and Barton. No piece is valuable at all, and I'm pretty sure I paid no more than a dollar each for these, but I think they're such lovely spoons from yesteryear.

I bought them years ago at the Lakewood Flea Market, and I have such fond memories of plundering through the piles of silver back in the day. I pulled out this spooner and decided I will keep my vintage spoons on display and add to the collection as I polish other pieces I find lying around. So what about you? Do you dine with sterling, silver-plated flatware, or vintage pieces? I'd love to know!