How to Get Started
Collecting antiques is a passion of mine and it’s something I love to share with those around me. Beginning your antiques collecting with tableware is a great way to get your feet wet. You’ll make mistakes along the way, sure. But these will be much less expensive mistakes than antique furniture ones. I’ve ended up with one or two pieces of silver that I didn’t notice were badly tarnished until I got home (see this post on caring for your antiques). Luckily, they were inexpensive pieces, so it wasn’t a big deal. I still use them today and just accept that those two pieces have a lovely, worn patina!
Here are a few pieces that are great ones to start with…
Silver Revere Bowls
These are the most versatile pieces in a good entertaining closet. They can do just about anything. They’ll hold dips with elegance. If the bowl does not come with a plastic liner, or you don’t have time to hunt one down (you can find them with some online searching), a little bit of plastic wrap lining the bowl will protect it from any acid in dips or any other food products you put in it.
These little bowls are also great for decor. They make a stylish container for potpourri and any other small items you’re collecting, like seashells.
Brass Candlesticks
Brass candlesticks are a great way to elevate your tabletop and give it a cozy warmth. I used a few of mine in our Friendsgiving tabletop. They’re often on my tables, especially in the fall and winter. Brass candlesticks are plentiful and tend to be less expensive. My favorite part about collecting these is that you can mix and match so easily with them. I try to buy them in pairs as often as I can and I’ll mix in three or four pairs throughout a tablescape to keep things interesting.
Ice Buckets
A good ice bucket can easily take center stage on your bar. I’ve found some beautiful ones in crystal, silver, and glass. You can uncover these just about anywhere.
Silver trays or platters
These are fabulous staples. They can be used on coffee tables to house coasters and a few books (my post on coffee table items is here), vanities to corral beauty products with a pretty Diptyque or Jo Malone candle (this one is my current favorite, inspired by Tuscany), and on sideboards or dining room tables when hosting a dinner party or cocktail party.
Silver serving utensils
Silver serving utensils are some of my favorite things to collect because they are so intricately detailed and because an antique serving utensil exists for absolutely everything. I mix and match these with vintage sterling silver flatware service that we found in an antique shop in Roanoke. You can find gravy ladles, slotted silver spoons, and everything in between easily. They’re so much fun to collect.
Silver casserole dishes and serving dishes
Silver casserole and serving dishes are a stunning way to dress up your tabletop. They tend to be a bit more expensive. I’ve found them to be just as versatile as other silver pieces. I’ll often set the lid or cover aside, pop a small Revere bowl in the center, and use it to serve a dip and cut vegetables. They come in the most beautiful and unique shapes – true treasures to collect.
Vintage glassware
For my mid-century friends, this is where I join your love affair. Cocktail shakers, highballs, and drink stirrers from the 1920’s have my heart. The Hour in Old Town Alexandria has a great selection.
Some of my favorite sources to find all of these gems…
I love perusing estate sales and antique shops wherever I go and whenever we travel. There are some great shops in Charlottesville, Old Town Alexandria,…really everywhere. You can also find great silver pieces in furniture consignment shops, thrift stores, and online. A few of my favorite online sources include Everything But The House, Invaluable (thanks to my friend Brian), The RealReal (from time to time – they also have fabulous vintage Hermes scarves), and a good, old-fashioned online search for estate sales.
Happy collecting!
This post contains affiliate links, but all are tried and true Magnolia Stripes favorites.
