Last updated: 03/08/2025
In the golden age of formal dining, the world's elite demanded specialized silver implements for every conceivable delicacy. These masterpieces of metalwork tell stories of luxury, innovation and social status that few modern diners can imagine. From grape shears that revolutionized fruit service to asparagus tongs that puzzled uninitiated guests, explore these museum-worthy flatware sets from the world's most prestigious silversmiths - Gorham, Fabergé and Tiffany & Co. - currently available at M.S. Rau.
American Silver Mastery: Gorham Versailles Service for 18
This monumental Gorham sterling silver flatware service from 1888 showcases American craftsmanship at its finest. Totaling an incredible 705 pieces in the coveted Versailles pattern, there are 7 different kinds of forks and 7 varieties of spoons for every purpose imaginable, including strawberry forks and bouillon spoons. Created by chief designer Antoine Heller, who joined Gorham in 1881, each piece masterfully blends Rococo and neoclassical elements inspired by the Palace of Versailles. Founded in Providence, Rhode Island in 1831, Gorham Manufacturing Company rose to prominence as one of America's premier silversmiths, with the Versailles pattern becoming one of their most distinguished creations.
Imperial Splendor: Fabergé Silver Flatware Service for 24
This spectacular Fabergé flatware set was made by one of the most renowned silversmithing firms in the world. Based in Moscow, the Fabergé firm came to define the gold standard in Russian decorative arts. These flatware serving pieces are a particularly good example of such important craftsmanship, which is easy to see in the ornately decorated fish serving knife. This is also an excellent example of a particularly unusual set of asparagus shears in the top left, with clean lines and a ridged inside for functionality.
Tiffany Triumph: Florentine Flatware Service for 12
This exceptional Tiffany & Co. sterling flatware service showcases the prestigious Florentine pattern, one of the firm's most intricate and labor-intensive designs created between 1900-1934 by renowned Tiffany artisan Paulding Farnham. The comprehensive service for 12 includes several rare specialized pieces, including an elegant bonbon spoon with its distinctive pierced bowl and the precisely engineered asparagus tongs that exemplify Tiffany's technical mastery. Since their international recognition at the 1867 Paris World's Fair, Tiffany silverware has graced the tables of European royalty and America's elite families like the Astors and Vanderbilts.
These exceptional silver flatware collections represent the pinnacle of silversmithing artistry from the most prestigious makers in history. Each piece tells a story of craftsmanship, social ritual, and artistic innovation that transcends mere functionality.
Explore more remarkable flatware sets available today at M.S. Rau.
