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| Tiffany & Co. Bamboo |
Bamboo (circa 1961). Introduced in 1961, Bamboo was designed by Tiffany's then Design Director, Van Day Truex. In 1965, Bamboo won the International Design Award for silver. Its simplicity and character have made it a favorite for modern table settings, but the thematic reference to 19th century Chinoiserie decorations makes Bamboo compatible with more traditional interiors as well.
This sterling pattern is highly collectible. Alas, it is not mine. But I do like the idea of a bamboo pattern in stainless steel for everyday use.
I have loved reading about everyone's china patterns.
Do you have a sterling pattern you love?
Does anyone have a suggestion for a bamboo pattern in stainless that is elegant - not just your generic cheap version? I would love to get a new set. I have tired of my RL Equestrian Braid.
BTW, my sterling pattern is Kirk Steiff Williamsburg Shell.
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| Kirk Steiff Williamsburg Shell |
And finally, I have read that you can wash your sterling flatware in the dishwasher so long as you do not use lemon or citrus dishwasher detergent and you place the sterling in a separate compartment away from stainless steel. Has anyone tried this? It would encourage me to use my sterling more.
My dishwasher has a stainless steel interior which causes silver to tarnish but even if I didn't, I would never wash sterling knives in any dishwasher since they don't have solid handles. I sock my silver in soapy water (non citrus) right after use, rinse and dry.
ReplyDeleteGood advice.
DeleteBeth: How about Pottery Barn's set: https://www.potterybarn.com/products/bamboo-flatware/
ReplyDeleteThe PB bamboo stainless flatware is pretty!
DeleteI think the Pottery Barn is quite elegant - it looks a lot like the Tiffany. Thanks.
DeleteI have Wallace Grand Colonial sterling and which was my mother's from the 40's. Love it but alas, have not used it here in Florida. I know...I should. I feel it is a bit ostentatious here in the more informal and relaxed vibe ever-present in Florida.
ReplyDeleteSilver is subject to much tarnishing here with the humidity. I place 3M Silver Strips in the drawers and bags of all my silver which really helps with this. No labor involved. I have never put silver in the dishwasher. Chemicals in the DW soap seem too harsh, though I know many people do clean it this way. I use Wright's Silver polish paste or Goddards lotion polish with old 100% cotton tee shirts.
We use the same silver polishes. Yes, silver does tarnish here for sure. I am determined to bring formality to Venice. LOL
DeleteMy parents washed their heavy antique sterling forks and spoons nightly in the dishwasher, with regular Cascade powder, for decades, with zero ill effect. We didn't worry about loading them near stainless implements, but we did always have to hand-wash the knives. Supposedly the blades might loosen from the handles if they went through the dishwasher cycle. I think it is wonderful for sterling to get used for "everyday" if you have a pattern that you love.
ReplyDeleteI agree and I will use it more if I can put it in the dishwasher.
DeleteI have Reed and Barton Tara, which I love. I do ue the dishwasher to clean separating it from the stainless. I do not put the knives in the dishwasher, but wash them by hand.
ReplyDeleteGood advice, thanks.
DeleteHmmm...most dishwashers these days DO have stainless steel interiors--so that may be an issue for dishwashing silver. I also immediately put mine in a big bowl with dish liquid. It does take a bit of time to wash and rinse each piece.
ReplyDeleteA tried and true method for sure.
DeleteAnother issue is how the knife handle is attached to the blade. I've read that it may loosen in time if washed in the dishwasher.
ReplyDeleteYes, true.
DeleteI have used my sterling wedding silver daily for 40 years, putting it in dishwasher with the caveat mentioned above---stainless utensils separated from silver. My Bosch dishwasher has a stainless interior.i also wash my 1930's gold-edged and raised-enamel fine china in dishwasher, pre-rinsing well. More importantly,I do not use dishwasher soap when washing the china. Life is short; enjoy your beautiful things.I am about to pull out my pearl-handled silver,use it at dinner, afterward putting pieces into water-filled glasses to soak while taking care not to have the pearl portion in the water,and then easily washing and drying them by hand.BTW,I used the glass trick when entertaining, but no entertaining at this time. When you have to polish silver, watch a movie!
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love all you said.
DeleteI love my faux bamboo (natural plastic handles)flatware and I wash it in the dishwasher, no problem. Another (cheap) pattern I love is Pagoda from Enchanted Home. https://enchantedhome.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1595
ReplyDeleteBetween the two, I am all set and never get bored.
The Enchanted Home is right up your Chinoiserie alley.
DeleteI have bought so many bargains there.
Love the Pagoda flatware.
The pagoda flatware is fun.
DeleteYears ago a large department store here in Pittsburgh was moving to the other side of the mall and they had a super sale. I lucked out and snagged six settings of sterling sliver Spanish Baroque by Reed and Barton for $46 a setting. My everyday stainless flatware is Yamazaki Feather. Beth, check out Ricci Argentieri. I love so many of their patterns and have Raffaello in gold tone. I know they have a very nice bamboo pattern.
ReplyDeleteLovely choices. Yes, the Ricci is very nice.
DeleteI have never heard that washing sterling in the dishwasher is very good for it. However I do know of a good trick for cleaning both plate and sterling. Buy a disposable aluminum pan at the supermarket or drugstore, put your silver in, add some baking soda, boil some water, then pour the water into the pan. The tarnish will literally fly off of the silver.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a favorite pattern. There are just too many beautiful ones, but I do lean towards older ones that that look as if they came from a more gracious era. I'm searching for a new stainless pattern as well. So hard to choose when there are so many choices.
Great tip, thanks. I will definitely try that.
DeleteI have the Ricci bamboo stainless steel. It is nicely balanced; I think someone above gave the pattern name. I would recommend it highly.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Ricci is very nice. Thanks.
DeleteGood morning Beth! I have enjoyed following you for several years and am excited to see how your new house is transformed! I am also a white towel fan but loved the idea of the coral with pink monogram! I just googled coral towels and a beautiful shade is available at Garnet Hill and it is on sale! I love the style of their towels and the lack of band( only on the bottom edge) that sometimes makes monogramming difficult.
ReplyDeleteThe Garnet Hill towels look great and lots of people have suggested them. I wish the coral was a bit deeper and more pink.
DeleteI have a set of bamboo stainless by Ricci. I have it for years and it look as good today as 2hen I first bought it. That said, several years ago, I decided to use my sterling silver everyday. My pattern is Chantilly which was my Grandmother’s silver pattern. I do not put it in the DW. I have a clear flatware organizer by my sink & after we eat, I rinse the flatware & put it in organizer. This keeps me from having to wash silver 3x a day; I wash the silver every other day. I love using my silver & it’s antimicrobial! A nice bonus these days!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!
DeleteMy wedding silver is Grand Colonial by Wallace. I still love it. My everyday (45 years!) flatware is Queen Anne, satin, by Cooper Bros & Sons Sheffield. We inherited four (!) sets of silver that I don't use except for some of the serving pieces. Love those Victorians who had a silver utensil for everything. I never put silver in the dishwasher.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of silver!
DeleteI have Kirk Stieff Old Maryland Engraved. I love it!
ReplyDeleteSuch a classic.
DeleteI put my sterling silver flatware in the dishwasher as well as my Herend China which has a gold edge and it still looks great.
ReplyDeleteYour silver pattern is gorgeous. I love the pistol grip handle on the knives.
ReplyDeleteWhen I have a dinner party I fill a dish pan with the hottest water from the tap and Dawn dish washing liquid. When I clear a course the flatware goes in the dish pan to soak. My thinking is to never let the flatware stay soiled. Often after a soak it just takes minimal wiping and a good rinse. The important thing is to dry it immediately.
I have Herend Rothschild Bird china, Audubon sterling silver by Tiffany & Co. and Tall Colleen by Waterford. It has all gone in the dishwasher and lived to serve another day. You are correct to avoid citrus detergents. I use the gentle or "China" cycle on the dishwasher. I take everything out of the dishwasher before the drying cycle-the heat is a killer. So far so good. if the dishwasher makes the difference between using your things or not I opt for the dishwasher.
Yes, the dishwasher would definitely be a motivator. Beautiful pattern choices.
DeleteMy sterling is Kirk Steiff Golden Winslow, which has a "lattice" look around the edging and works beautifully with china patterns incorporating gold.
ReplyDeleteKirk Steiff has so many great classics.
DeleteA gazillion settings and all the odd pieces in R&B Francis the First. Have the tea strainer, the wee nut or candy bowls, olive forks, asparagus servers, and of course, baby spoons. Largesse from my husband’s stately grandmother. Always, always wash every. single. piece. by hand. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteWow! Some great pieces - olive forks!
DeleteI have a huge set of vintage gold-plate bamboo flatware in an adorable pink carrying case—complete with hostess set!—that I got off eBay years ago, but I'm terrified to actually use it. I know, I know... I should be using it every day. But sometimes I just like to look at it in the case!
ReplyDeleteMy sterling flatware is Princess Elizabeth by National Sterling. It belonged to my grandmother, then mother, now me. I use it a lot. No way I would ever put it in the dishwasher though.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely thing to pass down. Wonderful.
DeleteI've fallen down the rabbit hole! I love the bamboo flatware and started thinking maybe I need to buy some too. I did a quick search and a nice option came up on Wayfair. I would never think of them for flatware. Royal Pacific by Fortessa on sale!
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely. I am thinking of getting it.
DeleteI have two sets of sterling, both of which I inherited. My favorite one is a Wallace pattern, the name of which escapes me at the moment. It was my grandmother's. It is more ornate and looks like something ladies from a more gracious era would have used. The other was my mother's pattern, Towle Old Master. At some point I believe Towle was either bought out by another silver maker, or they downgraded the quality of their product, because the older pieces in my mom's pattern are much nicer. I understand there are degrees in the quality of sterling, though I couldn't expound on that. One would have to consult a jeweler or a silver smith.
ReplyDeleteI also have a pair of beautiful sterling Cartier candelabras, which I never have the occasion to use, but I love them, nevertheless. What can I say, Beth? I was born in the wrong era!
Cartier, wow!
ReplyDeleteThis was a fun read! I have Kirf Stieff Repousse and my mother's Towle Old Master. I use the Old Master for holidays and such and always put it in the dishwasher. Yikes!! But it still looks perfect. I will try to remember to keep it from stainless pieces (even though the dishwasher is stainless). But I'll probably forget!
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying the posts on your gorgeous new home! Cathy
Those are classics. Thanks for following.
DeleteI bought my brother/SIL the Ricci Bamboo and they love it. Mine is the Fortessa Royal Pacific - which I found later - and I think I like it better. The Ricci has narrower handles. I also just broke out my natural bamboo handle set. Honestly, they’re all fun but I think you’d like the heft of the Fortessa. I have a pretty big collection of antique Kirk Repousse which I was using for every day for years - the Fortessa is what got me to shift to stainless. I confess that I do put the sterling in the dishwasher at times. It was really the need to polish all of the carving that became too much when a cute alternative emerged :)
ReplyDeleteRicci stainless is absolutely gorgeous! It's heavier than most stainless flatware and very upscale looking. Silversuperstore.com often has it on sale.
DeleteThanks - I will check these out.
DeleteI am seriously thinking of getting the Haussmann Stainless Bamboo from Houzz. What I like about it is that the bamboo pattern on the handless looks most realistic and I actually prefer that the utensils don't seem too hefty. Reason being, it's hard to balance very heavy silverware on the plate--keeps tipping over or sliding in. https://www.houzz.com/product/12933425-haussmann-stainless-steel-bamboo-flattened-flatware-5-pc-set-x-4-pl-set-asian-flatware-and-silverware-sets
ReplyDeleteCrate and Barrel has pretty bamboo flatware. At least they did 10 years ago when I got married. I registered for the bamboo serving set and still love it. I also received several Tiffany Audubon pieces which are inspired by 19th century Japanese bird paintings.
ReplyDeleteThanks and the Tiffany Audubon is stunning.
DeleteI just checked my Crate and Barrel bamboo flatware and it's by Fortessa which someone mentioned is also on Wayfair. You can create a housewarming registry at Crate and Barrel and receive a 15 % discount when you close out the registry.
ReplyDeleteGreat - thank you!
Delete