One complaint often made about solid silver tableware is that it is old fashioned and no longer fits with our modern lifestyle. The younger generation prefers apartments and houses with open floor plans and informal eating spaces. This trend is reflected in the abandonment of formal dining rooms along with everything that used to populate them: fine china, crystal and yes, silver.
There is a grain of truth to this myth. It is true that the modern lifestyle lends itself to informality. But fine silver tableware fits into an informal or semi-formal setting far better than most expect.
I think a lot of people are intimidated by silver because grandma only got her good service out for special occasions. And she would yell at you if you accidentally dropped your fork. And she would hand wash every piece immediately after dinner. And she would periodically polish it too. You get the picture. So it's only natural that most people would view fine silver tableware as fragile and fussy formal dining-ware.
But the truth is rather different than grandma would have you believe. Solid silver tableware is actually pretty tough stuff. You can use it on a regular, even daily, basis and it will last for many, many decades, if not centuries. It isn't nearly as sensitive to mistreatment as the purists would claim.
For example, I regularly use a set of one dozen antique French silver-plated teaspoons from the late 19th century. I had purchased them on a whim from an antique shop for about $30. It seemed a waste to leave them buried in a closet, so I started using them daily.
I put them through the dishwasher along with all my other stainless steel utensils. I never polish them - ever. I often leave them in the sink along with other dirty dishes for most of the day, until I run the dishwasher later at night. I even accidentally got one caught in the garbage disposal once.
Guess what? My century old antique French silver-plated teaspoons look as good as the day I bought them. Well, all of them except for the garbage disposal victim. He ended up a bit mangled. But the other silver spoons look great. They never tarnish and are just as serviceable as my other, stainless steel flatware. They look great at parties, regardless of whether those events are formal, semi-formal or completely informal. And you haven't really lived until you've eaten ice cream with a real, solid silver spoon. It is an experience unlike any other - the very essence of luxury.
Now I can understand that there might be limitations to using fine silver tableware on a regular basis. You probably want to reserve your English 18th century Hester Bateman sterling silver coffee set for special occasions only. It would be too valuable for daily use. But most sterling silver isn't. Most solid silver trades at modest to moderate premiums over its bullion value. So if the worst happens and you absent-mindedly cram a piece or two into your garbage disposal it won't be a great loss.
The world is full of jaw-droppingly gorgeous fine silver tableware that fits every taste and budget. It would be a shame to abandon it to stuffy drawers or safety deposit boxes when you could be luxuriating in its elegance on a regular basis. Antique silver tableware is durable, beautiful, functional and so much more stylish than pedestrian stainless steel. Grandma might have only gotten out the good silver for holidays, but some rules were meant to be broken.
