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Registered: Apr 2007

posted 04-05-2007 11:58 PM            

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A few days ago I was browsing in a estate silver shop and was captivated by 6 forks thrown into a basket of odd & end pieces. The owner of the store was able to identify the pattern as International 1900 Diana. I have been searching for a book or archives which will give me more information on this pattern. I am collecting this pattern now as I have just simply fallen in love with it and would love to find reference material on it. Perhaps is there anyone out there that might assist me in finding a book or other source of information which can show me the pieces that were made in this pattern, etc. So far the only thing I have been able to discover is what I have typed in the Subject and that the pattern was discontinued. Please help if you can. Thanks so much!

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posted 04-06-2007 07:33 AM            

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This will not ncessarily be a complete source, but there are a number of flatware replacement/matching companies out there with websites. They will list the pieces that came with a particular pattern(or at least the ones they have for sale) and sometimes have photographs or sketches of the pieces as well, so that you can see what to look out for.

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posted 04-06-2007 08:10 AM            

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Thanks Doc. So far I have found only one, Replacements.com. They seem to be the only company I personally have found that carries any of this pattern. I came across this forum because I was searching for books, etc that might have catalogued this pattern. I ran across "The Book of Silver" and listed was this forum. Do you subscribe to this book, can you recommend it? I did contacted International Silver and they indicated that company changed hands and they didnt have archives past a certain date. Thanks again for your help.

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posted 04-06-2007 10:38 AM            

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I do not have any, but there are old silver company catalogs from that era that were saved. Some people collect these, and there are vintage catalog dealers who buy and sell old catalogs of all kinds. Sometimes you see old silver company catalogs on the big internet auction site - for example I just did a quick search and noticed a 1938 Samuel Kirk and Son catalog being auctioned. You may need to be persistent and patient to find an International Silver catalog of the general era that would have your pattern in it though. Another way to hunt for such a catalog is to go on the major rare book dealer websites where they have book searches that access very large numbers of dealers. Some of them even have advance functions where you can create a "book wanted" entry and dealers will keep an eye out for one for you.

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posted 04-06-2007 11:09 AM            

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Hello Sharon, I'm so glad you found a silver pattern that you love. Unfortunately because of the vast number of patterns in existence the Book of Silver is being published in installments and International, section 54, is still to come.

I'm not sure how much International Diana is out there, but you will have a lot of fun tracking it down. The big internet auction site whose name starts with the letter e is probably worth checking--they list a huge amount of flatware every week. Also if you scroll down the list of forums on this site you will find a For Sale forum. There are members here who are dealers who might have some Diana.

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posted 04-06-2007 11:26 AM            

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Thanks so much for all who are responding to my post. Everyone is being so helpful and this seems like a great site. I have always loved sterling items. I also collect Strasbourg which has been in our family for generations. I have an old Holmes & Edwards inlaid plate pattern called Orient/AKA Venus. It is so much fun to meet others and exchange all the information and resourse. Again thanks to all who have responded and I will research all your suggestions.

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posted 04-06-2007 11:49 AM            

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Following on Kimo and rian's posting, you may also want to check that big auction site that starts with e from time to time to see if you can find a catalog. I have a set of sterling flatware and serving pieces in the Mary Chilton pattern by Towle and I was able to buy a photocopy of the original catalog, so that I could determine what pieces I might be missing to complete the set.

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posted 04-06-2007 08:26 PM            

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Also check out catalogs issued by jobbers and wholesale houses. They frequently have pages on silver in them. May & Malone and Carson, Pirie, Scott in Chicago did a great deal of wholesaling before 1940.

Orient is an interesting pattern, with few collectors IMHO. The three tined salads are intresting. And the flat handled knives are truly great pieces. It seems to me that there is also some holloware with it.

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posted 04-06-2007 11:09 PM            

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Great, thanks for the input. I will check with those resources. Everyone is so helpful!! Yes Orient is interesting. I started with the Grapefruit spoons that came in a set with the original box. I bought them on auction just because they were a set & I love to eat grapefruit. Once I received them, it was on. Had to have more. I have close to 100 pieces including many serving pieces. But so far the pattern Diana is the most interesting to me. It is so elegant. I am supprised that it was discontinued. I won a very interesting piece of Diana on auction. It arrived today and I became like a kid in a candy store. It is a 4 1/2 inch ladle which is pierced & gold washed. Cant find it listed anywhere and Im really curious what it is. Looks alot like a sauce ladle but the bowl is goldwashed & pierced. Thanks again for all the help everyone!!

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posted 04-06-2007 11:40 PM            

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sharonw, you may already know this, so forgive me if I'm stating the obvious, but on the big matching service's website, any listing ending with HC means hand crafted, so it is a made-up piece. International may or may not have manufactured similar pieces when your pattern was in production.

I would agree to keep and eye out for old brochures and catalogs. I get almost as much enjoyment out of them as I do from the silver itself. My only problem is that I sometimes like a pattern in an old catalog so much that I start a new set, which nowadays is an expensive undertaking.

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posted 04-07-2007 05:24 PM            

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Thanks for all the input. I have identified the mystery piece in the International Sterling. It is a small suger sifter. It resembles a small sauce ladle but is pierced & gold washed. I found it by going on the big matching service and just looked at pieces they have listed. I then made a list of pieces they never seem to have and what I thought most looked like it and then went to instock patterns until I found it. It was a difficult piece to find a photo of but when I did then the mystery was solved. It is such a precious piece. Thanks again for all the help.

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