Collectors can thank the discovery of the Comstock load in 1859 in Western Nevada for the affordability and wide distribution of Silver flatware in America. Over $150 million in silver was pulled out between 1859 and 1880 which had a profound effect on the economy of the nation and helped the Union finance the Civil war. The Comstock catapulted San Francisco from a small port town to the most important city on the West Coast. Although the gold rush was over, a number of Silversmiths from the East moved in to cater to the wealthy the first of which was W.K. Vanderslice. Others of note and similarly Germanic names would join in such as Schulz and Fischer, Kohler & Ritter. Their Silver flatware produced between 1860 and 1880, began as copies of the universal patterns such as fiddle and thread but developed into some of the more distinctive patterns of the era.

Shown below are (left to right): Schulz & Fischer Medallion and Cleopatra (1874), Vanderslice Comstock (1874) and Gargoyle (1869) and finally Gothic which was made virtually identically by most of the companies including the above two and Kohler & Ritter.

Availability

You won't find any San Francisco silver from the national pattern matchers. It is mostly found a piece at a time at antique shows, usually on the West Coast. Even then the pieces do not command any particular premium compared to other flatware of the 1860-80 era, which makes it a total bargain since the older flatware in general costs still less than more recent pieces of popular grandma's silver. I have even found some in antique malls, considerably under priced, since no one knew what it was and it was taken for silver plate.

Because of the scarcity we have not been able to complete any place settings. The closest we come is with Gothic since we have pieces both by Kohler & Ritter and Vanderslice. We have a dinner fork and luncheon fork, teaspoon & Tablespoon. I am not sure whether a dessert spoon was made, but we don't have one. It is likely to exist since Vanderslice did make them in Comstock. The next most available pattern is Cleopatra, which is seen even sometimes on the East coast. There we are missing a luncheon fork. I feel lucky to have found a tablespoon, teaspoon and dinner fork in Gargoyle. I have never seen a salad fork or pastry fork in any of these SF patterns .

If you enjoy the hunt and history you can't beat San Francisco silver.

Reference: "Silver in the Golden State" The Oakland Museum History Department, Oakland CA 1986.