Introducing: My Crazy Silverware

Oooh, I went more than a little nuts at Replacements last week. That store is dangerous. I had a minor goal of looking for a full set of sterling flatware while I was visiting. The standard estate sets they had left me cold…

…but, over in the corner, I stumbled across an enormous wood chest. Loaded with 116 pieces of handcrafted turn-of-the-century Austrian flatware by Vincenz Carl Dub (Vienna, 1852-1924, the sum of my internet research so far). Amazing.

Each section of the chest is labeled in German; gold lettering on blue ribbon. 12 settings each of three knife sizes, two fork sizes, four spoon choices. Plus, three salt pots and six matching serving pieces. Amazing quality: much, much nicer than any of the more modern sets.

It took a while to negotiate discounts and create a rationale in my mind for owning so much flatware when I only have six chairs (only two of which match) to my name. But in the end, the loveliness and the fantastic deal overruled any other logic.

And so it is mine. The silversmiths at Replacements are polishing it all, fixing a few blades and shipping it next week. I can’t wait! I’ve vowed to not buy anything – except groceries to serve at fancy dinner parties – for the next many months to make up for it.