Thanksgiving is a time for family gatherings, which often means having to impress your mother-in-law or great aunt by throwing a flawless dinner party. Plenty of people take out their nice dinner plates and silverware to prepare for the occasion. But why do we call it silverware? Are utensils really made out of silver?
Though silverware has become more of a generic term to refer to any flatware—knives, forks, and spoons—these utensils were once made of real silver. Of the three main utensils, knives were created first out of flint or obsidian. Early humans used knives for hunting and cutting meat away from the bone. These primitive knives transitioned to bronze, iron, and finally, steel.
Spoons were initially made of wood or shells attached to wooden handles. Metal spoons were later developed for eating and carrying liquids using the same metal used to make knives of the era.
Two-tined forks were introduced in Roman kitchens, but did not become fashionable until the seventeenth century. Forks were later introduced to England in the early 1600s. These forks were made of iron, but the nobility used silver forks. Silver utensils (aka silverware) remained popular among royalty and the very wealthy until the nineteenth century.
By this time, competition among silverware manufacturers grew competitive and the price of silver bullion decreased. This allowed lower class consumers to buy silverware as well. However, the sale of real silverware has steadily declined since WWII. Meals have become less formal over the decades, and flatware made from stainless steel is much more affordable. Yet, some families still enjoy collecting and using utensils made from sterling silver.
Whether you use true silverware or modern flatware made from steel, we hope you enjoy your holiday season! Enter our giveaway by telling us one thing that you’re thankful for this year. Commenting below will serve as your entry for our November giveaway. But remember to keep it classy; inappropriate comments will be deleted and disqualified. Submit your comment (one comment only please) by November 26, 2017. One winner will be randomly selected on November 27, 2017 to receive an NGC antiqued Red Horse of War round with a grade of MS70 from our Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse series.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Congrats to our giveaway winner, Rex F! To everyone else, thank you for entering and try your luck again next month.
Congratulations Rex F
Definitely very thankful for being blessed with a great family. We may have our arguments but at the end of the day we all do love each other.
Take care.
I”M thankful for my daughter she is cancer free ten years she is 21 years old
I am thankful for a meaningful life, my family, and good health.
I am thankful for family after losing my husband of 45 years to advanced cancer. Without them, I would not have found the strength to go on.
I am thankful for Jesus and my family.
I am thankful for my 2 boys that I still have left after losing my son a month back. We all have to remember at the end of the day. Family is #1.
I am thankful for the things I have spiritually. I am thankful for the fact I can believe in truth and honesty within myself. I am thankful for my family, friends, and any other supporters. I am thankful for my eyes, my Hands, my feet, my toungue. I am thankful for the animals, the trees, the mountains, the sky. I am thankful for everything that must be thanked.
I am thankful for good health, family, freedom, God’s green earth, Christianity, and cheap silver and gold prices.
I am thankful that God loves us!
I am thankful for my friends, family, and good health.
I am thankful for silver spot price being under $20 so I can afford to buy more. Plus family,heath, and having a job.
I am thankful for everything I have in my life right now. My wife that has been bye my side for 20 years and her family, the family I never had. Really rough childhood even worse early adult. Never knew what family was mine only used me for what they could get even friends did, but as I got older and knew what to look for in a person I finally found good people that treat me good. And don’t use me for what I can do for them.
I thank god because I have everything a person could want. I’m sick and the doctors disabled me but my wife and her family have been rite beside me for 20 years now and my family only hear from them every few years when they want something. They don’t want to see me they just want whatever they can get.
If you have good people around you be thankful you don’t need anything else
I am thankful for my parents, who brought me to this world, and care for me unconditionally.
I am truly thankful for my family. Without them then all I do would be for nothing. No matter the situation or problem they are there. We may drive each other crazy (as all families do), but when push comes to shove we are together! Thanks for the great contest and hope to win that beaurty.
I am so thankful for my good health, my amazing family and the food that will on our Thanksgiving table!!
I am thankful for of course for the love of God, family & friends but also I get to retire B.O.B. 11/30. Also I very much would like my 59th birthday on 11/27 to include a free ounce of silver – antiqued Red Horse of War round from provident metals.
For a healthy family. I know too many people who are sick right now.
I am thankful for my new job and thankful for the operatunity for the chance to be able to close on my first home early next year. I am also thankful for all the positive support from people I am surrounded by. Thank you very much.