I had finished washing and drying the Victorian silverplated teapots and cake baskets along with trays used for sandwiches and pastries I had used for a bridal shower tea.     There was still wrapping and packing for storage until the next event.   My mother and I had collected these pieces over many years, and it still amazes me when I see so many pieces together for an event.   Shimmering and elegant – nothing makes a tea table so grand as silver. 

Easily found in antique shops, second hand and consignments shops, vintage and Victorian silverplate is abundant and cheap.  Everyone loves how silver looks, but then say it’s too fancy and too hard to keep clean and polished.  So Great-Grandma’s and Auntie’s prized possession is given away or dumped at a local thrift shop.  The sterling has already been sold to melt down for cash.

My dear friend has a family collection she takes out and polishes well once a year.  It became a custom that when I come on a visit, we polish the silver together.  Out come the thick towels covering the dining room table, pots of silver polish, rags and gloves.  A pot of tea is made.  It is very enjoyable work as we sip tea, polish forks and spoons, bowls, and tea sets.  Recollections over each piece happily shared.   Do you remember when we had this out for Christening?  Oh, yes.  This one was my grandmother’s.  It was a wedding gift from her mother.  And so on.  The stories never get old.  The tea pot is filled many times.  And suddenly (it seems) we are done!  

I still find the odd teapot, a tray, or a set of spoons that just can’t be left behind at a shop.  So many hands touched these pieces over decades, the memories they were part of.  The two very ornate teapots photographed above I found in a thrift shop for $5.00 each!  Perfect condition.  Somewhere in time it held pride of place on a dining room side table.   Today,  part of many afternoon teas parties with friends.