Antique silverware Archives - The Crown Collection

Antique silver food domes | A surprising contemporary décor statement

Categories: Articles, Blog, Style|Tags: Adding antiques to contemporary spaces, antique silver items, Antique silverware, Mix antiques with modern decor, silver food domes|

If you don’t have an antique silver/silverplated food dome in your home, or on your décor wish list, then we have to ask, ‘Why?’ Firstly, they are stunners. Secondly, they are experiencing a renaissance as stylish and versatile décor pieces for contemporary homes. Once synonymous with grand Victorian dining rooms, these exquisite domes, with their intricate engravings and reflective patina, add a fun and unexpected elegance to modern interiors.

By creatively reimagining their use, you can breathe new life into antique silver food domes and effortlessly smarten up any nook, table or shelf.

The unexpected charm of antique silver food domes

Elaborate table settings with fine china, silver cutlery, and gleaming meat domes epitomise the sophistication of hosting.

Silver food domes – aka meat domes or cloches – were historically crafted to preserve the warmth and presentation of food during formal meals. Today, they are cherished for their craftsmanship, decorative appeal, and ability to evoke a sense of refined luxury.

In contemporary homes, they evoke an era of grand dining and meticulous presentation.

Typically oval-shaped, silver or silverplated food domes were paired with matching platters to catch juices from game dishes. Their craftsmanship features ornate handles, repoussé detailing, and finishes that range from gleaming silver to the understated elegance of aged patina.

Whether a collector or a first-time admirer, these domes are wonderful antique accessories to incorporate as functional and display pieces in your 21st-century interiors.

Styling antique silver domes in modern spaces

Here’s how you can thoughtfully incorporate these beautiful collectable accessories into your home’s living and entertaining spaces:

Centrepieces with a story

Transform your dining or coffee table by using a silver food dome as a centrepiece. Pair it with a floral arrangement, seasonal fruits or candles to create an eye-catching vignette. The reflective surface of the dome creates an eye-catching contrast with rustic wood or minimalist marble tabletops. They will always spark conversation during formal or informal gatherings.

Must-have entertaining accents

Displaying antique silver domes on a modern sideboard or buffet bridges the gap between eras. Arrange them alongside crystal decanters, porcelain platters, or vintage glassware for a curated look that effortlessly bridges old-world charm with modern entertaining.

Use an antique silver dome to cover cheese platters, hors d’oeuvres, or desserts during gatherings. Not only does this elevate the presentation, but it also provides a nod to classic entertaining with a modern twist.

Artful wall displays

Indulge your eclectic side and mount a collection of silver domes of varying sizes on a feature wall to create an unconventional art installation. Their polished surfaces catch light beautifully, adding depth and texture to your decor while showcasing their historical charm.

Curated showpieces in open kitchens

Modern kitchens often showcase open shelving. Placing a silver dome on display among sleek cookware or minimalist decor can provide a striking contrast, highlighting its ornate details and historical appeal.

Chic storage solutions

Repurpose these domes to store small items like jewellery, keys, or even gourmet chocolates in your living room or bedroom. Their domed shape adds an element of surprise and elegance, elevating mundane storage into a decorative highlight.

Surprising bathroom glamour

Add a hint of extraordinary luxury to your guest bathroom by using a silver dome as a cover for rolled-up towels or scented soaps. The juxtaposition of silver against a serene bathroom colour palette creates a spa-like ambience.

Balancing antique and contemporary aesthetics

The key to successfully incorporating antique silver food domes into modern spaces is balance. Combine these ornate pieces with sleek, minimalist furniture and neutral colour schemes to avoid overwhelming your space. Pair them with materials like glass, wood, or marble to enhance their appeal.

Integrating antiques like silver domes into your décor is a celebration of craftsmanship and a sustainable design choice. By repurposing and preserving these heirlooms, you are reducing the demand for mass-produced decor items and honouring the legacy of past artisans.

Caring for your antique silver dome

Antique silverware is the ideal choice to redefine and elevate any space. But regular care is essential to maintain the beauty of silver food domes. Polish them occasionally to keep their lustre intact but embrace the patina that comes with age; it adds to their authenticity and charm. Store in a dry, protected area to avoid tarnishing or damage.

The design trend of incorporating antique silver food domes into your décor narrative lies in their ability to transcend time.

Whether used as centrepieces, storage solutions, or accents for entertaining, silver domes blend history with innovation and are a creative way to express your style while still honouring the artisanal skills of the past.

Embrace the beauty of antique silver food domes at The Crown Collection and let their charm and story inspire your 21st-century living.

Upstyle your drinks table with antique accessories

Categories: Articles, Blog, Style|Tags: Adding antiques to contemporary spaces, antique accessories, antique glassware, Antique silverware, antiques drinks cabinets, drinks tables, Mix antiques with modern decor|

Martha Stewart – lifestyle guru, celebrity cook and interior designer – is a big fan of decanting your spirits into decorative glass or crystal decanters. According to her, “These vessels let the spirits mingle with the oxygen, and breathe, encouraging nuanced aromas to open up and bloom.” That’s enough to get us excited about ideas for upstyling your bar cabinets or drinks tables with antique glass and silver accessories.

We’ve already covered the design trend of repurposing antique furniture as drinks cabinets. This subtle blend of sophistication, history and utilitarianism is unmatched in contemporary spaces. Serving as elegant conversation starters and functional décor, these antique pieces bring a sense of individuality and exclusivity to your space. Adding antique accessories – in the form of glass and silverware – takes these functional décor moments to the next level.

But the narrative doesn’t stop there. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a novice decorator, drinks tables can do with a little extra styling.

Antique glass and silver drinks accessories are the perfect ‘objets d’ art’ for curating a beautiful display of spirits and cocktails.

More than furniture pieces

A drinks station is a trend that perfectly marries form and function. It’s not just about having a place to set your glass. It’s about creating a focal point in your living room, study, or dining area that exudes refined charm. The right collaboration between antique cabinets/tables and accessories can transform a simple drink into an experience, elevating the act of entertaining guests into an art form.

Whether shaken or stirred, antique accessories – glass or crystal decanters, silver trays, ice buckets etc. – become décor heroes in modern settings.

Curating the perfect drinks table

To truly capture the essence of this trend, consider styling your drinks table or bar cabinet with carefully selected silver and glass antique items. These complementary accessories will enhance the overall visual ambience of your space.

#1 Glass decanters:

Adding a touch of luxury to your drinks table, antique glass or crystal decanters are the epitome of elegance. Filled with a fine whiskey, cognac, bourbon or gin, these beautifully crafted pieces serve both a practical and a decorative purpose. Their intricate designs and crystal-clear glass catch the light, creating a stunning visual effect that draws the eye. (The obvious disclaimer here is that any glass decanter for storing alcoholic spirits must be airtight).

A word of warning on lead crystal decanters: There’s no denying how appealing these are, but they do contain small amounts of lead that will, over time, leech into the spirits. (If you do want to showcase a lead crystal decanter on your bar cart, only use it to hold liquor for a few days).

#2 Silver ice buckets, wine coolers & trays:

No drinks table or bar cabinet is complete without a touch of silver. The patina of aged silverware adds a unique reflective character and historical charm. Antique silver ice buckets and wine coolers are perfect for keeping your beverages at the ideal temperature while adding a stunning story to your setup. Silver trays step in as hold-all organisers for a small and personalised collection of drinks and accessories. Their gleaming surfaces and ornate designs elevate the presentation of your favourite beverages.

#3 Champagne accessories:

Celebrate in style with vintage champagne accessories. An antique silver champagne bucket or fluted glass set can make your drinks table the centrepiece of any celebration. These timeless pieces exude class and are a must-have for anyone who enjoys the finer things in life.

#4 Glass water jugs, carafes and glassware:

Antique glassware, from delicate water jugs to intricately designed glasses, adds timeless refinement to your drinks table. The craftsmanship of these pieces often showcases beautiful patterns and etchings, making them as much a pleasure to look at as they are to use.

#5 Cocktail sets:

A beautifully crafted Art Deco cocktail set is the ultimate expression of style and artistry for any drinks table or bar cart. Its sleek design and polished finish enhance the aesthetic of your space. Cocktail sets also invite you to create and enjoy expertly crafted beverages, turning every pour into a moment of absolute indulgence.

Bringing it all together with lighting

The key to successfully incorporating antiques into your interior design is balance.

The mix of old and new creates a dynamic space that feels thoughtful and lived-in.

Lighting also plays a crucial role in highlighting your antique accessories and furniture pieces. Soft, warm lighting will enhance the patina of aged wood and the sparkle of antique glass and silver or consider placing your drinks table near a window to allow the natural play of light to bring out the best in your antique pieces.

‘Cocktail hour’ at The Crown Collection

The stylish incorporation of antique bar cabinets and glass and silver drinks accessories into your home is more than just a design choice; it’s a lifestyle statement, reflecting an appreciation for history, craftsmanship, and the finer details that make a house a home.

From cocktail evenings to solitary nightcaps, and any celebratory gathering in between, The Crown Collection’s antique and French style décor and accessory store is filled with handpicked glass and silver items that won’t disappoint when styling your drinks cabinet. (We think Martha Stewart will approve).

All that’s left to do is to pour yourself a drink and shop our silverware and glassware collections.

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Elegance redefined | Elevate your spaces with antique silverware

Categories: Articles, Blog, Style|Tags: Antique silver at The Crown Collection, antique silver cutlery, Antique silver napkin rings, Antique silverware, Silver food domes or cloches, Silver tea sets, SIlver trays|

If you are on the hunt for decor items that pair sophistication with functionality – for special occasions and everyday use – then antique silverware needs to feature somewhere in your home. Seamlessly blending the past with the present, and spanning centuries, generations and continents, every piece tells a story of craftsmanship, elegance and household entertaining.

The world of antique silverware encompasses a range of collectable treasures including cutlery sets, food domes, tea sets, trays, and napkin rings; making them the simplest and perfect starting point for transforming your living spaces and adding a touch of nostalgic opulence to your daily life.

If our great-grandparents used silver pieces every day, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t follow in their esteemed footsteps.

The art of dining | Cutlery sets

Elevating your dining experience with antique silver cutlery sets embodies the perfect fusion of form and function. Crafted with precision and adorned with intricate designs, these sets are more than just eating utensils; they are works of art that add a sense of luxury to your tablescaping and every meal shared. Each fork, knife and spoon reflects the meticulous detailing of skilled artisans, boasting intricate patterning that stands as a testament to a rich cultural heritage.

Silver cutlery sets not only scale your dining experience but also serve as conversation starters, allowing you to share the stories behind each piece with your guests.

From classic designs to contemporary options, you can explore our diverse designs of antique silver cutlery and flatware that seamlessly complement any style of dining. And incomplete sets can easily be mixed and matched for a personalised and bespoke dining experience.

Culinary drama | Food domes

Unveiling your culinary masterpieces beneath the gleam of an antique silver food dome – also known as a cloche – is the ultimate spoil for dinner guests. These domes not only preserve the freshness, warmth and aroma of your prepared meal but also serve as beautiful centrepieces for your dinner table, turning an ordinary dining moment into an extraordinary one.

Silver food domes are exquisite serving pieces, adding a striking patina to your tablescaping vignette. And when not in use, they become stunning display items on a sideboard or console table.

Time for a tea | Silver tea sets

Rediscover the romance and charm of afternoon tea (and a turn around the parlour) with silver tea sets. From delicately designed teapots, milk jugs or creamers and sugar bowls to cups and saucers, each piece is a nod to the ancient craftsmanship that went into creating these practical daily sets that embrace slow living.

The ritual of pouring tea (or coffee) from a silver pot – savouring not just the taste but the visual poetry of the moment – is reason enough to invest in an antique silver set.

A symphony of serving style | Silver trays

Transform your mealtime serving rituals with silver trays that blend form and function with practicality and sophistication. Whether you’re hosting a gathering or enjoying a quiet evening, these trays – with ornate handles and intricate engravings – add a touch of glamour to every occasion. From ornate designs to sleek, modern styles, antique silver trays are versatile accents that elevate the aesthetic of any space.

Whether you use them for serving refreshments or as decorative centrepieces, reflective antique silver trays transform the aesthetics of any room; from kitchen islands and coffee tables to dining room tables, dressing tables and bathroom vanities. Or go off script by hanging them as pieces of art.

Personalised elegance | Antique silver napkin rings

In some shape or form, serviette rings are always in vogue. But it’s antique silver napkin rings that really enhance your table setting with subtle sophistication. Guests will always compliment you when they find a silver napkin ring at their place setting. Besides floral arrangements – which work perfectly in a silver teapot – silver serviette rings are a personal touch and a special welcome to the table.

The humble beginnings of the silver napkin ring were purely utilitarian. In days gone by, folk would use the same cotton or linen napkin at every meal throughout the day. Personal monogrammed napkin rings were used to keep an individual’s napkin separate from others, ready for use at the next meal.

Crafted with precision and adorned with intricate patterns or monograms, antique silver napkin rings are the ultimate little decor element for your next dinner party.

Antique silver pieces are always desirable collectables and presuppose a legacy and family stories that have been passed down through generations and celebrate the past craftsmanship and traditions of artisans.

Infuse your spaces with timeless touches that transcend trends by shopping The Crown Collection’s shining array of handpicked antique silverware, either online or in-studio at 20 Ballyclare Drive, Bryanston.