Click Here For U.S. Navy Silverware Prices, Availability, Photo Review, and Ordering!
| Fouled Anchor on front, USN engraved on Back! |
 Click for larger Photo! |
The world's largest, most authoritive, and complete selection of beautifully crafted US Navy antique silverware and vintage flatware used by the United States Navy and Merchant Marine from the late 1800's, voyage of The Great White Fleer in 1907, during WW1, WW2, Korea and Vietnam. Call The Pirate's Lair @ 540-659-6209
The Pirate's Lair can provide you with complete matching sets of china and silverware nautical dinnerware and tableware! Literally from Breakfast to Dinner, from Soup to Nuts of every imaginable piece of china and silverware to meet even the most demanding of formal dinners and dining in ceremonies.
This heavy and durable vintage silverware with a fouled anchor and shell-like design provides a distinct nautical tableware and dinnerware theme. It is also a great gift idea for military Navy enlisted Chief Petty Officers and Officer's of all grade and rank. Great gifts for both men and women. This nautical dinnerware was produced for the U.S. Navy by leading manufacturers of fine silver plate flatware such as
International Silver Company*, Reed and Barton Silver Co (Reed & Barton) , William Rogers Brothers* Silverware and Silverplate (aka Wm. A. Rogers and Rogers & Bros.) *, Meriden Brita Britannia*, Wallace Silversmith Company
which all offered a complete breakfast, lunch, and dinner flatware collection of forks, spoons, knives, ladles, relish tongs, large serving utensils and silver plated dining accessory pieces.
* silver manufacturers no longer in existence
It is vintage, it is antique, it is a absolutely unique! A Great Nautical Gift Idea and part of our American Military heritage, it can be used everyday or for formal dinners, it is available for sale now ... and it can be yours!
The perfect thoughtful nautical gift for that special sailor or fisherman in your life, be it a father or mother, brother or sister, husband or wife, as it will bring back fond memories of their old Navy days! Where and at any cost can you even find such durable nautical silverware and nautical flatware with a distinctive nautical theme? Well now you can here at The Pirate's Lair!
The Pirate's Lair has an extensive inventory of available USN U.S. Navy silverware and silver plate dinnerware and holloware which can be purchased right Online! Or if you are looking for a hard-to-find piece for your current military flatware collection we can begin scouring the seven seas (and attics!), call or email us!
This 100+ year old vintage silverware has the heavy silver plating used long ago, and nowadays they just don't make it like they used to!
U.S. Naval silverware is a handsome industrial-grade antique silver plate strong enough to be used as everyday dinnerware yet elegant enough for formal military Navy dining-in occasions! It has a beautiful sparkling Kings Pattern or Rose Pattern, on the top front of the handle is an engraved nautical Naval insignia (or "top mark"), such as the most popular and traditional U.S. Navy fouled anchor. Some of the silverware instead of a fouled anchor has an Eagle for Navy Captains, or with stars for Admirals, a nautical square-knot for Junior Officers. On the top back handle is engraved the letters USN.
Click HERE to view U.S. Navy China Dinnerware with Matching Fouled Anchor design
Click HERE to view U.S. Navy China Dinnerware For Specific Officer Rank
Click HERE to view U.S. Navy Enlisted Galley, Mess Deck and Mess Hall Tableware
The below tables provide a complete list of the various types and sizes of forks, spoons, knives, and other flatware accessories with the most popular engraved Fouled Anchor design which make up a typical silverware place setting of Navy flatware for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Clicking on the link found in the first column will provide you with a photo of the selected piece.
| Produced by the Harlem Cutlery Co of Connecticut. 19th Century 1830s-1860s Carving Set: 12.25" Fork w/ Stay, 15.5" Razor Sharp Knife, 15" Sharpener. Pure Silver Handcrafted Pommel and Collars with Naval Motif of Anchors, Twisted Rope, Canons, Spy Glass, Capstan, Federal Eagle Clutching a Ribbon Emblazoned with US Navy, Surrounded by Laurel or Olive Branches. |
 Click Photo! 19th Century Cutlery Set |
Absolutely Rare One-of-A-Kind Stunning Set. Completely Usable. All silver furniture is tightly set and not a bit loose. Ready to use now though a professional polishing would. There is a Piece of Silver or Stag Horn Rattling Inside the Pommel. If you are Looking for that MOST RARE Piece of US Navy Dinnerware then this is certainly it. Produced somewhere between the 1830s to as Late as the 1860s. Could Have Been Used During the Mexican-American War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, and Great White Fleet eras. |
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| Carving Fork (11"), Carving Knife (14"), Knife Sharpener and Skewer (14") |
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| Carving Fork AND Carving Knife |
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| Carving Knife with Captains Eagle Clutching Arrows, 13" overall length, falchion clipped tip blade is 7" with |
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| Great White Fleet thru WWII. Carving Fork with Captains Eagle Clutching Arrows, 10" overall length, super sharp tines, flip out stopper or stay to help steady the meat being carved. Beautiful gun metal gray tines indicating the high nickel content used back in the day to produced hard stainless steel. |
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From the late 1800's through mid 1900's the United States Navy commissioned various makers of fine silver plate such as William Rogers Brothers, International Silver Company, Reed & Barton, Meriden Brita (Britannia), and The Wallace Sterling Silver Company to produce complete "soup to nuts" silver plated flatware for the U.S. Navy's Officer Corps. This "Naval Flatware" was used extensively pre and post WW1, WW2, Korea and Vietnam in officer wardrooms, galleys and mess halls aboard all sizes and class of ship, submarine, and shore facility. This Navy Silverware was also used along with Naval China and Chinaware which itself was made by the leading producers of fine china at the time.
The U.S. Navy has traditionally taken good care of its Officer Corps! For sailing the high seas at any time can be a hard and treacherous undertaking as the ocean can be cruel and unforgiving, leaving little margin for error. However going to war aboard a ship, whether large or small, can be a particularly hazardous venture. In recognition of their service, the US Navy provided a certain level of comfort for its sailors, while also preserving traditional military decorum and separation of rank. The U.S. Government also commissioned and purchased this type of silver plate during the lean war years so as to help the U.S. Silversmiths in business since silverware was not high on the list of needs for the general public!
This fine Navy Flatware has been made in various patterns starting with the lighter "Rose Pattern" by William Rogers and ending with the more robust, heavier "Kings Pattern" by Reed & Wallace and International Silver. Both the Rose and King patterns of silverware were used as the official and formal dinnerware of Captains, Admirals, Department and Secretary of the Navy civilian leadership. Most of the Naval silverware currently available was produced prior to WW1 and just after WW2 for use aboard our aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, destroyers, submarines, large support vessels and Merchant Marine. When these various Navy warships were sent into decommission at the end of WW1, WW2, Korea and Vietnam many of the officers took home with them the very silver plated forks, spoons, knives, relish tongs, meat and fish servers, gravy and drink ladles, ice scoops, and other serving trays and dishes which they themselves used while aboard their warship. This Naval silverware "memorabilia" ultimately found its way into attics and cellars safely stored away in boxes and chests until they were re-found, typically in an estate sale. Imagine having a piece of this valuable American history which in all likelihood saw combat action somewhere on the seven seas, and now to be used and celebrated in your home!
Historically, most of the major providers of fine silverware produced exclusive lines of dinnerware and flatware for transcontinental railroads, airlines, passenger ships, major corporations, famous restaurants and hotels, as well as for the United States Navy. This type of fine yet durable tableware was known in the trade as "restaurantware". Restaurantware in and of itself can be highly collectible and prized as antique, especially if the producer no longer exists! However Navy silverware actually used in the galleys aboard ships by our sailors during times of war is part of our national heritage which makes this type of restaurantware most highly prized and valuable. Additionally, restaurantware in general, and certainly Naval silver plate in particular, was made to last for many years, able withstand heavy and harsh industrial use which would normally destroy the plating and dull the luster of lesser quality dinnerware that was typically sold to the general public.
Naval forks, knives, spoons and serving accessories were made to be used by sailors and cooks working in rough and rolling seas in all types of weather. This Naval dinnerware needed to be heavy and durable to withstand the harsh cleansers and environment they were to be used in. This makes them perfect for long and continued home, recreational or industrial use!
A fun anecdotal note is that when underway aboard a U.S. Navy warship one would find when sitting down to dine that the tablecloth would be slightly damp with sea water! This was a sailor's tradition handed down over the ages from seafarer to seafarer. However as in most traditions at sea it had a practical side as its basis! The "damping of the tablecloth" was to help ensure that the plates, dishes,
bowls and cups along with the silverware was kept from "sliding" around the table as the ship pitched and rolled with the waves. The sea salt also helped prevent spilled food and drink from staining the tablecloth! Between the heavy weight of the tableware and the damp tablecloth the seamen could only then be able to eat while underway in moderate to even in heavy seas!
This "dampening of the tablecloth" was even practiced at US Navy Shore Installations so as to uphold and continue this unique Naval tradition.
Additionally, the U.S. Navy commissioned various makers of fine linens to produce these exquisite and beautifully designed heavy white damask USN Navy tablecloths and napkins that were made to be heavily used while at sea. The Pirate's Lair now has available these wonderful vintage white damask U.S. Navy tablecloths and antique napkins.
They are beautifully embroidered and patterned in a nautical theme with white-on-white designs of eagles, fouled anchors, stars and coiled rope! Click HERE to review these wonderful antique damask tablecloth and napkin complements to your Naval China and Silverware.
Besides the Naval flatware, during this same period the Department of the Navy also contracted with leading makers of fine china and chinaware to produce complete and complementary place settings of beautifully designed and hand glazed dining plates, bowls, coffee and tea cups and saucers and serving dishes, coffee and tea pots, water pitchers and famous graniteware. At The Pirate's Lair we have an extensive line Navy China dating from the late 1800's to mid 1900's for your review and consideration by clicking here for U.S. Navy China, Tableware and Naval Chinaware, which is the perfect complement to your Naval China!
What the various designs found on the Naval silverware really signify! Staying within the U.S. Navy's strict officer caste system the Department of the Navy had complete sets of silver dinnerware made specifically for the wardroom officer mess hall, staterooms and galleys of each officer grade level: an anchor with letters USN for Petty Officers, a square knot for Junior Officers, letters USN for Warrant Officers, a streaming pennant with 4 stars for Captains, square flag with 1, 2, 3 or 4 stars for Admirals, and the Navy Seal for the Department of the Navy's civilian and military leadership. Each officer grade was then given this special restaurantware "top mark" or design insignia which was imprinted and made part of the glaze on each piece of china dinnerware.
As an interesting side note, the specific insignia (or top mark), used on the Navy Silverware for each Officer Rank was also used on the Naval china and tableware eating and serving utensils. Imagine having a complete set of fine china dinnerware and silverware matching place settings! Or having each place setting at your table as a different Officer Rank which is available at The Pirate's Lair!
Unfortunately, the U.S. Navy discontinued the time honored tradition of issuing this beautiful antique silverware and flatware in the mid-1960's after the manufacturer's supplies ran out, and it was never replaced, which further makes this fine silver plate a great investment! Currently only small quantities of this fine flatware can be found either in the popular Kings Pattern or in the vintage Rose Pattern. The Pirate's Lair scours the world to obtain the best pieces to be found and makes them available to you.
Ironically, today individual ship commanders and wardroom officers of the U.S. Navy now purchase this antique Navy silverware and china from The Pirate's Lair for use aboard present-day warships! Sailors today can now use and enjoy the same dinnerware and silverware used by their Naval bretheren of long ago!
| Custom Designed, Handcrafted, and Hand Lettered in Caligraphy on your Antique Chest |
 Click Here To Review Sample Engravings |
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| Customer Photographic Examples of our Antique Trunks Being used as a Military or Naval Retirement Shadow Box and Storage Chest!! |
 Click Here for Sample Shadow Box Photographs From Customers |
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