COLLECTING: NEW USES FOR 19TH-CENTURY SILVER

Antiques dealer Charlie Brown runs a self-proclaimed “old-fashioned shop” located in an 1850s carriage house in the historic district of Savannah, Georgia (C.H. Brown Antiques, 15 E. Harris Street, 912/236-0732). But his love of 18th- and 19th-century American and English silver serving pieces resonates with a young crowd.

“People in their twenties and thirties are interested in a decorated table again,” says Brown. “I’ve been revisiting the use of unusual serving pieces, and showing young collectors how to use these wonderful utensils.” As examples, Brown mentions new uses of such antique silver pieces as:

19th-century sugar tongs & asparagus servers — “If you have a small buffet or cocktail party, use sugar tongs or asparagus servers as lifters for small hors d’oeuvres,” he suggests, mentioning that he had done just that when serving fried baby okra with salsa at a recent gathering.
19th-century lettuce forks — “Use lettuce forks to lift meats on an antipasto tray,” he says.
Circa 1800 sauce tureens — “When you’re serving a salad, use the sauce tureens for sunflower seeds and croutons,” Brown suggests.

Brown advises collectors just becoming interested in antique silver to buy the best example of something they love. “Save and buy one good piece at a time, and build a collection gradually, with things of good quality,” says Brown, whose personal collection includes everything from American coin silver sugar tongs to a rare soup tureen originally made for Savannah notable Thomas Gibbons in the early 1800s.

Above all, his goal revolves around helping young collectors in their quest to set a beautiful table. “Here in Savannah we still entertain very graciously,” Brown notes. “My goal is to encourage people to use the antique silver they collect. Enjoy it, share it, use it—whether you’re having a peanut butter sandwich or filet mignon,” he says.