Silver

Sunday Lunch, Served in Silver

3 September 2026

Kier Alexander

There are few things more familiar than a Sunday lunch. Someone is peeling potatoes, the oven is working overtime, and there is usually a last-minute search for a serving spoon. The table might be laid for two or twelve, but the pleasure is much the same: good food, familiar company and the opportunity to spend a little longer together.

Silver has been part of the British dining table for centuries, although many of the pieces once used every day now spend most of their lives tucked away in cupboards. Gravy boats, serving spoons, carving sets, salvers and vegetable dishes were made to be useful. They were designed to hold food, pass it around the table and withstand the familiar rituals of family meals.

As part of our Silver, Every Day series, we explore how traditional silver tableware can find a place at the modern Sunday lunch, whether you own a complete service or simply enjoy using one or two favourite pieces.

What Silver Tableware Can You Use for Sunday Lunch?

Silver tableware includes serving spoons, sauce ladles, gravy boats, salvers, vegetable dishes, carving sets, cutlery and other objects designed for preparing, presenting and serving food.

Many pieces made during the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods remain suitable for use today, provided their condition and construction are appropriate. They can be combined with contemporary ceramics, glassware and everyday cutlery, making it possible to enjoy historic silver without recreating a formal dining room.

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The Sunday Table: A Place for Silver

Silver has a long association with hospitality. For centuries, households that could afford it commissioned or purchased silver for dining, entertaining and presenting food. As fashions changed, silversmiths developed an extraordinary range of objects, from practical serving spoons to elaborate centrepieces.

The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw considerable variety in British silver tableware. Georgian pieces often favoured balanced proportions and restrained decoration, while Victorian dining silver could be more elaborate, reflecting the increasingly specialised customs of formal dining.

Many objects were designed for particular foods or courses. There were spoons for vegetables, ladles for sauces, forks for serving fish and dishes intended to keep food warm. Today, we may no longer feel the need for a separate utensil for every dish, but many of these objects remain remarkably practical. A good serving spoon is still a good serving spoon, regardless of when it was made.

Silver Serving Spoons: The Most Useful Place to Start

If there is one piece of silver that deserves a place at Sunday lunch, it might be the serving spoon. Larger than an ordinary tablespoon, silver serving spoons were designed for bringing vegetables, potatoes and other dishes to the table.

They come in a wide variety of patterns, including the familiar Old English, Fiddle and King's patterns, alongside more elaborate decorative examples.

Some are relatively plain, allowing the proportions and finish of the silver to speak for themselves. Others feature engraved crests, monograms or decorative handles. A pair of silver serving spoons can be particularly useful when several dishes are being passed around the table. They also offer an accessible introduction to collecting silver flatware.

Can You Use Antique Silver Serving Spoons Every Day?

Yes, provided they are in good condition and suitable for food use. Look for secure construction, smooth surfaces and the absence of sharp damage or problematic repairs.

Silver serving spoons should be washed carefully after use and dried thoroughly. Historic silver should not be placed in a dishwasher. For many collectors, the pleasure of silver flatware lies precisely in using it rather than keeping it permanently stored away.

Silver Gravy Boats: A Sunday Lunch Essential

A good gravy boat is one of the most useful objects on the table. Silver gravy boats, sometimes described in auction catalogues as sauce boats, were produced in a remarkable variety of forms.

Some stand on three shaped feet, while others have oval bodies, elegant handles or matching stands. Georgian examples can be particularly appealing for their proportions, while later pieces may incorporate more elaborate decoration. A silver gravy boat need not be reserved for gravy alone.

Depending on its size and condition, it might also be used for sauces or other suitable accompaniments. For Sunday lunch, it is an object that feels entirely at home.

What to Look for When Buying a Silver Gravy Boat

Consider the capacity and how comfortably the handle can be held. Examine the feet, handle and rim for signs of damage or repair, and check that the piece sits securely on a flat surface. Look at the spout, too. A well-designed sauce boat should pour cleanly without excessive dripping.

As with other historic silver, check the hallmarks and establish whether the piece is sterling silver or silver plate.

Silver Carving Sets: Bringing Back the Ritual

Carving the Sunday roast has long been part of the theatre of the dining table. Carving sets traditionally consist of a carving knife and fork, sometimes accompanied by a sharpening steel and presented in a fitted case.

Many historic examples feature silver handles or silver mounts, with blades made from steel. Their designs range from relatively simple examples to elaborate pieces with engraved decoration, decorative handles and unusual materials.

A beautifully made carving set can bring a sense of occasion to the table without requiring any particular formality. However, older carving sets should be examined carefully before use. Blades may have been replaced or sharpened over time, while handles and fittings can become loose.

Are Historic Silver Carving Sets Practical?

Some remain suitable for use, but condition is particularly important. Check that the blades are secure, free from significant corrosion and appropriate for food preparation. If a carving set is rare, delicate or in exceptional original condition, preserving it may be preferable to regular use. There is also nothing wrong with appreciating a historic carving set for its design while using a modern knife for the actual carving.

Silver Vegetable Dishes: From Kitchen to Table

Silver vegetable dishes were designed to present and serve food, often as part of a larger dining service. Some are relatively simple open dishes, while others have lids, handles or more elaborate constructions.

Covered vegetable dishes became particularly popular during the nineteenth century, when formal dining placed considerable emphasis on the presentation of different courses.

Today, a silver serving dish can make an attractive addition to a Sunday table, whether used for vegetables, roast potatoes or another suitable accompaniment.

Practicality should guide the choice.

A dish that is easy to handle and clean may be more useful than a complicated example with multiple fittings.

It is also important to remember that silver conducts heat efficiently. Hot food can make the vessel itself hot, so care should be taken when handling and serving.

Silver Salvers and Trays: Not Just for Serving Drinks

A silver salver is traditionally a flat serving tray, often circular or shaped, sometimes raised on feet. Salvers were used for presenting food, drinks, correspondence and other objects, and they remain among the most versatile forms of domestic silver.

For Sunday lunch, a salver might hold bread, condiments or a collection of smaller serving pieces, provided the surface and condition are suitable. A larger silver tray can also be used to bring cups and drinks to the table after the meal. Salvers are particularly appealing because they need not spend the rest of the week in a cupboard. The same piece might hold a vase of flowers on Monday, a collection of candles on Friday and a bowl of chocolates when friends visit. It is silver that earns its place in the home.

Silver Cutlery: Does Everything Have to Match?

There is something undeniably attractive about a complete silver cutlery service, particularly when the pieces share a pattern and maker. But a matching service is not essential to enjoying silver at the table.

A set of silver dessert spoons might be used with everyday dinner plates. A pair of serving spoons could sit alongside contemporary stainless-steel cutlery. A collection of individual pieces from different periods may be just as enjoyable. In fact, mixing silver can make a table feel more personal.

Some collectors deliberately assemble flatware over time, choosing particular patterns, makers or regional examples. Others inherit individual pieces and continue using them alongside newer additions. A dining table that has developed gradually can be more interesting than one where everything was purchased together.

Setting the Sunday Table with Silver

The most successful dining tables are those that make people feel welcome. Silver can contribute to that atmosphere, but it need not dominate.

A silver gravy boat beside a simple ceramic serving dish creates an appealing contrast. A pair of silver serving spoons can look entirely natural against a linen tablecloth. A small salver might hold butter or condiments at the centre of the table. The trick is to choose objects that suit the way you actually eat.

Five Ways to Bring Silver to Sunday Lunch

Begin with the serving pieces. A silver serving spoon or sauce ladle is useful, easy to introduce and doesn't require a complete set.
Bring out the gravy boat. It is one of the most practical pieces of traditional silver tableware.
Mix silver with everyday ceramics. White plates, stoneware and simple glassware can provide a relaxed setting for historic silver.
Use a salver beyond the dining table. Choose a piece that can also be enjoyed throughout the week.
Let the table evolve. Collect individual pieces over time rather than feeling obliged to assemble a matching service.

A good Sunday lunch is rarely remembered for the perfection of the table setting. It is remembered for the conversation, the food and the people who gathered around it. The silver is simply part of the pleasure.

Collecting Silver Tableware for the Home

Silver tableware offers a particularly rewarding introduction to collecting because so many pieces combine practical use with historical and artistic interest. For some collectors, the attraction lies in Georgian craftsmanship and the development of traditional flatware patterns.

Others are drawn to the elaborate decoration of Victorian silver or the distinctive work of twentieth-century designers and silversmiths. Scottish silver also offers an interesting area of collecting, particularly where regional makers and historic assay marks can be identified. Individual serving spoons, sauce boats, salvers and other domestic objects may provide an opportunity to acquire work by recognised makers without purchasing a complete service.

When buying at auction, consider the quality of workmanship, maker, period, condition, hallmarks and practical suitability of each piece. Weight can be relevant to value, but it is only one consideration. A finely made object with an interesting history or unusual design may have appeal well beyond its silver content.

What to Look for When Buying Silver Tableware

Whether buying a single gravy boat or assembling a collection of silver serving pieces, a few details deserve particular attention.

Hallmarks: British silver hallmarks can help establish the standard of silver, assay office, date and maker. Look for marks on the individual components, particularly where a service contains several pieces.

Condition: Examine handles, rims, feet and joins for signs of damage or repair. Pieces intended for serving should be structurally sound.

Originality: Replacement components, altered handles and later additions can affect collecting interest. Historic carving sets and composite objects require particular attention.

Practicality: Consider size, weight and ease of handling. A substantial serving dish may be beautiful but less convenient for a small household.

Craftsmanship: Look closely at proportions, decorative detail and the quality of construction. These qualities can distinguish a particularly fine example from a more ordinary piece.

How to Clean and Care for Silver Tableware

One of the reasons silver has remained part of domestic life for centuries is that it can be cared for and used over long periods.After use, wash suitable silver tableware gently by hand with mild washing-up liquid and warm water, then dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.

Avoid abrasive cleaning products, scouring pads and harsh chemicals. Historic silver should not be placed in a dishwasher, particularly where pieces incorporate other materials or have delicate decoration. Polish sparingly with a product suitable for silver. Excessive polishing can gradually remove fine detail and wear down engraved decoration.

Certain foods, particularly those containing sulphur compounds, salt or acidic ingredients, can accelerate tarnishing or affect silver surfaces. Avoid leaving food in silver vessels for prolonged periods, and clean pieces promptly after use. Silver-plated objects require particular care because aggressive polishing can wear through the plated surface. For delicate, rare or heavily repaired pieces, seek specialist advice before cleaning or using them.

Buying Silver Tableware at Auction

From Georgian serving spoons to Victorian sauce boats, silver salvers and twentieth-century dining pieces, auctions offer an opportunity to acquire silver with craftsmanship, character and history.

At Lyon & Turnbull, our Silver & Objets de Vertu department handles a wide range of domestic silver, including flatware, serving dishes, tea and coffee services and works by recognised silversmiths.

Our specialists can advise on hallmarks, makers, condition and collecting interest, helping buyers choose pieces that suit both their interests and their homes.

Explore our Silver & Objets de Vertu department for upcoming auctions and specialist advice.

Silver Auctions & Objets de Vertu Auctions: Edinburgh, Glasgow, London & Online

Department

Silver & Objets de Vertu

Made for the Table, Made to Be Used

There is a particular pleasure in bringing out something that has already been part of countless meals. A silver serving spoon may have passed around tables for generations. A gravy boat might have been given as a wedding present more than a century ago. A salver may have been used for everything from afternoon tea to Christmas drinks.

These objects have survived because they were well made, but also because they were useful. And perhaps the nicest thing we can do with them is continue the tradition. Put the potatoes in the serving dish, fill the gravy boat and call everyone to the table.

Silver, Every Day explores the pleasure of living with silver, from Sunday lunch and afternoon tea to the dressing table and the modern workspace.

Explore our Silver, Every Day Series

Specialist

Kier Alexander

Specialist, Silver & Objets de Vertu

Frequently Asked Questions About Silver Tableware

Yes. Sterling silver cutlery was made to be used and many pieces remain suitable for everyday dining, provided they are in sound condition. Gentle handwashing and thorough drying are recommended.

Serving spoons, sauce ladles, gravy boats, vegetable dishes, carving sets and salvers are among the most practical pieces of silver tableware for a Sunday lunch.

Many silver serving dishes were designed for hot food, but silver conducts heat efficiently and can become very hot. The condition, construction and any insulating fittings should be considered before use.

A salver is generally a flat serving tray, often circular or shaped and sometimes raised on feet. The term tray covers a wider variety of forms, including rectangular and oval pieces, frequently with handles.

Values depend on the maker, period, silver content, craftsmanship, condition and collecting demand. Some examples are particularly sought after for their design, rarity or historical associations.

Yes. Silver and stainless-steel cutlery can be used together at the table. Wash and dry pieces carefully, and avoid prolonged contact between different metals in damp conditions.

British sterling silver serving spoons generally carry hallmarks identifying their silver standard, with additional marks that may indicate the assay office, date and maker. Silver-plated spoons can look similar, so the marks should be examined carefully.

No. Although complete matching services are attractive to some collectors, individual silver serving pieces from different periods can work beautifully together and allow a collection to develop gradually.

Sunday Lunch, Served in Silver

What Silver Tableware Can You Use for Sunday Lunch?

Our Silver Department

The Sunday Table: A Place for Silver

Silver Serving Spoons: The Most Useful Place to Start

Can You Use Antique Silver Serving Spoons Every Day?

Silver Gravy Boats: A Sunday Lunch Essential

What to Look for When Buying a Silver Gravy Boat

Silver Carving Sets: Bringing Back the Ritual

Are Historic Silver Carving Sets Practical?

Silver Vegetable Dishes: From Kitchen to Table

Silver Salvers and Trays: Not Just for Serving Drinks

Silver Cutlery: Does Everything Have to Match?

Setting the Sunday Table with Silver

Five Ways to Bring Silver to Sunday Lunch

Collecting Silver Tableware for the Home

What to Look for When Buying Silver Tableware

How to Clean and Care for Silver Tableware

Buying Silver Tableware at Auction

Silver & Objets de Vertu

Made for the Table, Made to Be Used

Explore our Silver, Every Day Series

Kier Alexander

Frequently Asked Questions About Silver Tableware

Can you use sterling silver cutlery every day?

What silver pieces are useful for Sunday lunch?

Can you serve hot food in silver dishes?

What is the difference between a silver salver and a silver tray?

Are silver gravy boats valuable?

Can I mix sterling silver with stainless-steel cutlery?

How can I tell if serving spoons are sterling silver?

Do silver serving pieces need to match?