Featured Help Please ID-ing Simpson Hall Miller sterling flatware pattern?

Again I am turning to this most valuable resource, to assist with ID-ing the pattern name for a set of 12 Simpson Hall Miller sterling soup spoons. I have sifted through the three or so usual sites, (Replacements, Encyclopedia of American Silver Marks, etc) , even slogged through the International Silver Co. patterns but no luck. Thanks for any guidance you can offer!

 

Have you tried using International Silver? Try looking a their Mille Fleurs pattern (it's a multi-motif pattern.)

 

It's 'Mille Fleurs', introduced in 1904 - it was a multi-motif floral with several different variants (looks like 'forget-me-not' to me)...

~Cheryl

 

Here's the page that has all 7 designs.

https://www.sterlingflatwarefashions.com/Patterns/Intl6.html

 

I'm sorry, I am missing something... were there more than the seven floral motifs within the Mille Flleurs series, as listed on the sterling flatware fashions page? I found an exact match on ebay simply called Mille Fleurs. Apparently even though the flowers differ, it is all called by the same pattern name? That's confusing to me. Were they intended to be mix-and-match? And yes, I agree, those are forget-me-nots, thank you!

 

No - there are only 7, starting the top of the left hand column. But there are other patterns listed on the page as well. Are you using a "small screen" device?

The basic pattern name is the same for all the motifs, but best practice (at least I would do so if I were selling) should be for the seller to also list the specific flower too.

 

Eh, there are errors in most reference sources - if they're saying those are the only seven motifs, then clearly they're mistaken. The pattern is 'Mille Fleurs', but multi-motif patterns have variations on different pieces, they usually repeat motifs on a few different pieces, but all the teaspoons would have the same design, another on the demitasse, and so on...

~Cheryl

 

I'm beginning to understand! Thank you all for your help!

 

I too have the identical pattern you displayed but in a bon bon spoon. After careful review of the 7 motifs, my pattern does not identically match any of the 7 motifs. I am not convinced the Mille Fleurs pattern is correct. Where you able to find any additional information in identifying your spoon?

 

Hi - welcome to the forums.

Again, the pattern shown here is Simpson, Hall, Miller/International 'Mille Fleurs', introduced in 1904, it is a multi-motif pattern, with several variants - the flatware site referenced is only showing seven. The overall design of the pattern is distinctive and there are more than seven different motifs, a five minute look through the Replacements site finds this variant, as well as four others (unless my poor old eyes fail me, a definite possibility), and that may or may not be all - personally, I'm tired and frankly see little purpose in searching through my references for anything further (did check in Turner, which was handy, he shows a reprint with several variants, but it's small and unclear). If you remain unconvinced, so be it...


The bouillon spoon:




https://www.replacements.com/silver-international-silver-mille-fleurs-sterling-1904/c/43050

Four more:













~Cheryl

 

After reviewing 100s of possiblilities, I too was convinced, and it sold as such. These variant designs within a pattern name are problematic, to say the least.

 

There shouldn't really be any question as to the pattern, as Bakersgma and I both pointed out, the basic design remains the same (we both identified it very soon after it posted).

Bit difficult for me to see multi-motif patterns as "problematic", since they're a kind of wonderful remnant of the heyday of the American silver industry, when the manufacturers supported the designers' vision, with the production and maintaining of numerous dies a considerable expense. The prolific Gorham made a number of multi-motif patterns, some with 20+ variants, the figural 'Nuremberg' pattern with well over hundred variants, and the hand-crafted 'Hamburg' with endless variants, but all are recognizable as part of the same pattern. Tiffany also produced quite a few multi-motif patterns, with their 'Lap Over Edge' pattern not only having a huge number of variants in motif (also made plain), but also in technique, with plain or hammered background, the designs engraved or etched, and/or the occasional applied element, sometimes in a different metal, but still with the same basic form.

~Cheryl

 

Simply because they can be difficult to ID, particularly for beginners who are not aware of the variation ranges.

 

Yes, they are, and wonderful to collect and use.

Yes, until you get a little used to them and start to recognize the basic shape. Unfortunately, you don't see them terribly often (at least, I don't).

My first encounter with a multi-motif pattern was Versailles by Gorham. I found a teaspoon for $5 at a consignment shop (obviously, they thought it was plate - wouldn't Mr Nate have been proud of me for knowing the difference). After that, I can spot it anywhere based on its general shape. The motifs are weird and I just think of it as the pattern with a lot of thin people on it.

Oh and, multi-motif doesn't reallly mean mix and match. That implies a choice on the part of the consumer. All the teaspoons have the same motif, all the dinner forks same motif. etc. So if you wanted teaspoons in your set you purchased teaspoons with the teaspoon motif. Subtle difference and maybe just mincing words but mix & match means something different to me. One thing for sure, multi-motif is generally way more valuable than melt weight!