Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-02-12
SUPERB SILVER SERVICE.
A DINNER SET THAT COST ONE
HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

| ne Is the Finest and most Sosuy IN ahueh-
lea and Belongs 10 Mrs. William Aston.
The yanderbilts Eat or Of Gold Dishes
with Diamond Ornaments.
There are at least one hundred thousand
handsome dinner services of either silver or
fine china in New York, says The New York
journal. but the one owned by Mrs. William
Aston is the most costly and most beautiful.
There is not its match in all America, and in
Europe you must seek the dining rooms of
kings and dukes 20 find its equal
Twenty years ago Mrs. Aston determined
10 have a complete dinner service of solid sill
yer. She Travelled abroad with her husband
and saw all the noted silver antiques in the
old World, and then a special artist was COM
missioned to draw designs for her service.
Each dish was TO be highly carved and Of
graceful form, and there were TO be dishes
enough for twelve course dinner party for
twenty-four guests The order was given to
noted Paris frm, and the small silver, the
knives, forks and spoons were made by a
famous Baltimore silversmith, from special
designs furnished by the artist. 1t was full
year before the superb service was finished,
and another year before it was packed,
shipped across the ocean and used in the
family mansion at No. $50 Fifth avenue. 1t
is valued at 100000.
SOME or THE PIECES.
There are eleven dozen plates in the service
each with a carved border and marked in the
center with the monogram "W A." and the
family crest, with the motto, "Semper Fl
delis''-"A Always Faithfuln-under it, These
plates cost over $40 each, and 81, 900 for all Of
them.
Then there are thirty-fve dozens of the
small silver knives, forks and spoons Just
think Of it Many families are content to
own one dozen of solid silver teaspoons. Even
each Of the small teaspoons weighs over four
ounces, and the workmanship on each one
brings them up to $40 each. The tablespoons
are unusually large, and there are curious
oyster and fish forks. This small silver cost
over 5000.
A punchbowl of unusual size with a cover,
dozen vegetable and entree dishes, all with
repousse carving and close covers; two dozen
after dinner coffee cups and saucers wreathed
in little Bacchantes and roses; tiny salt cell
lars and pepper boxes for each plate, and two
dozen silver punch goblets are in the service.
When one looks at the vast array, 100000
does not seem too much for it; yet, were this
sum out at interest," it would yield a yearly
income of $4,000
This service does not include all of Mrs.
Astor's silver She has an exquisite little
breakfast service, which was one of her we'd
ding presents, and which has been in her
family over a hundred and fifty years, and
another tea service is almost as old. Then
her collection Of china is one of the finest in
America. Mr. Astor is a connoisseur in
china, and each year he brings home from
Europe some choice bit, or, perhaps, an entire
set Of Sevres or Worcester, worth its weight
in gold
THE DESIGNS DESTROYED.
Certainly the most costly dessert set in
America is owned by Mrs Cornelius Wander
bilt The first Cornelius Vanderbilt ate his
pumpkin pie off common white deli plate.
The present Cornelius Vanderbilt cuts his
orange on golden plate set with uncut
gems. Probably some future Cornelius Van
derbilt win eat candied violets from plate
of diamonds
1t seems like fairy story to hear of
mortal eating from golden plates. set with
rubies and emeralds, turquoises and garnets,
but all the twenty guests at the dinner party
given by Mrs. Vanderbilt ate from dessert
plates of real gold. Mrs Vanderbilt has two
dozen of them They are not very large,
about seven inches in diameter, and are
carved about the edge. No one, except the
owners and the dealer, knows how much
these golden plates cost. but prominent
jeweler has valued each one at $500. They
were purchased in Paris.
Mrs. Vanderbilt has a silver service, not
entire, that cost over 900. The fish plates
are shaped like small salmon, and the eye is a
jewel The pate dishes are formed like tiny
tubs with close covers, and are provided with
carved silver handles, so that they can be
served hot, and the ice cream plates are
formed like clover leaves, and have special
little silver spoons shaped like shovels.
-Four very costly china dinner and break
fast services arc owned by Mrs Vanderbilt.
The one in common use is Of deep blue and
white china, and it cost over 5000 The
choice set is in Royal Worcester, and is COM
pleto except in platters and vegetable dishes.
Mrs W. K Vanderbilt's special dinner
service is in pink and white fne French
china, aud was made after special designs,
which were afterward destroyed, So that no
one could have a set like it. Her dessert set
is OF Royal Worcester and each plate is diff
forent. The fruit dish belonged to Louis
XVI, and some Of the plates once adorned
Napoleons table.
One Of the loveliest Of china services is
owned by Mrs. Frederick Vanderbilt. The
design is in yellow and pale blue, and forget
me-nots and prinroses border each dish.
Mrs. w. H. Vanderbilt has a set Of Japa-
nese dishes which cost over 5000 Each
dish, whether plate, platter Or tureen, has
little vase on the edge in which a rose or pink
can be placed, 50 that each course is served
with flower This service is in deep Imari
blue ware, touched with pink.
One of Tiffany's men, who is familiar with
most Of the costly silver and china in town,
estimates that $4,000, 600 would hardly cover
their value New York Journal.
The Woes Of an Editor.