posted 04-25-1999 02:00 PM            

Fiorito is an example of both Shiebler and a floral pattern at it's best. It is again multi-motif each piece having a different flower brought out in beautiful high relief. The knife has a much higher relief than most other hollow handled knives.The finish is quite distinctive.

Dating

Most of the pieces bare a Patent May 13-02 mark. Rainwater states that the company was out of business by 1915 with no apparent successor. Therefore unlike many American patterns that were acquired by Gorham, with Shiebler one is certain to have an old piece made before 1915.

Pieces Shown

Item length our cost
Dinner Knife 10 �" $90
Dinner Fork 7 �" $90
Luncheon Fork 7" $45
Ice Cream Fork 5 7/8" $69
Oval Soup 7 1/4" $75
Teaspoon 6" $45
Demi-Tasse 4 �" $30
Flat Butter 5 5/8" $35
Not Shown- Salad Fork

Photo of Place Setting:

For full size, click here

Key Pieces

As usual the knife and salad fork are the most difficult. It seems that the dinner fork is far harder to find than the luncheon fork. Many services included only the luncheon fork. We have used the ice cream fork as an interim solution until we can find a salad fork (it looks remarkably similar, only a little rounder). I have seen salad forks but was not able to buy a single.

Comments

Certainly no discussion of great silver is complete without a tribute to the prolific and creative George Shiebler, and this pattern is a prime example of he virtuosity. There is currently a knowledgeable cadre of collectors who will buy anything with the Shiebler winged insignia. The Shiebler version of Medallion that graces the cover of Soeffing (3) is currently the most highly prized (and priced) American flatware of the era.