More Kindness from Strangers

I am continually awed by the kind things that complete strangers have done for me in the past, like here and here.  Another stellar example of this occurred today when I received a very heavy package in the mail, all bound with tape and with the always anticipated customs form on it.

A few weeks ago, when I had mentioned the French Ivory silver that my ex-housemate, Andy, had sent me, someone e-mailed me and asked whether I’d be interested in the collection that he had. He said that he’s at the age where he finds himself clearing out deceased relatives’ houses and is reluctant to throw things away. He wants them to go to someone who appreciates them.

Astonishingly, I got a package with 40+ pieces of assorted “silver” ranging from a tiny butter knife/spreader to three very large dessert spoons. Most of the pieces are marked “EPNS” which is electro-plated nickel silver, an early process of plating, made famous in Sheffield, England.

Here are a few stand-out pieces: These are pastry forks. The tine on the left is heavier than the rest to make it easier to cut through a pastry crust without damaging the other tines.

These spoons are from the old Odeon Theatres in the UK. This chain of theaters was started by Lord Braeburne, who was David Hicks’ brother-in-law and married to one of Lord Mountbatten’s daughters. I worked with his grand-daughter in Wales.

This piece gives me the chills. I am sure it’s all because I got a fish-hook caught in my foot as a child, and don’t like anything that’s barbed like this.  This is either a pickle fork, an olive fork or a cocktail fork. This sweet little spoon looks like the King’s pattern. I have a set of Mappin & Webb knives and forks in this pattern. The tines on the forks that I received today, and in the Mappin set are sooo sharp and the knife blades are stainless steel!

To dear, sweet Roger, thank you so very much for a wonderful present!