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The Pirate's Lair offers to you expert information and photographic documentation of the many and varied designs and patterns of silverplate flatware used by The US Navy. In general, the United States Government authorized the Department of the Navy to purchase dinnerware and tableware for its enlisted and officer corps from leading silverware producers and brands such as Wm Rodgers & Son, 1847 Rodgers, Carlton Plate, Stratford Plate, Andover and Court Plate, Community Silver, Tudor Plate, Niagra Plate, National Silver Co, nobility plate, International Silver Co, Holmes & Edwards, Plaza Heirloom Plate among many others. Click Here To View over 35 Different US Navy Flatware Patterns.
Click Here For Nautical Bracelets made from 60+ year old US Navy Silverplate Flatware
Historically, silverware producers offered from the very plain to very intricate and beautiful general designs and patterns which could be purchased and used by the general public "as is", or they could also be slightly modified for a more personal touch or customization by adding say an engraved family crest, the initials of the family patriarch or matriarch, or in the case of the US Navy the initials USN and/or a Fouled Anchor Design!
A little known fact is that the very popular King's Pattern (standardized as the US Navy's official silverware), was the ONLY silverplated flatware design made in America at the time (ca late 1880's) which had almost every conceivable flatware and serving piece. This "King's Design" which was first introduced in the late 1880's (and still produced through the 1960's) by every major silverware manufacturer in the United States and it was truly America's first world-class silverplated flatware offering rivaling anything from Europe. It is also believed to be the US Navy in adopting the King's Design (sometimes known as the Seashell Pattern) that insisted upon the silverware manufacturer's to produce an entire and complete placesetting of the many Navy Forks, Navy Knives and Navy Spoons used for very formal "Head's of State Dinners". Essentially the Navy said, "We need and will buy lots of silverplated flatware and serving pieces, however it needs to be in the King's Pattern using an engraved Fouled Anchor on the top front with handle with the initials USN on the back." The seashell look also gave it that nautical feel. The King's Design was appropriately named because the US Government and Navy needed a single set of formal dinnerware which was literally "fit for a King" and made to impress! The "King's Pattern" was literally America's first cohesive and complete set of fine silverplated flatware produced on a mass scale, and was initiated by the needs of the US Government in it's post-Civil War diplomatic efforts to gain proper recognition as a dominant player on the world's stage. Initially, many of the "King's Design" pieces were only made available to the US Navy and not made for general consumption! Remember that prior to the introduction of large propeller driven transport aircraft (and certainly jet airliners), whenever ANY government wanted to engage in diplomatic efforts or to "show the flag" the ONLY way to do so was through it's Navy! So when a Presidential envoy, Diplomat or Naval Attache' was required to visit a foriegn nation the ONLY means to do so was to sail there, and depending on the severity of the visit it was the Navy's battleships and dreadnaughts along with a flotilla of supporting vessels which transported the dignitaries to their destination. So logically speaking whenever these dignitaries needed to entertain their counterparts in formal dining-in ceremonies, or signing of treaty's and pacts, they needed to do so aboard the ships they sailed in on! Hence, it was due to these situations where the US Government tasked the US Navy to provide the dining rooms and accoutremants aboard it's Flagships so as to properly entertain Kings, Queens, Emperor's and other Heads of State. Keeping in mind that in the pre-Civil War years of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries America was still looked upon as being populated and led by unrefined ruffians lacking in both style and sophistication. One of the visible and significant ways to dispel this was to show by example that we as a country knew which fork to use for salad and which spoon to use for soup! Based upon this need to show the world that we were no longer the upstart revolutionaries who didn't know a bayonet from a serving knife the US Government charged the US Navy and it's attendant Naval Officer Corps to be the shining examples of the "new" America. This certainly reasonated with the Department of the Navy as it was already very much a rigid social caste system where the Naval Officer was considered to be from the "upper crust" of our social structure, and was well bred. As such, one of the many requirements of the well-bred Naval Officer was to learn how to dine properly in the company of gentlemen and gentle ladies, Kings, Queens, Presidents and Emperors. The "how to dine properly" standardized training actually began for the Naval Officer when they were just plebes in the US Naval Academy. While many a plebe came from the "well to do" families and upper crust of the social framework within America (and inherently knew that a napkin wasn't to be used to blow one's nose). These basic table manners needed to be further refined into a standardized set of practical procedures, decorum, and ceremony followed by all Naval Officer's. Hence, the combination of well-refined, well-bred Naval Officer's would be used as the core of our diplomatic missions needed to have equally refined and complete set of beautiful and elegant dinnerware and tableware for entertaining. Again, this fit perfectly into the self-image and stature of the US Navy. So, in the late 1880's the US Government through the Department of the Navy selected the "King's Design" pattern of silverplated flatware as it's official dining-in tableware used for breakfast, lunch, dinner and on formal occasions. It is anecdotal that the US Navy had a very large influence over the design, pattern, and the various pieces to be produced using the "King's Pattern". Just like today, due to its popularity the King's Pattern was de-militarized and copied by other leading silverware manufacturers for commercial mass production. While the King's Design was the "official" Navy Silverware, there were many other popular patterns (35+ at last count) which were also purchased and used by the US Navy at local command levels, and they typically only consisted of a single fork, spoon and knife in that pattern. Some of these patterns sometimes had both a dinner fork and a lunch fork, a table spoon and a tea spoon, and a single knife used for all meals. But by far it was the "King's Design" (again, also known as the Seashell Pattern) which many Naval history buffs are familiar with given its intricate yet elegant pattern with the tradtional US Navy Fouled Anchor engraved on the front top handle with USN engraved on the back top handle. However while the King's Pattern was the standard flatware used for both formal and informal dining aboard ship and shore facilities, the individual Captains and Commanders as well as the many Officer's Clubs found within the Navy were given latitude to select other flatware patterns which struck their fancy to be used as their "personal dinnerware". Towards this end The Pirate's Lair has been diligently collecting many of these rare and hard to find patterns of which we now have identitied over 35 designs. The one common thing that ALL of these patterns and designs have is the monogram USN engraved onto the handles which signifies that they were made specifically for and used by the US Navy. Call The Pirate's Lair 540-659-6209 for further information. NOTE: That all of the below RARE Naval Flatware Patterns can be made into beautiful bracelets for only $95. as a Special Order Item! What better gift than bracelet made from these authentic 70+ year old rare utensils which were used in the Officer's Wardroom aboard ship! Note also that we do have bracelets in stock and ready to ship using the 4 most popular bracelets for only $75. each
So Batten Down The Hatches Matey for a Typhoon of Nautical Home Furnishings and Authentic Nautical Furniture such as Antique Steamer Trunks and Steamer Chests and vintage WW2 Liberty Ship Hatch Covers restored into Nautical Coffee Tables, Master and Commander Cabin Nautical Desks, Nautical Kitchen and Dining Tables as salvaged from the cargo holds of WW2 US Navy Merchant Marine Liberty Ship's are offered for sale at The Pirates Lair. The Photo to the left shows nautical furniture found at The Pirate's Lair. A 6' Wooden Hatch Cover re-finished into a Nautical Desk that would befit the most discerning Executive, Ship's Master, Military or Navy Officer. Also shown are 2 Dome Top Steamer Trunks circa 19th Century restored in such a manner as not to lose their beauty yet make them fully functional for contemporary use as a filing cabinet able to store up to 200 hanging folders and store away staplers, tape dispensers, and other clutter normally found in an office. Don't they look just like a Captains Sea Chest or Pirate Chest as they have that same nautical decor! Call 800-326-5051 Why have a handsome home or business executive office with "hum-drum ugly utilitarian steel file cabinets" when you can be outfitted with these antique 150 year old Dome Top or Flat Top Steamer Trunks, as wonderful antique nautical home furnishing! For that matter why settle for a nice and probably very expensive yet run-of-the-mill typical office desk when you can now have a true Captain's Desk befitting a Ship's Master and Commander. What a conversation piece either at work or at home. Our nautical themed antique hope chests, china chests and silverware chests are the perfect complement to store your U.S. Navy Tableware and Dinnerware! The nautical furniture offered at The Pirate's Lair is by far the most unique and distinctive you will find anywhere on or off the net. Our nautical home furnishings offer more than just a nautical decor, but a slice of our Maritime History, a sense of romance and global travel, as well as honoring the ships and sailors of days gone by and the dangers they faced sailing the high seas in time of war.
Here we have two 6' Wooden Hatch Cover "Nautical Coffee Tables" from re-stored WW2 Liberty Ship Cargo Hold Hatch Covers - a great nautical gift for that special sailor - heavy, naturally distressed wood grain from years of sea service! These nautical tables are rough, tough, with lots of character! They withstood many years at sea in the roughest of weather. There is nothing "gentle" about a 60 year old WW2 Hatch Cover! They are much like our beloved U.S. Navy seaman. You won't find a more "child proof" piece of antique nautical furniture to be had! It's not going to be knocked over or broken, it will withstand being played on, jumped and spilled on! And any scratch can easily be remedied thereby just giving your nautical table that much more character. Finally a piece of fine furniture that parents won't have to worry about the kids ruining! Each of these WW2 Victory Ship and Liberty Ship Hatch Covers are made of thick pine planks measuring 60"L x 29"W x 2.5"D weighing in at 80lbs before re-fitting them with a trestle. Each Hatch Cover is the same in design, yet unique and individualistic in character based upon the years it saw at sea, not too unlike a true sailor! Note the beautiful grain of the wood and how the recessed handle is fitted over the scooped-out part of the plank. Perfect for spare change, stamps or other small items. Above in detail is an all wood Nautical Domed Steamer Chest with the lid open showing how the chest was refinished so as to hang file folders and store office desk accessories. That distinctive "Titanic", "Master and Commander", or the popular "Pirates of the Caribbean" decor and theme, but no movie reproductions here, only the real thing! Note the beautiful brown patina that only 130 year old wood can achieve. Truly a work of art, one can only imagine how and where this immigrants Steamer Trunk was used over the years, and who owned it. Now one can be yours, a legacy to be handed down from generation to generation! To the very right is a close up of a Antique Steamer Chest which can easily be used as an Antique China Chest, Hope Chest or even as Filing or Office Storage Cabinet with green and black metal cladding with oak wood straps. Each and every Sea Chest is unique and no two are the same, probably similar to the journeys that they each have taken over a century and a half of use.
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The Pirate's Lair is the largest worldwide expert and authority on government surplus and antique US Navy Militaria of silverplated flatware designs and patterns. This military surplus of nautical dinnerware and naval tableware of navy spoons, navy forks, and navy knives as well as assorted navy silver serving pieces are for sale available at 800-326-5051 The Pirates Lair.
Being the recognized world's expert authority on vintage Navy militaria of government surplus and military surplus dinnerware is both time consuming yet rewarding. Finding, identifying, documenting and then presenting this authentic silverplated Naval flatware patterns and designs used by the US Navy from late 1800's 19th Century Great White Fleet, WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam era of navy forks, navy spoons and navy knives is very rewarding. All Navy flatware and Navy silverplate and navy silver found on this page is authentic 19th and early-mid 20th century navy forks and navy spoons. All government surplus, navy surplus and military surplus silverplated items were made by many and varied producers of the worlds finest silver smiths. This leading silverware and flatware manufacturer's were: 1847 rodgers, wm rodgers, carlton plate, stratford plate, andover and court plate, community silver, tudor plate, niagra plate, national silver, nobility plate, international silver co, holmes & edwards, plaza heirloom plate among many others.