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As you can see, the various silverplated serving pieces (hollow ware) made for the US Navy from the late 1890's through the 1940's was absolutely stunningly elegant and literally made for fine dining and entertaining of Kings, Queens, Presidents, other heads of state and dignitaries! The US Government spared no money in ensuring that our formidable Navy was as prepared in it's armament as it was equally prepared to host formal dining-in ceremonies when visiting foriegn ports of call. One can only imagine which Officers, Captains, and Admirals used these pieces, on what dreadnaught or flag ship, and who they entertained! The Pirate's Lair now makes these rare and valuable pieces available for your collection or as gifts to those who would truly appreciate such finely detailed silverplated nautical dinnerware whose craftsmanship cannot be matched today.
The table below will provide you with thumbnail photos, brief description and pricing of the items which are available and offered for sale.
The Pirate's Lair as the worlds largest single source (and in most cases only source) of Official United States Navy Hollow Ware, Dinnerware and Tableware is pleased to make available and present to you for sale both specimen and museum quality nautical holloware.
There are no reproductions here at The Pirate's Lair only authentic quality antique silver and vintage silverplated nautical hollow ware used by Naval Officers, Commanders and Admirals dating from the late 1890's through the mid-1900's. The Navy Silverplate being shown was used by Naval Officers aboard our Battleships, Aircraft Carriers, Cruisers, Destroyers and other smaller craft as well as at Navy Shore Facilities the world over.
If you are seeking authentic Antique Nautical Hollow Ware, vintage Nautical Tableware and antique Nautical Dinnerware then The Pirate's Lair is the right place for you! All of the fine nautical tableware and nautical hollware offered are clearly marked as being US Navy Issued from engraved markings of USN, and/or with the traditional Naval insignia of a Fluked Fouled Anchor, and in some rare cases with the rank-specific Naval insignia of pieces made and used specifically for the Junior Officer's Mess (square knot); the Ship's Captain and Commander (eagle); Rear Admiral (2 star), Vice Admiral (3 stars), and Full Fleet Admiral (4 stars)
All of the pieces have the silversmiths manufacturing marks engraved on the bottom which can help determine age and certainly the authenticity. We have also separated the various pieces into two categories: specimen and museum quality. Specimen Quality Pieces are typically perfect for display purposes or functionally used for purposes other than originally intended such as planters or curios, and with care may be used occasionally for the original intended purpose. Specimen pieces usually have small manufacturer defects, slight pitting, bubbling or loss of the silverplate due to age and use. Museum Quality Pieces are typically completely free of any defects, corrosion, marr's or utensil marks and can be freely used for their original intended use. As the category states, these are museum quality and many collector's would not dream of using them except on very rare and important occasions such as formal military and Naval dining-in ceremonies.
Price and Availability: All of the pieces shown will indicate available quantity and price as well as indicating it being specimen or museum quality, and whether it was for the general officers wardroom or specific to a rank. We will also provide manufacture's marks and attempt to date the piece as well. You will notice that museum quality pieces are substantially higher than specimen quality for obvious reasons. Older earlier pieces, as well as pieces with a specific rank insignia, will command a high price than later pieces. In many cases we have a number of the same or similar pieces within the same category and we can offer you a description and condition of each piece via email or phone contact.
To futher uncomplicate (or complicate depending on one's perspective) we have further divided all of our Naval Holloware into functional categories such as: -Serving Trays both large and small, -Water and Milk Pitchers, -Tea, Coffee Servers and Ice Water Decanters, -Personal Creamers, Jam, Mustard Jars, Condiment Servers and Sugar Bowls, -Serving Bowls, Bread Baskets, Candy or After Dinner Dishes, -Cruets to hold Oil, Vinegar, Salt and Pepper Shakers,
The Navy also tried to ensure a certain amount of standardization for it's Navy Holloware produced by the varying silverplate manufacturer's over a 40 or 50 year period. You will find that there are matching sets of cruets, bread baskets and candy servers; or matching sets of large and small serving trays along with corresponding coffee, tea, milk, creamers, sugar bowls, and water pitchers. The Pirate's Lair will attempt to accomodate those who wish to purchase complete matching sets of holloware albeit by category, Naval Officer rank insignia, manufacturer or producer, or by date of use. Many of our offered pieces were used by The Great White Fleet when it sailed around the world in the very early 1900's, during WW1, certainly during WW2 as well as Korea in the early 50's with remnants being used in the Vietnam War era.
Many of the US Navy's Holloware pieces have wonderful intricate and detailed anchors engraved onto them. As you probably have guessed these types of "anchors" as seen on the U.S. Navy's Dinnerware and Tableware are the official emblem or insiginia of the United States Navy, and are sometimes referred to as the "Navy Anchor". However you may have also noticed that this type of Navy Anchor closely resembles similar renditions used by other Navies as well as our own. To be accurate the true nautical term for this depicted Navy Anchor is that it is a "Fluked and Stocked Navy-type Fouled Anchor", yes it even has a real name! The term "Fouled Anchor" means that the rope or chain which holds the anchor to the ship is wrapped around or "fouling" the anchor. A fouled anchor is a dangerous affair for a ship and its crew even under the best of sea conditions. Anchors are heavy, very heavy, and when a rope or chain gets twisted around it someone has to get it untangled without getting mangled in the process. Most often anchors are so heavy and get so fouled that the only thing left to do is cut off the fouled length of rope or chain and re-attach the anchor! No small feat when in the middle of the ocean and no way to keep the boat secure, with one small mistake and your anchor is now at the bottom of Davey Jone's Locker! Under the worst conditions such as when trying to berth the ship in foul weather a fouled anchor will mean that the ship cannot anchor itself in-place! Next, the "Flukes" of an anchor (sometimes known as the "palm") are those pointy parts of the anchor which grab (or anchor) onto the ocean floor thereby holding the ship in place. The flukes of an anchor are attached to the "Shank" which is the upright part of the anchor. The rope or chain securing the ship to the anchor are attached to the head of the shank. Finally, the "Stock" of the anchor is the steel bar or wooden brace which is attached close to the top of the shank. So from top to bottom the parts of a "Navy-type Fouled Anchor" are: The "Ring " is connected to the top of the shank and it is the ring that the securing rope or chain is connected. The "Shank " is the upright part or body of the anchor The "Stock " is the part of the anchor which crosses the shank near the top and below the ring, can be steel or wood The "Throat " is attached to the bottom part of the shank providing the left and right arms of the anchor The "Flukes " (or Palms) are attached to the left and right arms of the throat The "Bill " (or Pea) is the very pointy part of the fluke