The shipping costs for the 50 states and Puerto Rico are included in the listed price of this item. For any other destination, please email for a shipping quote BEFORE bidding. I ship only by USPS Priority Mail & Express Mail, no exceptions. I NEVER ship silver in envelopes. I neither solicit nor accept offers. Listed items will not be marked down during the listing duration. Orient was introduced in 1904, and made for about 12 years after that. The design is a rich, lush Art Nouveau border of poppies. Orient is also known as Venice, and is found with the backstamp of Holmes & Edwards, Rockford, and Stratford. Offered here is a luncheon set for 4 with some extras in a flannel wrapper which helps prevent tarnish and folds up easily for storage. The luncheon knife and luncheon fork came to be for a variety of possible reasons. Different people have different theories about the origin of these place pieces. Some say that the luncheon knife and fork are smaller than the dinner knife and fork because they tended to be used by women, who have smaller hands, at luncheon parties. Others argue that by using one set of knives and forks for lunch, the other set could be used at dinner, and the washing up could be done only once at the end of the day. I suspect that the luncheon pieces were made as part of the 19th century pride of ownership, particularly among the middle class. Having many different pieces of silverware for many different uses was a sign that one had "arrived" socially and monetarily. Manufacturers could, with machine technology, turn out an astounding variety, not only of patterns, but of place and serving pieces. Today, the luncheon pieces are a fun way of enjoying the elegance of the past. In some early patterns where salad forks are scarce or non-existent, the luncheon fork is a good substitute. A friend who has arthritis in her hands tells me that luncheon pieces are more comfortable to hold and use than the larger dinner pieces. The 5 luncheon forks offered here measure about 7”, and the 5 hollow handle luncheon knives measure about 8 1/2". The 4 teaspoons measure about 5 3/4", the 2 orange/fruit spoons measure about 5 3/4", and the 6 oval soup/dessert/place spoons measure about 7". These are not pieces of new silver. They show the patina of as much as 115 years of careful use. There are the light scratches which constitute normal patina. There is no monogram. Silver is softly lustrous. Three of the forks, one of the orange/fruit spoons, one of the teaspoons, and one of the soup spoons have tiny heel dots. One knife has a little nick on the side of the handle, and one knife has some little pits on the side of the handle. Three of the knives have pits on one side of the blade. The faults are the result of age and reasonable use. The pattern is crisp and clear. I polish all silver before listing on eBay. Please email with any questions before bidding. PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE AUCTION DESCRIPTION CAREFULLY. BY BIDDING YOU AGREE TO ABIDE BY MY TERMS OF SALE including the cost and method of shipping and my return policy. I welcome international bidders, but remember that shipping charges can be high. Ask before you bid. Winning bidder to pay shipping charges unless otherwise specified. I ship by United States Postal Service only. I ship all silverware via USPS Priority Mail in boxes. I NEVER ship silverware in envelopes. I insure ALL shipping, as I sell old and scarce items that cannot be easily replaced. Domestic shipping charge for 1 pound or under is now $7.67 which is Priority Mail. International shipping charges vary widely, and I now must use only International Priority shipping, in order to be able to insure the package, purchase a tracking number and proof of delivery, all of which protect both buyer and seller. I now print shipping labels online to keep shipping costs down as much as possible, so I can ship only to the buyer’s confirmed address. I regret that I can no longer ship gifts directly to the recipient. Payment in US funds only, and I can accept only eBay’s payment system. I must receive payment in full within 7 days after the end of auction or a store purchase . Due to misuse of a former return policy, I will no longer accept returns. I will of course take responsibility for items that arrive damaged or if there is a serious error in the listing.

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