In its heyday, the Durgin Silver Company was one of the largest sterling silver flatware and hollowware manufacturers in the United States. Responsible for the trailblazing Fairfax pattern — one of the most popular patterns in the U.S. for a time during the early 20th century — Durgin Silver established a reputation for quality and durability.
The company was founded in 1853 in Concord, New Hampshire, by William Butler Durgin. Raised by farmers in Campton, New Hampshire, in 1833, Durgin grew up learning about agriculture from his parents. To their dismay, he decided life as a farmer wasn’t for him, and he shifted his focus to jewelry.
Durgin left Campton for Boston, where openings in the jewelry trade were scarce at the time. Undaunted, he became an apprentice to a silversmith named Newell Harding. In his second year as an apprentice, however, Durgin fell ill and returned to New Hampshire, settling in Concord. After he recovered, Durgin established his eponymous company.
Over the next 50 years, the Durgin Silver Company earned accolades for its role as one of the finest producers of sterling silverware in America. From its large brick factory in Concord, the firm manufactured exquisite tableware, serving pieces, tea sets and home decor such as candleholders. Its variety of elegant patterns, including Chatham, Chrysanthemum, English Rose, Louis XV, Victorian, Orange Blossom and the aforementioned Fairfax, were extraordinarily popular.
In 1878, Durgin’s son George Francis, who had learned silversmithing from his father, became a partner and the company enjoyed considerable success around the turn of the 20th century. Among their clients were the Packard Motor Company, the Davis Cup, the National Cash Register Company and the battleship U.S.S. New Hampshire, for which they made a 72-piece silver service and bell.
Durgin died in 1905 of cystitis and pneumonia, and tragically, George died soon afterward. That year, Durgin Silver became a division of another well-known American silver firm, the Gorham Silver Manufacturing Company. Today, Durgin Silver remains highly coveted among collectors of American silver.
On 1stDibs, find a range of antique Durgin Silver Company serveware and decorative objects.
Iris & New Art by Durgin Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service Nouveau 167 Pieces
By Durgin Silver Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
"New Art" - the name is a literal translation of the French "Art Nouveau" was introduced as a not-full-line pattern with four motifs: Iris, Easter Lily, Narcissus, & Orange Blossom. In 1900, one year after New Art was introduced, Durgin introduced the single motif...
Sterling Silver
Empire by Durgin Sterling Silver Flatware Set For 8 Service 51 pieces Dinner
By Durgin Silver Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Rare Dinner Size Empire by Durgin sterling silver flatware set - 51 pieces. This pattern was introduced in the year 1895 and features a crown above a central cartouche. This set incl...
Sterling Silver
Madame Royale by Durgin Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 148 Pieces
By Durgin Silver Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Monumental Madame Royale by Durgin sterling silver flatware set, 148 pieces. This set includes: 12 dinner size knives, 9 3/4" 12 dinner size forks, 7 1/2" 12 regular knives, 8 7/8" ...
Sterling Silver
Lenox by Durgin Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 48 pieces
By Durgin Silver Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Lenox by Durgin Sterling Silver Flatware set - 48 pieces. This set includes: 12 Knives with blunt stainless blades, 8 1/2" 12 Forks, 7 1/4" 12 Salad Forks, 6 1/8" 12 Small Teaspoons...
Sterling Silver
Empire by Durgin Sterling Silver Flatware Set For 8 Service 52 pieces Dinner
By Durgin Silver Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Dinner Size Empire by Durgin sterling silver flatware set - 52 pieces. This pattern was introduced in the year 1895 and features a crown above a central cartouche. This set includes:...
Sterling Silver
Madame Royale by Durgin Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service 24 pieces
By Durgin Silver Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Madame Royale by Durgin sterling silver Flatware set, 24 pieces. Great starter set! This set includes: 6 Regular Knives with blunt silverplated blades, 8 5/8" 6 Regular Forks, 7" 6 ...
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver Flatware/60 pieces
By William Durgin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Being offered is a sterling silver flatware set by William Durgin Silver. This is a service for 12: 5 pieces per setting, 60 pieces total. The craftsmanship and design on this patt...
Sterling Silver
Henin - 138pc. Antique Louis XVI French 950 Sterling Silver Flatware Set !
By Henin et Cie 1
Located in Wilmington, DE
Direct from a Private Chateau in France, A Stunning 138pc. Privately Commissioned Louis XVI Sterling Silver Flatware Set (Service for 12) with 6 Serving Pieces by Internationally Kno...
Sterling Silver
Victorian Sterling Silver Flatware Set by Mappin Brothers
By Mappin Brothers
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian sterling silver flatware service for twelve persons; an addition to our diverse silver cutlery collection. The pieces of this exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver flatware service for twelve persons have been crafted in an Empire Revival style pattern. The anterior surface of each handle is embellished with a ribbon tied floral tassel terminating with a crossed torch of love and a quiver of arrows. The posterior surface is ornamented with a tied laurel wreath bordered vacant cartouche below a foliate decorated pensile drop. The surfaces of each piece further incorporate a textured finish, with scrolling leaf decorated terminals, a quatrefoil foliate rosette to the stem and a waisted bead bordered knop to the upper portion. Each spoon and fork is further embellished to the reverse with an impressive leaf decorated heel to the bowl and drop. This impressive straight* service consists of 73 pieces: Basic Service 12 Table forks 12 Table spoons 12 Dessert forks 12 Dessert spoons 12 Teaspoons 6 Coffee spoons Additional Pieces Gravy spoon Serving knife 4 Salt spoons Mustard spoon Each item of this impressive and very rare Victorian silver canteen has been crafted by the renowned silversmiths Mappin Brothers in 1899. The anterior surface of each coffee, salt and mustard spoon retains the original gilding to the bowls. This flatware service can be purchased with knives if so desired, due to the rarity of the pattern matching knives are not available but an alternative pattern can be arranged; for further information please contact us. This antique sterling silver cutlery set...
Sterling Silver
Lapparra - 204pcs. Antique Louis XV French 950 Sterling Silver Flatware Set
By Lapparra Orfèvre Argentier
Located in Wilmington, DE
Direct from St Tropez: Direct from a private villa in St. Tropez, a magnificent 204pc. Louis XVI French 950 sterling silver flatware set by Henri Lapparra, includes a magnificent 5-...
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Garrard & Co. Sterling Silver 170-Piece Flatware Set in Shell & Thread Pattern
By Garrard & Co. Ltd.
Located in New York, NY
Large Garrard & Co. sterling silver flatware set in the Shell and Thread pattern, adorned with shell-like motifs on the handles, consisting of: - 18 dinner knives measuring 9 1/2'' ...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Reed & Barton Sterling Silver Fifty-Nine Piece Flatware Service
By Reed & Barton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Reed & Barton Sterling Silver Fifty-Nine Piece Flatware Service Marked Reed and Barton, Sterling. Comprising, twelve dinner knives, eleven butter spreads, twelve dinner forks, twel...
Silver
