BY KATE REYNOLDS
You’ll feel like you’ve entered Ali Baba’s cave when you walk into the silver room at Antiques, Etc.
Treasures gleam from the high shelves that line the walls and shimmer in the showcases — thousands of pieces, both sterling and silver plate.
It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but with the genteel guidance of resident silver expert Joe Ewing you’ll soon find yourself enchanted and entranced. Joe’s 40 years of experience in the field and knowledge of the intricacies of the well appointed table will transport you into the heady realms of Edith Wharton.
Here you will encounter such esoteric implements as horseradish spoons, stilton cheese scoops, sliced cucumber servers, sardine forks and the indispensable asparagus tongs, all tastefully rendered in fine sterling.
Of course, there is an abundance of the more mainstream accoutrements — flatware and hollowware dating from the late 1890s to the present. The establishment boasts an exhaustive selection from such renowned silversmiths as Towle, Reed & Barton, Gorham, International, Lunt and Georgian, and is an excellent resource for both fill-in flatware pieces and full sets.
For those who prefer not to go the Crate & Barrel route for wedding gifts, this is the ideal location for discovering a unique, elegant and genuinely romantic option, be it a delicately engraved Victorian tray, an Art Deco coffee service or a pair of candlesticks for those intimate dinners.
Exploring is such a pleasure; you might even find a little something for yourself…an Edwardian kid glove stretcher, perhaps?
Antiques, Etc. is located at 687 North Trade Street in Tryon, 828-859-1226. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10-4 and Sunday, 1-4. Closed Mondays.
