Upcycled Silverware Bud Vase Spoon and Knife Folk Art

This upcycled silverware bud vase is a handmade folk art piece built from repurposed silver plated flatware, with a hollow knife handle forming the upright flower vessel and a spoon forming the curved handle and base. The silver toned surface shows noticeable tarnish, darkened patina, scratches, and age related discoloration, while the assembled piece remains solid and stands upright. Its unusual spoon and knife construction works well as a small single stem vase, shelf accent, or conversation piece in a collection of handmade flatware art and repurposed metalwork.

The knife blade has been removed, leaving the hollow handle open at the top with a sharply angled cut that creates the flower opening. The spoon has been reshaped so its bowl forms the broad base while the handle curls upward in a large decorative loop. A floral relief detail remains visible near the lower portion of the knife handle.

The surface has been left with its aged finish rather than polished bright. That darkened silver appearance, visible soldered or welded construction, and clearly reused flatware give the piece the straightforward character expected in handmade silverware folk art.

Details

• Item: Upcycled silverware bud vase
• Item Type: Handmade single stem bud vase
• Era:1980s
• Materials: Repurposed silver plated flatware
• Color: Aged silver tone with dark patina
• Maker and Mark: No visible maker's mark
• Pattern or Model: Not confirmed from photos
• Style: Folk art, repurposed silverware
• Dimensions: Approximately 4 inches tall with a 3 inch wide base
• Special Features: Hollow knife handle flower vessel, bent spoon handle and spoon bowl base, floral relief detail

Condition Grade: Good

Positives

• Graded Good: The piece is complete, solid, and able to stand upright, with clear signs of age and handmade construction.
• The spoon base, curled handle, and upright knife handle remain joined and retain the distinctive sculptural form.
• The floral relief decoration on the knife handle remains visible and adds detail to the otherwise simple silver toned surface.

Issues / Wear

• The silver plated surfaces show widespread tarnish, darkening, discoloration, rubbing, and fine scratches consistent with reused older flatware.
• The underside shows the visible joined construction and a rough soldered or welded attachment point. This is part of the handmade build rather than a factory finished surface.

Condition Grade Key

• Near Fine: Close to new. Any flaw is small and named above.
• Very Good: Light use. Every flaw is named above, and none of them get in the way of reading or display.
• Good: Complete and usable, with clear signs of use. Every flaw is named above.
• Fair: Heavy wear or damage, named above. A reading or working copy, not a display piece.

Collector's Notes

Repurposing older flatware into decorative objects gives worn utensils a second life, and small bud vases are one recognizable form of this kind of handmade silverware folk art.

It is a small piece with plenty of visible history in the surface, and the maker left the construction itself as part of what you see.

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Disclaimer

All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece, please review them carefully, as they are part of the description.

I do my best to capture colors accurately, but your monitor or device screen may display colors slightly differently from the actual item.

Please Note

These pieces come from estate collections and have been surface cleaned. You may wish to perform additional cleaning depending on your preference.

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