Empire Silver

At All Silver Gifts, we are a Washington-based online retailer that curates standout silver brands for customers across the country. We carry a wide selection of Empire Silver pieces in both sterling and pewter, and we offer engraving on most items, so every piece can be made personal.

About Empire Silver

Empire Silver Company was founded in Brooklyn, New York, in the early 1940s by the Otranto family. Joseph Otranto later became president and the driving force behind the brand, guiding its growth over six decades from a modest factory in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn. 

The company built its reputation on hollowware, baby cups, porringers, candlesticks, picture frames, and Judaica pieces, including menorahs and kiddush cups, produced using traditional American silversmithing techniques.

Customers appreciate Empire Silver for its:

• Elegant craftsmanship
• Timeless sterling silver designs
• Heirloom-quality construction
• Traditional American silverware artistry
• Luxury presentation and gifting appeal
• Durable silver products made to last generations

 

From handcrafted keepsakes to sophisticated table accessories, Empire Silverware represents quality, elegance, and tradition.

What Sterling Silver Actually Means

Sterling silver is not just a label. By international standard, any piece stamped sterling or .925 must contain at least 92.5% pure silver. The remaining 7.5% is typically copper, added to improve durability; pure silver on its own is too soft for practical giftware. Empire Silver's sterling pieces carry that hallmark, so you know exactly what you are getting before you even look at the price.

Pewter, the other material in Empire's line, is a tin-based alloy. Empire's pewter baby cups and porringers are food safe and fully engravable, and they carry the same heirloom character as the sterling pieces at a more accessible price point.

The Empire Silver Collection at All Silver Gifts

We carry Empire Silver pieces across sterling and pewter in several categories. Here is what is available and why each one earns its place as a gift.

Baby Cups

The Empire sterling baby cup is the brand's signature piece and our most gifted item. Available in classic, pot belly, double handle, beaded, and floral styles in both sterling and pewter, these cups engrave beautifully, a name, a birth date, a short message, and hold their finish for generations with proper care. Browse our Empire Silver baby cups starting at $95.

Baby Spoons and Feeding Sets

A classic Empire sterling infant feeding spoon is practical for early feeding stages, engravable on the handle, and becomes a keepsake the moment it is no longer in daily use. Empire also offers two-piece baby flatware sets for a more complete gift. See our Empire Silver baby spoons.

Baby Porringers

The porringer is a classic single-handled bowl originally used for serving soft foods to infants. Empire's version in sterling and pewter is one of the most distinctive items in the line, old-fashioned in the best possible way, and deeply engravable. See our Empire Silver porringers.

Mint Julep Cups

Empire's mint julep cups bring Southern tradition into sterling and pewter. They work as cocktail vessels, bud vases, desk accessories, and pen holders. Engrave them with a monogram, a wedding date, or a company name and they become a genuinely memorable corporate or wedding gift.

Keepsake Boxes and Jewelry Boxes

Empire's beaded round pewter jewelry box and sterling keepsake boxes are popular bridesmaid gifts and baby shower alternatives. They sit on a dresser for decades. Our Empire keepsake and jewelry boxes are available with engraving.

Sterling Silver Bookmarks

Empire's sterling silver bookmark and pewter bookmark are slim, engravable, and a thoughtful alternative to the usual graduation or teacher appreciation gift.

Barware and Home Accessories

Empire produces a refined barware line in sterling and pewter including ice scoops, bar knives, bottle openers, and liquor labels for bourbon and scotch decanters. Sterling beaded napkin rings round out the dining table collection. These pieces bring the same handcrafted attention to the bar cart and formal table setting.

What to Give and When

Empire Silver works across almost every significant occasion. Here is a quick reference.

Personalizing Your Empire Silver Gift

Most Empire Silver pieces we carry at All Silver Gifts can be engraved. We handle engraving in-house, and we are flexible. Our team has worked to make special characters available when standard options fall short. Popular choices include:

• A baby's full name and birth date on a cup or spoon
• A monogram or initials on a mint julep cup or keepsake box
• A wedding date on a pair of cups
• A company name for corporate gifting
• A short personal message on a porringer or keepsake box
• A graduation year and name on a bookmark

 

Need a bulk or corporate order? All Silver Gifts accepts wholesale and corporate orders with custom logo engraving on most Empire Silver pieces. Contact us with your requirements, and we will respond within 24 hours.

Caring for Empire Silver Pieces

Sterling silver develops a natural patina over time as it reacts with air and skin oils. Many collectors prefer the aged look. If you want to maintain the high polish:

• Use a soft silver polishing cloth for routine cleaning; avoid paper towels, which scratch
• Wash with mild soap and warm water, then dry immediately with a soft cloth
• Store pieces in an anti-tarnish bag or lined box when not in use
• Keep silver away from rubber bands and rubber-lined drawers, which accelerate tarnishing
• For pewter pieces, use a damp cloth and mild soap; pewter does not tarnish the way sterling does

 

A sterling silver baby cup engraved today can still be a family keepsake decades from now with the right handling. That longevity is the whole point.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who makes Empire Silver?

Empire Silver was originally founded by the Otranto family in Brooklyn, New York, in the early 1940s. In April 2014, Lifetime Brands Inc. (Nasdaq: LCUT) acquired the brand. Empire Silver now operates within the Wallace Silver division of Lifetime Brands, alongside other heritage American silver labels like Gorham, Towle, and Wallace.

2. Is Empire Silver still made in the USA?

Empire Silver was manufactured in its Brooklyn, NY, factory throughout its independent history. Since the 2014 acquisition by Lifetime Brands, the current manufacturing details are not publicly confirmed. The brand's heritage is American made, and many pieces continue to be described as US-produced by retailers, but we recommend contacting Lifetime Brands directly for the most current information on manufacturing location.

3. Is All Silver Gifts an authorized Empire Silver dealer?

All Silver Gifts is a retailer that carries Empire Silver products. Lifetime Brands distributes Empire Silver to retailers through various channels. For questions about authorized dealer status, contact All Silver Gifts or Lifetime Brands directly.

4. Are Empire Silver pieces made from real sterling silver?

Yes. Empire's sterling pieces are stamped .925, confirming at least 92.5% pure silver content — the international standard for sterling silver. The brand also produces food-safe pewter pieces across its baby gift line. Product listings at All Silver Gifts specify the material for each item.

5. Can I get an Empire Silver piece engraved?

Most Empire Silver pieces at All Silver Gifts are available for engraving, including names, dates, monograms, messages, and in some cases company logos for corporate orders. Engraving is handled in-house by All Silver Gifts.

6. What is the most popular Empire Silver gift?

The classic sterling silver baby cup is Empire's most recognized piece and our most gifted item. It is a timeless christening and baby shower gift that engraves beautifully and holds up for generations.

7. Does All Silver Gifts offer free shipping on Empire Silver orders?

Yes. All US orders over $75 ship free. All products are stocked in and shipped from the All Silver Gifts US warehouse.

8. Does Empire Silver make Judaica?

Yes. Empire Silver is known for its Judaica line, which historically included menorahs and kiddush cups in sterling and pewter. These pieces reflect the brand's Brooklyn roots and its long history serving the fine gift and religious goods market.

A Gift That Actually Lasts

Most gifts have a shelf life. An Empire Silver piece does not. We carry Empire Silver items across sterling and pewter at All Silver Gifts, and nearly every one of them ships with the option to engrave, because a beautiful piece with a name on it is not just a gift. It becomes something people keep.

Browse the full Empire Silver collection at All Silver Gifts and find the right piece for the right moment. Free shipping on US orders over $75. Wholesale and corporate orders welcome. Shop Empire Silver now.