The History of Antique Silver

Antiques made from silver go back BC times, and if was found that silver it was too soft to be molded so it had to be blended with other metals. Because of this, silver had to undergo a test to make sure that it had at least 92.5% silver in the mix. This system known as the ‘hallmarking system’ is still in use today. They are stamps issued by Official Assay Officers, and with the marker’s mark, a piece can be identified as to where it came from, when it was made and who made it.

Many people own silver antiques and have a great appreciation for it. Most pieces are intricately designed and distinct to reflect the work of the artist who created the piece or pieces. Silver antiques are highly desirable among collectors and more people who own pieces are curious about their value. That is why you see many television shows now devoted to antiques including those that feature antiques silver.

If there is no antique silver dealer appraiser in the area, a library or Internet is a valuable source to turn to. You must find the hallmark stamp and the owner’s mark and hopefully a stamp indicating the year the piece was made. From those, you should be able to not only find out the worth of your antiques silver collectible piece, but also a bit of history that goes along with it as well.

People that collect silver antiques either look for certain pieces like antique silverware sets, or sterling silver tea sets. Some collect any pieces they can find to make up a valuable collection of various antique silver items. When buying a piece it should be shined to show it’s true colors. If it isn’t that a buyer must pay particular attention to make sure they see all the proper markings. If a piece is monogrammed, the value isn’t as great, and monograms are very hard to remove.

Antique silver must be properly maintained in order to hold their beauty and value. It should be cleaned with a non-abrasive product, and many can be found on the market. Apply the product gently with a soft cloth, because every time a silver piece is cleaned a thin layer of surface is removed. Using an electrolytic method is the preferred way and also can be found on the market. Exposure to air tarnishes silver, so many collectors prefer to keep their antiques in an airtight space. It can be placed in a container with activated charcoal because the charcoal removes things like sulphur from the surrounding air, which can tarnish because it is considered a silver pollutant. The charcoal usually comes in a bag and must be replaced once a year.

Collectors of antique silver should be proud to show off their pieces and keep them to pass on to the next generation of family members who appreciate their value.