posted on September 7, 2000 04:15:52 PM
I have amassed a huge collection of either silver or silver plated forks, knives, & spoons from thrift stores that I freqent. (I began doing so long before I ever bought or sold on Ebay.) I have quite a few matched sets and many more that are unmatched, and we use them as everyday eating utensils. I have really enjoyed buying, cleaning, & using these things!
My problem is that I keep buying silverware compulsively but don't know anything about it or how to value it. I have far more than I need at this point. Even if I wanted to auction the stuff I have (which I don't at this point; I'm keeping it all, but if I know myself I will buy more! ) I would like to educate myself about it & would appreciate any help or pointers anyone here is willing to give.
I am also interested in learning about silver trays. There never seem to be any good ones in the thrift stores I frequent, so I don't have any yet in my personal collection. I would really like to bid on some online, but want to hold off a little until I know a little more about the stuff.
My questions are: #1 How do you tell what is solid silver VS. what is silver plate? Are there any references that you guys have found particularly helpful? Are there any references to avoid at all costs? (for example they contain wrong or misleading information, etc.)
Any info would be very much appreciated! Thanks in advance for your help!
posted on September 7, 2000 05:17:13 PM
Here are the names of 2 great books:
my favorite for Silver Plated flatware:
Silverplated Flatware, an identification and value guide by Tere Hagan Published by and available at Collector Books, P.O. Box 3009, Paducah, Kentucky 42002-3009
or direct from:
Tere Hagan P.O. Box 2548 Tempe, Arizona, 85285
Has hundreds and hundres of patterns from the teens, 20's and upward
Second book:
1830 - 1990 American Sterling Silver Flatware, a collector's identification and Valuie guide by Maryanne Dolan
Published by Books Americana
Ordering # ISBN 0-89689-095-3
Sterling Silver is stamped either Sterling or .800 or .900 or .925 Silver, depending on silver content.
posted on September 7, 2000 05:58:36 PM
I don't think I would say I am a silver expert by any stroke of the imagination but we have a family jewelry store and I have dealt with silver for many years. First off you should realize that the biggest precentage of flatware and tea set etc. are silverplate. Wallace, Chippendale, Rogers etc. all do very good silverplate.
Silverplate will get a patina just as silver. Most everything will be marked Sterling or .925 if Silver.
Your local jeweler can scratch the bottom of any piece and apply test to it and verify authencity.
As for buying or selling, silver prices are rock bottom right now, buy only well cared pieces now because you will be buying the quality of the piece and not the value of the silver.
Really the best rule of thumb, Buy What You Love!
Good Luck!
kh
posted on September 8, 2000 02:07:08 PM
Shoshana- thanks very much for posting those references! I can't wait to check them out.
Kyna- thanks for that URL. That's where I'm headed as soon as I finish reading the boards here.
Texas- I really appreciate that info & advice.You are so right- buy what you love. Now since I love almost all of it does that mean I should buy it all? Yeah, don't I wish!! LOL!
posted on September 8, 2000 05:24:28 PMCAgrrl...you are welcome. What I love about the FIRST BOOK is that it relates mostly to what the general buyer is likely to find: 1920 to 1950's Silver Plated flatware...The book has DRAWINGS of hundreds of patterns, Company Names and Dates, value of standard pieces AND serving pieces, which always bring more money. I had bought a set for 12 of Bird Of Paradise, by International Silver, 1923, complete with two-tier velvet-lined wood box...for $87.00 at Butterfield, about 20 years ago...Could not find name of pattern until I bought this book at an antique show...Kept the set...Will leave it to my daughter and son in law...
Have a good time...
******************** Shosh http://www.oldandsold.com/cgi-bin/auction.cgi?justdisp&Rifkah
posted on September 8, 2000 05:41:00 PM
I am also a compulsive silverware buyer. The book "Silverplated Flatware" that Shoshanah mentioned is one of my favorites. I recently purchased another one called "The Standard Encyclopedia of American Silverplate Flatware and Hollow Ware" by Frances M. Bones & Lee Roy Fisher. It identifies many of the trays, candlesticks, tea sets, etc.
[ edited by shaani on Sep 8, 2000 05:43 PM ]
posted on September 8, 2000 09:21:00 PM
"Sterling Silver is stamped either Sterling or .800 or .900 or .925 Silver, depending on silver content."
Um, I'm afraid that's not quite correct.
Pure silver is .999, or fine silver.
Sterling silver is 92.5% silver (the rest is mostly copper). Sterling should be marked .925 or sterling OR if it's very old, with a rampant lion.
Anything marked .800 or .900 is definitely NOT sterling. It's 80% or 90% silver respectively, often referred to as "coin silver." (U.S. coins prior to 65 were 90% silver.)
Items not marked at all - especially anything made in the late 200 years - are suspect, and are probably not silver at all.
posted on September 10, 2000 05:37:21 AM
Generally speaking:
1. If it doesn't SAY sterling, or 925/1000 or just 925, it's almost always plate (or it is VERY early work and you should see nidividually applied hallmarks). 900 or 800 is a lower % silver usually called "Continental", and better than plate.
2. EPNS is always plate. QPNS is always plate.
3. Various "hotel", "AA", etc are all plate.
4. ANY word except "sterling" followed by "silver" is not real silver. Alpaca silver, german silver, alaska silver ... all white-colored metals with zero silver.
) I would like to educate myself about it & would appreciate any help or pointers anyone here is willing to give.
