Abacus
Antique Dealers: Antique Silver
The
History of Silver
Century's
ago when silversmiths first started working with silver
they discovered that it was far too soft to work with
and had to be assimilated with other, more resilient,
base metals before it could be moulded. It is due
to this discovery that from 1300 BC all silver metals
had to be tested to show that they contained more
than 92.5% silver.
This
hallmarking system has survived to present day without
much change. It is these hallmarks that provide silver
collectors with their most important identification
tool. Hallmarks are stamped by the Official Assay
Offices, together with the marker's own mark, so you
can identify where, when and who made the pieces of
silver. You can also learn to tell if the style of
the piece is consistent with the date indicated by
its markings. Although this hallmarking system of
marking was most rigorously applied in England, most
countries have some form of identifying marking system.
For example Mexico use numbers that signify the quality
of a piece.
Antique
Appreciation
An
antique is described as being an object which has
reached a certain age and has become a witness of
a previous era in human society. Antiques are usually
objects that show a high degree of craftsmanship and
attention to detail and design. In a today's society
an antique is above all an object whose atypical construction
and age give it a market value superior to similar
objects of recent manufacture.
Silver
is a valuable commodity amongst those on the antique
scene and despite changing fashions, old silver pieces
remain collectable.
Antique collecting is becoming more popular amongst
society as a whole, where as in the past collecting
was thought to be a hobby enjoyed only by those who
enjoyed wealth and a certain social standing. More
and more people are becoming educated in antiques
and are beginning to see pieces of value in their
own homes. Television programming such as BBC's "Cash
in the attic", "Antiques road show"
and "Bargain Hunt" have done wonders in
educating society about all things antique.
Researching
Antique Silver
Determining
whether your items of silver are valuable or not is
not as hard as it may sound, you could have it professionally
appraised or you could take the time to do some research
at your local library or on the Internet. There are
a number of facts that make your research easier,
particularly the official hallmark and the stamp indicating
the craftsman's name. They immediately disclose the
item in which the item was made and by whom.
There
are a few key items of information that will make
your research easier: what is the marker's mark, the
decade in which the item was crafted and so on. There
are many websites dedicated to antique silver online
and you could even enter into a web discussion with
its members who may be able to offer you some valuable
information about your silver collection.
Silver
Plating
Silver
plated articles also have considerable antiquarian
value. Good pieces can have up to 40 microns of pure
silver electro-plated onto a base metal, usually copper
or nickel. Years of abrasive cleaning may often have
worn away some of the silver plating, but this is
looked upon as proof of age and such items should
not be re-plated or they will lose considerable value.
Silver service cutlery is all silver plated, with
traditional patterns like Kings or Queens being very
collectable. Whilst silver plated pieces have obviously
less value than solid silver, they are often much
sort after by collectors.
Silver
Collectors
Some
silver collectors devote their attention to a specific
pattern while others collect a particular maker, era
or item. The silver you chose to collect does not
need to adhere to any of these specifications - don't
be afraid to mix and match. When purchasing silver,
signs of use do not always detract from value and
damage may or may not. In fact slight damage on a
rare piece will not significantly reduce value, if
at all. Be wary of buying tarnished pieces as it can
easily be hiding wear, damage or repair.
Ask
yourself why someone selling such items has not cleaned
them to show them at their best. So inspect tarnished
items with particular care. Having a monogram on an
item will often detract from its price. This is much
more common on silver plated rather than solid silver
pieces. Sometimes attempts have been made to remove
monograms, damaging them as well as lowering their
value. Make sure that you are educated enough to be
able to spot repairs that have been made to items
as well as forgeries that do crop up at less reputable
markets or websites.
Caring
for your Silver
Looking
after antiques is the most important part in owning
them. They need to be taken care of properly to ensure
that they remain valuable, attractive and collectable.
Whether your silver is modern or antique it is very
important to take proper care of it as it's value
and beauty are prized. Always maintain your silver
with a non-abrasive cleaner. Every time you buff and
polish you remove a fine layer. Over the years such
treatment removes hallmarks and eventually removes
the silver plated surface. Museums use an electrolytic
process which is quite harmless. These are available
for domestic use and remove tarnish in seconds.
Tarnishing
(oxidisation) occurs when silver is exposed to the
air. Items that are not for display like cutlery can
be kept airtight in a drawer wrapped in a cloth -
otherwise they will need cleaning each time you use
them.
Storing
Silver
When
storing silver the best way to keep it safe from harmful
sulphur in the air is to seal it in an air tight container.
This said it is not always practical to store your
pieces in such containers. In cases like this a sachet
containing activated charcoal can help to reduce tarnishing
significantly. Activated charcoal is effectively an
air scrubber which removes pollutants like sulphur
from the air around your silver. It is also a good
idea to keep a bag of activated charcoal in your display
cases or jewelry box.
Charcoal
can only absorb a certain amount of sulphur before
it becomes ineffective so sachets must be replaced
at least once a year. After prolonged storage, your
silver will need to be cleaned, but if stored correctly
it will be a far less daunting task. Don't use ordinary
newspaper to wrap the silver or use elastic bands
to bind several pieces together. After a while the
rubber will bond to the silver as the band deteriorates
and rots, leaving a stain, as will newspaper. Instead,
use acid-free paper to wrap items and store where
it's not damp.
Appreciating
your Silver
To
ensure that your items of silver remain in the best
possible condition whether they are antique or modern
pieces it is imperative that they are cleaned and
stored correctly. Silver crafts are valued works of
art that should be treasured. Hold on to pieces of
silver and treat them well, it will only add to their
value in later years.
