How To Collect Sterling Silver

Anonymous (not verified)

16 years 9 months ago

Thanks for your article. I wonder if you have seen that great new book on silver called "All About Antique Silver" by Diana Sanders Cinamon (ISBN 0-9785168-0X). published by AAA publishing in San Bernadino CA in 2005. This book has a lot of detail on how silver items are made, decorated and put together. This can be very helpful when looking at the quality of pieces to see if there are repairs or additions (marriages). It has more pertinent detail than any I have seen and includes the silver marks from more than 25 countries. Also, for those collecting (Silver) "Figural Napkin Rings", there is also a very comprehensive book by the same name by Lillian Gottschalk and Sandra Whitson (ISBN 0-89145-677-5) Two terrific books with lots of detailed information for both amateur and professional collectors. Cauleen Viscoff

About sterling - How to Collect Sterling Silver
By Jeanne O'Connor, Appraiser, Instappraisal

Sterling pieces can be some of the most beautiful pieces of artwork for the antique collector, but there are several things that you should know about collecting silver, and particularly sterling silver before diving-in.

Here are some pointers that should help you get started.

1) Avoid pieces that have been cleaned with harsh chemicals or have a "white" appearance to them.

2) The best pieces will have no marks or dents, and will have the original decoration with the correct set of marks.

3) There are a tremendous variety in silver marks, some looking almost identical to each other. In order to insure validity of what you are considering purchasing be sure to consult a good silver guide book which has a good index of marks.

4) Be sure to carefully check the joints at the handles, spouts and feet, also the rims. Also check for pinprick holes where the silver may have thinned from excess handling or weathering.

Remember that marriages can be done skillfully and take a variety of forms. Often marriages are performed in the form of a legitimate marked part of a piece married to a later piece. Because silver can be quite costly always seek from a reputable silver dealer and seek trustworthy advice if you have the slightest doubt about an item.