BASIC FACTS ABOUT SILVER

By Rebecca Markman, ISA CAPP, AM  © 2007

Silver has been coveted over centuries for its lustrous decorative beauty, versatile utility, and intrinsic value.  Long used for coin and bullion, systems of assay with hallmarks have been developed by many countries over centuries to assure the purity of the alloy.  Silver is a very soft metal by itself, thus it is often combined with copper or other metals for strength.   In England in 1300, the standard for sterling was decreed to be 925 parts per thousand pure silver to75 parts copper; today in many countries, including the US and UK, this is still the sterling standard.  In other countries, the standard varies, and marks can be found ranging from 750, 800, 916, and 950 indicating various levels of silver purity.  Fine silver objects have been melted down for coin or scrap value during various documented points in history to finance wars and treasuries.  Thus, objects dating prior to the 17th and 18th centuries are not commonplace.

Decoration can be embossed (raised), engraved (incised), gilded (covered with a thin layer of gold), or reticulated (pierced interlacing), among many other techniques.  Silver itself has antibacterial qualities and therefore has long been used for baby spoons, bowls, rattles feeding and for dining ware.  Vessel containers such as bowls, pitchers, sauceboats, and vases are called hollowware.  Utensils are called flatware.   In the Victorian age, a silver flatware service had different utensils for each meal and specialty pieces for almost every conceivable type of food, with a complete set of serving pieces alone easily numbering 40 or 50.   Other popular types of silver items include candlesticks and candelabra, tea sets, picture frames, and personal articles like comb and brush sets, buckles, cigarette cases, compacts, and card cases.

A short list of famous high quality 19th and 20th century American silver manufacturers includes Gorham, International Silver Co., Kirk & Sons, Martelé, Reed & Barton, Tiffany, Shiebler, Shreve & Co., and Whiting.  Some companies have both old and newer issues of silverware flatware patterns.   Generally, the older pieces in good condition are more valuable than their contemporary counterparts.    Some important European makers from the same time period:  Asprey, Christofle, Mappin & Webb, Storr, and WMF.

Basic facts about caring for your silver:  Do not over-polish your fine silver.  This can destroy the patina, and polishing actually wears away microns of silver over time.  Both polish and cloth should be non-abrasive.  Chemical dips should be avoided.  Silver should be washed by hand and not in the dishwasher; the heat and detergent are too harsh.  Also, close proximity to stainless in the dishwasher can cause a chemical reaction of pitting and staining.  Newspaper, rubber bands and plastic wrap can cause discoloration and should not be used to store silver.  Silver scratches easily, thus it should be handled carefully.

Rebecca Markman, ISA CAPP, AM is a certified personal property appraiser specializing in 18th, 19th and 20th century American, British and European antique furniture, tableware, silver, glass, porcelain, pottery and paintings.