|
Home > Silver
Flake News Center > Antique Silver
Silver Flake News
Antique Silver
http://www.antiqueweb.com/articles/antique_silver.html
by Sarah Manners
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.
|
