Insurance Value Vs. Selling Price

QUESTION:
I have a sterling silver flatware service that I want to sell.  I have an insurance appraisal from six years ago that says that it is worth three as much as anyone is offering me.  What do I do?

ANSWER:
You have to ask yourself 'at what price am I willing to sell the service?'.  The insurance value is for replacement of the flatware at full retail price in the event of a loss.  The selling value is the price which someone would be willing to pay for the flatware.  

What Causes Silver To Tarnish

The Chemistry of Tarnish

Sterling silver flatware brings a classic elegance to any table. Unfortunately, along with silver's good looks comes the responsibility to care for it regularly to prevent tarnishing. Most people bring out the good silver only for rare occasions or holidays that come a few times a year, which makes keeping the silver tarnish-free more difficult. Elements present in the air itself cause silver flatware to tarnish.

Silver flatware will eventually develop blackish areas that progress until the entire piece is covered with tarnish. This occurs when the silver in the flatware undergoes a chemical reaction with sulfur-containing compounds in the air. The two combine, forming a black silver sulfide coating on the flatware. This coating will get progressively worse if not removed from the silver flatware. High humidity increases the likelihood of tarnishing.

1. Removing Tarnish From Silverware

   • Many good silver cleaning products are available on the market. These products should be used only when necessary, as they all contain harsh abrasives that can damage good silver to some degree. The residue from these polishes is often difficult to remove from silver flatware that has numerous crevices. Use a wet horsehair brush to remove the dried polish from these surfaces. Chemical dips are also available for removing tarnish from silver, but keep in mind that these contain an acid, along with a complexing agent. The acid is a corrosive compound that should be handled with care. Wear nitrile gloves and use the dip in a well-ventilated area to avoid fumes. Chemical dips should only be used as a last resort and are best used by a qualified silver restoration professional.

   Preventing Tarnish

   • To prevent tarnishing, use the flatware frequently and wash with a gentle, non-lemon scented, phosphate-free dish detergent after use. If you should see light tarnish developing on pieces, use window cleaner with vinegar to remove the yellow discoloration and dry carefully. Some commercial silver polishes will provide tarnish protection also.

   Silver Cleaning Precautions

   • Do not use silver polishes that have dried out, as this will increase the abrasive quality of the polish and could damage silverware. Never put sterling silver flatware into the dishwasher. Both the components within the dishwasher and the detergents used to clean dishes can cause damage to your silver. Components within the dishwasher can react chemically with the silver causing discolorations. The detergents can abrade the surface of the silver. The Society of American Silversmiths also advises against using toothpaste as a silver polish. Though toothpaste is always handy and will remove the tarnish, it is much too abrasive for delicate silver. Even small amounts can cause serious damage

Free Verbal Appraisal On Any Silver Items

Bring in any silver items, no limit, to our store, from now until the end of March, for a free, no obligation, verbal appraisal. Call for an appointment, 212-758-4858. Mention reference BLOG0220.
Anthony Mammon
www.EstateSilver.com

Medical Uses Of Silver

Silver has a long and illustrious history of medicinal use. A brief history follows:

• The ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome used silver to control bodily infection and prevent food spoilage. In the fifth century B.C., Hippocrates (known as the Father of Medicine) used silver to heal wounds. Medicine's dad also used silver as an ulcer treatment.
• In the same century, the King of Persia (now known as Iran) used silver container to carry water to prevent contamination.
• Approximately seven decades before the birth of Christ, the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder wrote of the ability of silver to heal wounds by preventing infection. No mention was made of Neosporin.
• In the 8th through 10th centuries, silver became a very popular treatment in the Middle East for many ailments, from cardiovascular disease to bad breath.
• In the 16th Century, a Swiss alchemist and physician by the name of Theophrastus Philippus Aureolus Bombastus von Hohenheim (no kidding!) used silver and other elements as medicines. He is often know as the Father of Toxicology, and believed that things became poisonous in large doses He wrote, "All things are poison and nothing is without poison; only the dose makes that a thing is no poison."
• In the early 1700s, Angelus Sala used silver nitrate (AgNO₃) to treat syphilis and chorea.
• Throughout the Middle Ages in Europe, it had been noticed that royalty, who consumed their food and drink from silver tableware, utensils and cups, tended to develop a bluish skin tone. (Ever heard of the phrase "blue bloods"?) This was thought to be due to the silver that entered their bodies during consumption. Furthermore, the lower rate of plague-related deaths among royalty led to the inference that silver could be protective.
• As a result, silver became a popular material for tableware, goblets, cutlery, and food storage containers. It was believed that the silver in these items could kill germs. Russia's army likewise used silver lined containers to cleanse river water before drinking it.  Modern science has confirmed that low levels of silver in water can indeed kill some types of bacteria.
• In America's Wild West, silver coins were placed in containers of water and milk to prevent spoilage.
• Over the past couple of hundreds of years, scientists continued to document silver's anti-bacterial properties.
• Virtually everyone reading this probably had a drop of silver nitrate solution dropped into their eyes to prevent blindness, in the event that mommy had a venereal disease. Indeed, our great grand parents probably got the same treatment, which became standard practices at the end of the 19th century.
• In more recent years, silver (along with copper) has been incorporated into many water purification systems.
• Stainless steel is used to create most surgical instruments, but fifty or sixty years ago, such instruments were made of silver, again to prevent infections.
• At present, several companies are marketing "break through" food storage containers that include Antibacterial silver nanoparticles to prevent spoilage.  These products are touted as modern day miracles.  The King of Persia was way ahead of his time!
  
  

Collecting Silver

Silver shines as a collectible

By Nancy Russell

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Silver collecting is a fun activity but only if you know why you’re collecting. Are you hoping for an investment that will grow in value? Are you wanting a beautiful collection that you can actually use? Are you adding to a collection of family pieces? All are good reasons to collect, but doing your homework is essential to making wise choices.

Here are a few basic ways you might identify the age and type of the silver you own and learn more about collecting silver.
You probably own a piece of antique sterling or silverplate. Our ancestors might have thrown out the handmade pie safe after it started to look aged and worn, but the silver serving ladle or figural napkin ring was passed down to other generations. Most of us bring these family pieces out on special occasions to use and enjoy. Silver pieces not only have value in their metal content; they also won’t deteriorate in storage or take up valuable space like furniture. With only a few minutes of careful cleaning, silver will gleam and shine. The price of silver does fluctuate, but it always has monetary value.

Look for a maker’s mark on the bottom or back of each piece. It’s unusual for silver or silver plate to be unmarked, so if you have trouble finding a mark, look on the edges or even on the front of the piece. You will see a group of little symbols pressed into the metal. These are called hallmarks.

If there are four or five separate marks, then it’s probably English. A lion means “solid silver,” or what we call sterling in the United States. If there’s no lion but it shows two or three hallmarks, the piece is probably European. Just a name or initials pressed into the silver means the piece is American or Canadian. Some American silver items have “pseudo hallmarks.” An eagle’s head, a star or hand were symbols used to convince buyers that American silver was comparable to English silver. A lion or king’s head was never used on American silver.

A general rule of thumb on dating antique American sterling silver is this: If initials appear, it’s pre-1800; if a name appears, it’s pre-1850. If the words “England” or “Made in U.S.A.” appear on your piece, then it was made after 1891. The word “sterling” will usually indicate an American piece made after 1860.

Silver plate first became popular in Victorian England and was heavy and quite ornate. The base metal was usually copper or a white pot metal. It was electrically coated with a thin layer of silver. Victorian silver plate is marked with combinations of shields, names and designs. You might see the letters EPNS, which stands for electroplated nickel silver.

This is an incomplete primer on silver and silver plate. If you’re seriously thinking about collecting, you should own a book of marks. “Antique Silver (Starting to Collect)” by Ian Pickford and “Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers, A Shiffer Book for Collectors” are good choices. Start by visiting the resource section at the public library and then purchase the book that seems to fit your collection.

Nancy Russell is co-owner of Boone’s Lick Trail Antiques Antiques at 4038 E. Broadway in Columbia. 

Not Your Usual Antiques Roadshow Reaction

Watch this short video on You Tube.
Unfortunately, when you do enough appraisals, this happens a bit. This goes to show, it really does not matter how much you pay for something and how long ago you bought it when it comes to the value of something. 
Click On Link To Watch On You Tube

A Testament To A Time Gone By... Bermondsey Market

One of the greatest antiques markets, Bermondsey Market in London. Every Friday morning from 3:00am for about 5 hours I used to pick this market as my father did before me. I could fill up my car with a great selection of antique silver & victorian silver plate. Whatever the weather, dealers from all over England used to come to Bermondsey to set up and sell their wares. I found this video on line, filmed more recently and later in the day, so it's no where near as busy as I remember but it still brings back fond memories.
Video From Bermondsey Market