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Silver Information

Silver has been in use since 4000BC and has been used for both practical purposes and ornamental. Not only are there different purposes for silver, but there are also different types.

If an item is marked Sterling, it means that the silver content is at least 92.5% silver. American silver usually has the word Sterling stamped on it whereas British silver may have either the word Sterling or the Lion Passant. Both indicate that the silver is at least 92.5% silver.

Coin silver was used before sterling silver in America. Coin silver is usually 90% silver.

In addition to sterling silver there is Sheffield Plate, Electroplate and German Silver. Sheffield Plate was one of the earliest types of silver plate. Sheffield Plate was copper with a layer of silver on the top and bottom so that the copper does not show. Sheffield Plate is quite collectible as it is quite rare. Sheffield Plate is no longer used as Electroplating took its place. Sheffield Plate is rarely marked and has a blueish tinge to it.

Electroplating is the process which involves taking a base metal, such as copper or brass, and plating it with silver. Electroplated goods are often stamped EPNS but there are some excellent silver makers which carried out these tasks and electroplated items can also be collected according to their makers.

German Silver actually contains no silver at all. German silver is an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc.

Home » Silver Information » Page 12
Cylindrical tankard, the base with applied grapevine and dolphin feet,
Posted inSilver Information Styles / Periods

Neoclassical

The Neoclassical Style became popular in the second half of the 18th Century. Neo-classical Style is largely based on the classical styles of Ancient Greece and Rome. It was a…
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Posted inSilver Information, Styles / Periods
Hat buckle
Posted inSilver Information Silver Items

Buckles

Buckles were first introduced by the Romans in the 1st century. It was normally the Military and High Social Classes that used buckles in this era. They were regarded as…
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Posted inSilver Information, Silver Items
A SILVER-GILT AND GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL BELL-PUSH AND ASHTRAY BY FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF ANDREI GORIANOV, ST PETERSBURG, 1904-1908
Posted inSilver Information Silver Items

Ashtrays

The first examples of ashtrays probably date from around the early 19th Century. By the early 20th Century, ashtrays were more common and many different designs existed. The most popular…
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Posted inSilver Information, Silver Items
Reed & Barton Makers Mark, Pelican with R in a shield and a lion
Posted inAmerican Silver Makers International Silver Makers Silver Information Silver Makers

Reed & Barton

Reed & Barton is a prominent American silversmith manufacturer based in the city of Taunton, Massachusetts, operating between 1824 and 2015. Its products include sterling silver and silverplate flatware. The…
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Posted inAmerican Silver Makers, International Silver Makers, Silver Information, Silver Makers
Georg Jensen Silver Makers Mark
Posted inDanish Silver Makers International Silver Makers Silver Information Silver Makers

Georg Jensen

Georg Arthur Jensen was a silversmith and founder of the company Georg Jensen. He was apprenticed as a goldsmith until 1884; later he studied sculpture. Trained as a silversmith from…
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Posted inDanish Silver Makers, International Silver Makers, Silver Information, Silver Makers
Johann S Kurz German Silver Makers Mark
Posted inGerman Silver Makers International Silver Makers Silver Information Silver Makers

Johann S Kurz & Co

Johann S Kurz & Co were German silver makers with work assayed with the Hanau Town Mark. Their mark consisted of a J, followed by a swan, and a K.…
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Posted inGerman Silver Makers, International Silver Makers, Silver Information, Silver Makers
Josiah Williams & Co of Bristol Makers Marks circa 1860
Posted inExeter Makers Silver Information Silver Makers

Josiah Williams & Co

Josiah Williams & Co, 1877-1925. Josiah Williams was the son of Robert Williams and  brother of James Williams. The three of them worked as a partnership from around 1845 and traded …
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Posted inExeter Makers, Silver Information, Silver Makers
London Assay Mark Leopard with Crown
Posted inSilver Hallmarks Silver Information

London Hallmarks

London Hallmarks. London has been the most important British Assay Office for the high quality of workmanship and the amount and variety of silverware passing through it. The Goldsmiths Company…
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Posted inSilver Hallmarks, Silver Information
An early George II Scottish teapot by Patrick Murray, Edinburgh 1727
Posted inEdinburgh Silver Makers Silver Information Silver Makers

Patrick Murray

Patrick Murray was a Scottish silver maker during the 18th century. Items by this maker are extremely rare.
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Posted inEdinburgh Silver Makers, Silver Information, Silver Makers
William & Patrick Cunningham - WPC Edinburgh Silver Makers Mark
Posted inEdinburgh Silver Makers Silver Information Silver Makers

William & Patrick Cunningham

William & Patrick Cunningham were Edinburgh silver makers. They used the makers mark WPC in a rectangle. They made a range of items including ewers, masonic jewels, dishes and spoons.…
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Posted inEdinburgh Silver Makers, Silver Information, Silver Makers

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