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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.

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Antique Chinese jade and silver snuff bottle
Posted inBottles Silver Information Silver Items

Snuff Bottles

Snuff Bottles. Tobacco was introduced by the Portuguese to the court at Beijing some time during the mid- to late-16th century. It was originally smoked in pipes before the establishment…
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Posted inBottles, Silver Information, Silver Items
A set of four George IV silver wine bottle coasters, Benjamin Smith, London, 1820
Posted inBottles Silver Information Silver Items

Bottle Coasters

Bottle Coasters. Coasters were in popular use by the 1750s. They were invented to enable guests to slide decanters or wine bottles across the table without scratching the surface. They also…
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Posted inBottles, Silver Information, Silver Items
A gilt key wind open face pocket watch, Rigaud, Geneva, circa 1790
Posted inJewellery and Watches Silver Information Silver Items

Pocket Watches

A pocket watch (or pocketwatch) is a watch that is made to be carried in a pocket, as opposed to a wristwatch, which is strapped to the wrist. They were…
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Posted inJewellery and Watches, Silver Information, Silver Items
A Victorian silver and rose gold buckle bracelet
Posted inJewellery and Watches Silver Information Silver Items

Bangles

Bangles are traditionally rigid bracelets, originating from the Indian subcontinent, which are usually made of metal, wood, glass or plastic. They are traditional ornaments worn mostly by women from the…
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Posted inJewellery and Watches, Silver Information, Silver Items
Silver thimble with silver-gilt lining which is mounted with enamelled filigree
Posted inSewing Implements and Accessories Silver Information Silver Items

Silver Thimbles

Silver Thimbles. Thimbles are usually made from metal, leather, rubber, and wood, and even glass or china. Early thimbles were sometimes made from whale bone, horn, or ivory. Natural sources…
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Posted inSewing Implements and Accessories, Silver Information, Silver Items
Six buttons; enamelled sterling silver
Posted inSewing Implements and Accessories Silver Information Silver Items Vanity Items

Silver Buttons

Functional buttons with buttonholes for fastening or closing clothes appeared first in Germany in the 13th century. They soon became widespread with the rise of snug-fitting garments in 13th- and…
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Posted inSewing Implements and Accessories, Silver Information, Silver Items, Vanity Items
ilver, gold and sapphire vanity case, 1950s
Posted inSilver Information Silver Items Vanity Items

Compacts

Compacts date from the early 1900s, a time when make-up had not gained widespread social acceptance and the first powder cases were often concealed within accessories such as walking sticks,…
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Posted inSilver Information, Silver Items, Vanity Items
Rectangular horse harness plaque with figure of lion, bounding right; abraded. Gilt Silver with bronze back-plate.
Posted inAnimals Silver Information Subjects in Silver

Lions

Lions have a long history in Art and Design. They have been found depicted on coins as far back as 480BC, possibly earlier. They were an important part of Roman…
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Posted inAnimals, Silver Information, Subjects in Silver
A silver-gilt and cloisonné enamel swan-form kovsh, Ovchinnikov, Moscow, 1908-1917
Posted inAnimals Silver Information Subjects in Silver

Swans

Swans feature strongly in mythology. In Greek mythology, the story of Leda and the Swan recounts that Helen of Troy was conceived in a union of Zeus disguised as a…
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Posted inAnimals, Silver Information, Subjects in Silver
A PAIR OF GERMAN SILVER ELEPHANTS, B. NERESHEIMER & SÖHNE, HANAU, WITH IMPORT MARKS FOR BERTHOLD MULLER, LONDON, 1908
Posted inAnimals Elephants Silver Information Subjects in Silver

Elephants

Elephants are magnificent animals and have been depicted in silver as far back as the 1st century BC, on both Roman and Greek coins, possibly more. Below are some examples…
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Posted inAnimals, Elephants, Silver Information, Subjects in Silver

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