Collecting antique silver is not only fascinating but can also be a most profitable past time. The price of the silver has risen steadily over the past decade of so and is now at a record high, however this doesn’t mean now is a bad time to buy, it just might be a good idea to be more selective in your choices. I find the hunt is the most exciting part of being a collector, you just never know what’s round the corner.
When looking at items of antique silver to purchase for long term investments look for the following:
All of the above obviously make an item seriously desirable however look especially hard and the condition and the hallmarks. If the hallmarks do not seem right it would be a good idea to get a professional to look at the piece for you. Even a piece of antique silver that is in terrible condition can be worth a considerable amount of money if it’s by the right maker or assayed by a rare office. Bear this in mind as lots of dealers will not look twice at a piece of antique silver that is in bad condition.
Most dealers and collectors will purchase their antique silver at auction houses. There is a good reason for this, the prices at auction houses are considerably cheaper than at antique shops. Another great place to look for antique silver is on the Internet. One Internet company that I have used many times is Antique Silver Company, they can be found by going to www.antiquesilvercompany.com, I’ve found some superb pieces on their site at good prices too. Purchasing from an auction house does mean that you can hold and look at and piece of antique silver that you’re interested in however, Antique Silver Company must have a very good photographer as their photographs are second to none. It’s almost as good as holding a piece in your hand.
Once you’ve purchased your item and you get it home the fun then really begins. Two elements usually follow, the first is usually looking up the hallmarks. This can be an arduous take but once you’ve found your maker, narrowed your date down to a specific period and identified the assay office you’ll really feel a buzz. Identifying a piece of antique silver by the hallmarks can really be an arduous task but to help you there are loads of books like the millers guide and loads more. These can grow to be just as important to you as your prized antique silver collection!
Once the item has been identified the next step most people take is to clean their item, there are loads of ways to clean your new piece of antique silver but I like to use a dip. There are many types and they all seem quite good. Once cleaned using a dip I normally get to work with a clean lint free cloth and a cotton bud. Just be aware that heavy cleaning of your antique silver causes a small amount of silver to be lost. It is therefore of vital importance that you don’t clean your items heavily often. Also make sure that the hallmarks are covered by masking tape so that they don’t get rubbed away. You might laugh at this but I’ve seen many items where the hallmarks are so rubbed they are hard to find, let alone identify!
The other element I truly love about antique silver is actually using it. Antique silver was not made to be put in a cupboard and forgotten for years at a time. Last Christmas I had loads of family found to my place and I dished up the dinner with a superb canteen of cutlery, the wine was poured from a divine claret jug, the beautiful colour of the silver contrasted against the deep red of the wine and everyone commented on how fantastic is looked. The napkin rings were 183 years old and once complete, coffee was served from a stunning Georgian Coffee pot which I have to say is one of the favourite pieces.
So, collecting antique silver is not only an exciting past time but can also prove to be very profitable in the long term too, and whilst you’re sitting on you’re investment you can enjoy your pieces and show them off to your friends and family which I guarantee you will be highly impressed.