Collecting Silver

Whether you choose to collect sterling or silver plate, flatware, holloware or jewelry, the following tips broadly apply:

Choose a Style, Era or Maker that reflects your lifestyle and personal taste, then make choices that will be a good fit.

Will you be using your silver daily, will you save it for special occasions and holiday celebrations or just have it for decorative reasons?

There are many specialty areas of silver collecting, and some of them are more fanciful than others. Some collectors devote their whole attention to a specific pattern while others collect a particular maker or era. Some only collect a particular type of piece, such as fish forks or bon bon servers, while many expand into all areas.

Don't be afraid to mix and match patterns. This collecting technique has great aesthetic appeal on a table. This is a wonderful option particularly with hard-to-find, discontinued flatware patterns and is often a must for putting together a set large enough for affordable entertaining.

Signs of use do not necessarily detract from value, while damage may. Slight damage on a rare flatware or hollow ware piece will not significantly reduce its value. The price of a tarnished piece should be signficantly lower than retail. Be wary of buying tarnished silver online as it can hide otherwise obvious wear, damage or repair. Picking up tarnished pieces at estate sales and flea markets may be an affordable option, but be sure to check them closely for damage.

Many collectors view old, elaborate monograms as a lost art form and historically important. It does not detract from the desirability or value of a piece when a monogram is present. Silver can, however, be even more valuable without a monogram. As you become familiar with silver, you will be able to detect monogram removal. Monogram removal can damage a piece of silver and significantly reduce its value.

Some silver collectors frown on pieces that have been updated, such as those with replacement knife blades. Silverplated blades are often found with wear. They can easily be replaced on hollow handle knives, so some collectors prefer to have them refitted with stainless steel blades. However, stainless steel was not introduced in flatware until the early 1920s. This is one of those aspects of collecting that can be a matter of personal preference, but you do need to be aware that your flatware may go down in value if you alter the knife blades.

Dents, disposal or other damage can be repaired by a silversmith. Pieces can also be re-plated. The cost is prohibitive for more common items, but is certainly worthwhile for restoring rare antique silver.

Be aware that modified items exist and learn how to determine if a piece has been modified from its original state. Common flatware pieces are sometimes altered to make them appear to be rare and valuable pieces. For example, spoons are sometimes cut to resemble Ice Cream Forks or a sugar spoon may have been pierced to resemble a sugar sifter. Look for signs that pieces have been modified and avoid adding them to your collection.

New forgeries in popular and rare patterns appear for sale regularly on the Internet. In particular, salt spoons and rare pieces such as asparagus servers. Many of these pieces have no maker's marks. Forged makers marks in silver have appeared for hundreds of years. The age of a piece does not necessarily indicate it's authenticity so learn as much as you can before investing in an expensive piece.

There are many good books available on collecting antique silver, both to buy and in in the collecting section of your local library.