Before you discard anything, however, you may want to consider selling your old silverware — it could be worth more than you think. If you're looking to sell your silver flatware, then you might want to learn how to tell if it's worth something. As an industry expert for over ten years, Muzeum is educated in buying all types of silver worldwide.
Full Answer
How to tell if old silverware is pure silver?
Silver-plated items are also often marked with:
- Silver plate
- Plated
- EP (electroplated)
- EPNS (electroplated nickel silver)
- Silver Co.
Is nickel silver silverware worth anything?
Given that nickel silver has no actual silver content, it is not worth anything to precious metal refiners. Unfortunately, there is nothing of value to extract. With that being said, your pieces still might be worth something if you try to sell them on eBay or to a scrap metal dealer. Good luck!
Are silver plated items worth anything?
Unfortunately, silver-plateditems hold almost no monetary worth. There is not enough silvercontent to have melt down valueand generally, these pieces do not retain their resale value. Begin with looking for the hallmarks or stamps on the item. Similarly, how do you clean a silver plated tea set? How to Clean a Silver Tea Set
How much is a real silver silverware set worth?
With the exception of its 32-piece chess set (which can sell for as much as $279.99 on eBay ), the majority of Avon bottles aren’t worth anything. Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Real-life vs. Appraisals
You have to move, downsize, or just want to clear away the old for new things that are more practical for your life. Or, you want to get a great value on items you want to bring into your home. But what is value? An online auction with MaxSold makes it easy to make change happen for real-world prices, not lofty appraisals.
Check Previous Auctions for Real-World Results
If you aren’t sure what items are worth but want to have an idea of the real-world value, MaxSold can help. See how much money you can put in your pocket. Figure out what your maximum bid should be for a great deal. Visit our site. QuickWorth Finder shows you the real-life wins on items you may have or want to bid on.
Gorham Sterling Silver Martelé Art Nouveau Water Pitcher
Art Nouveau flowers, leaves and butterfly decor. Bears company trademarks, 8992, and Spaulding & Co. retail mark. Lightly used. Height: 9-1/2" weight: 33.5 oz.
Gorham Sterling Silver Cherub Table Bell
Cast scrolled handle with flower heads beneath cherub like bust. Height: 3" tall. Weight: 2.4 oz. Condition: excellent.
Victorian Sterling Silver Calling Card Case with Chain
Made of hallmarked sterling silver. Depicts two children playing musical instruments. Condition: excellent. Size: 3 1/2" tall.
Pair of Tiffany Sterling Silver Bowls with Liners
Seaweed, Triton, mermaids and seahorses on extensively chased and embossed bowls with inscriptions inside. Weight: 80 oz. each. Size: 12 1/2".
Whiting Ivory Handled Sterling Silver Asparagus Server
Marked underneath with model number 2888. Overall good condition with very little wear to gilding; some loss to blacking in initials in the ivory handle. Length: 10 1/2".
Gorham Sterling Silver Martelé Round Bowl
Strawberry and leaves decor on low foot. Marked with trademarks, 950-1000 FINE, and Spaulding & Co. retailer mark. Light wear. Weight: 26 oz. Size: 8 3/4".
Victorian Enameled Calling Card Case
Rare sterling silver and enamel detailing with bees, flowers, and dragonflies. Minor dent to bottom of case. Sold with original box. Size: 3 1/2" tall.
I inherited the family silver. What can I do with it?
If you’ve inherited the family silver—in the form of silverware, serving pieces, flatware, coins, jewelry, or even silver bars and ingots—but don’t want it, you have a number of options to sell it:
Where to sell silver flatware and silverware
In selling silverware, keep in mind that buyers are interested in different things:
How to sell silver flatware and silverware online
You can sell your silverware for top dollar in three steps using CashforSilverUSA:
What to expect when selling silver flatware
Similar to selling jewelry (above), you can sell your silver flatware by either bringing it to a pawn shop, silver exchange, or leveraging an online silver buyer like our top recommendation, CashforSilverUSA.
Emma Johnson
Wealthysinglemommy.com founder Emma Johnson is an award-winning business journalist, activist, author and expert. A former Associated Press reporter and MSN Money columnist, Emma has appeared on CNBC, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, TIME, The Doctors, Elle, O, The Oprah Magazine.
What is flatware in silver?
Flatware usually refers to the utensils used in a dining set. This includes spoons, forks, knives, and serving pieces. Check out some of the five most valuable sought after sterling silver flatware patterns. 1. Grand Baroque by Wallace.
What is sterling silver flatware?
For many years, sterling silver flatware was considered essential to setting the table at a formal event. Flatware usually refers to the utensils used in a dining set. This includes spoons, forks, knives, and serving pieces.
Where is Lunt Silversmiths?
Lunt Silversmiths sterling silver is known for the unique design elegance that its patterns have and it has been part of the Lunt family heritage since the early 1900s in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Beyond the elegance, Lunt sterling silver has a variety of patterns over years of existence, all patterns representing outstanding quality and craftsmanship, like their Eloquence sterling silver pattern. Eloquence was debuted in 1953, and it is considered a”flagship” pattern for Lunt. The pattern consists of wonderfully ornate handles that are pierced in four places, which isolates the plain center, making it stand out in elegance.
Who made the Grande Baroque flatware?
Grand Baroque by Wallace. The Grande Baroque sterling silver flatware is a pattern that is produced by Wallace Silversmiths. The pattern was specifically created by William S. Warren, in 1941.
Is sterling silver dinnerware valuable?
Sterling silver dinnerware has a prestigious history, and sterling silver flatware is crucial to an antique sterling silver set. Beyond the use at the dinner table, the shape and beauty of sterling silver flatware, they are collectibles that can be very valuable. Typically, sterling silver flatware is passed down from generation to generation in ...
What is Antique Sterling Silver Flatware?
Do you call them flatware, silverware, or kitchen cutlery? They are all the same. When we say antique, we are referring to items that their age has added so much value and worth to them.
How to Identify an Antique Sterling Silver Flatware?
All that glitters is not gold or silver, instead. Actually, in this case, what is not silver will glitter more. Try this, pick any flatware from your kitchen and rub it with a cloth or towel. The shinier it is, the less silver in it. Actual silver forms tarnish when wiped.
How to Identify the Value of an Antique Sterling Silver Flatware?
Oh, so now you are confident that you have some antique sterling silver flatware in your possession, what are you going to them? Dine with it, store it or trade it for money. Whichever one the answer is, you are curious to find out its value; that’s how you got to this page.
Identifying sterling silver flatware antique patterns
Most sterling silver flatware has patterns. These patterns are used to identify the manufacturer of the flatware, determining the year it was first created and what it is worth.
Conclusion
Antique Sterling silver flatware is a desirable and valuable piece. A lot of factors play on the value of these items. To this end, you can expect silver flatware to meet up to some qualities and values and still not worth enough monetary value.
When was silver flatware popular?
In the U.S., sterling silver flatware was prevalent during the 19th and early 20th centuries. If you’ve received antique flatware as a family heirloom or stumbled upon silver flatware at an estate sale, you’re probably wondering how much it’s worth. While we always recommend working with a professional appraiser for the most accurate values, ...
What does it mean when an item is silver plated?
If an item is silver-plated, that means it has a base metal of another material and has been coated with a thin layer of silver. These pieces are usually lighter in color and heavier in weight because of the base metals. Because these pieces contain very little pure silver, they have far lesser value.
What is sterling silver made of?
Authentic sterling silver is made up of 92.5% silver and is always marked as such. Inspect the pieces looking for markings such as “925,” “.925” or “sterling” for pieces made in the U.S. These pieces are usually darker in color and are naturally lighter in weight.
What causes small holes in silver?
Some common issues seen with silver are a loss of polish and corrosion pitting, which causes small holes in the metal as it deteriorates over time. The appraisal experts at Fruitcocktail will help you assess the condition of all silver pieces and provide recommendations on restoration if that’s a logical option.
Do sterling silver flatware have a higher value?
Last but certainly not least, take into account the overall condition of the sterling silver flatware pieces. If the items have been well cared for and have maintained their shape, they will likely have a higher value than those that have not been taken care of and cannot be restored.
Do antique flatware pieces have more value?
A full set of antique flatware may have more value than a collection of odd pieces that don’t go together. Inspect your pieces to determine if they have the same marks or engravings. Also, note how many place settings you have in your collection. If you find your pieces do not have any similar markings, you likely have some odd pieces ...