Antique Silver

Photo Credit: serendipity1884

A Set of Mid-Century Modern Gilt Sterling Silver Danish Teaspoons

Asking Price: $157.04 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Mid-Century Modern is on full display with this luscious set of 6 gold-plated, sterling silver Danish teaspoons from the 1960s.

-These Mid-Century Danish demitasse spoons measure about 4.1 inches (10.5 cm) in length and weigh around 10 grams (0.3215 troy ounces) each.

-These sterling silver teaspoons are hallmarked “W&S. Sørensen”, which refers to the Danish silversmithing company Horsens Sølvvarefabrik.  This firm was founded in 1904 by the Sørensen brothers, Sofus and Winter.  While small at first, Horsens Sølvvarefabrik eventually became one of Denmark’s largest, most respected silversmiths.  The company is now part of the Scandinavian cutlery maker Gense.

-These lovely gilt sterling silver Danish teaspoons would be the perfect way to impress your friends at your next intimate gathering.  They would pair wonderfully with after-dinner coffee, tea or dessert.

-This particular Sørensen silverware pattern is known as “SOS12” and was produced in the 1950s and 1960s.  It is still possible to find silverware other than teaspoons in this pattern, so if you wanted to buy these wonderful teaspoons as a starter set and add to it later, you could.

-Scandinavia is renowned for its alluringly minimalist, streamlined design aesthetic.  And these gorgeous, Mid-Century Modern sterling silver Danish teaspoons certainly live up to that reputation.  I love the contrast of the smooth gilt bowls against the subtly geometric decoration on the handles.

-This set of W&S Sørensen demitasse spoons comes in its original box, which also appears to be in excellent condition.  This is no mean feat considering these sterling silver Danish teaspoons are now at least 50 years old.

-These scrumptious Mid-Century Modern sterling silver Danish teaspoons are the kind of antique you buy as a family heirloom.  Continental European silver is a solid long-term investment, and with an asking price of only $157, this set is no exception.

Cons:

-These Danish silver teaspoons are fairly small and, consequently, don’t weigh very much.  With the spot price of silver at $15.50 per ounce, this set only contains about $28 in bullion value.  You are definitely not buying this set for its silver melt value.

-These Mid-Century marvels originate from France, so the shipping costs might be unpleasantly high if you live in the United States.  Etsy quoted me a charge of $29 to abduct these Danish treasures from the heart of Europe.

Read more fascinating Antique Sage spotlight posts here.

-or-

Read in-depth Antique Sage investment guides here.

Photo Credit: Dart Silver Ltd

1944 English Sterling Silver Art Deco Cigarette Case

Asking Price: $199.72 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This sleek Art Deco cigarette case was made in Birmingham, England in 1944.  It is impressively crafted from solid sterling silver and has a gilt interior.

-This Art Deco cigarette case measures 12.8 cm (5 inches) long by 8.6 cm (3.4 inches) wide.  It weighs in at a hefty 191.3 grams, or 6.15 troy ounces.  This is exceptionally heavy for a vintage cigarette case and is an important indicator of quality construction.

-Sterling silver cigarette cases were popular from the late 19th century right up until the 1970s.  Today they are a favorite of vintage tobacciana collectors.

-Given its gross weight of 6.15 troy ounces, this art deco cigarette case contains approximately 5.69 troy ounces of pure silver.  This is worth about $93 with the spot price of silver hovering around $16.40 per troy ounce.  Therefore, the case is trading at a premium of around 114% over its melt value, which is very reasonable for a 75 year old vintage item in almost perfect condition.

-The British city of Birmingham was famous for the quality and abundance of its sterling smallwares in the 19th and early 20th century.  This included jewelry, snuff boxes, liquor labels and card cases, along with a multitude of other silver trinkets.

-The styling of this vintage Art Deco cigarette case is a sight to behold.  An engine-turned diamond pattern alternates with elegant linear design elements, inviting the viewer’s eyes to dance across its silver surface.

-Non-smokers who are interested in antique cigarette cases can adapt them to modern times by using them as billfolds, wallets or business card holders.  Honestly, any slim item that you might want to store would pair well with this sterling silver Mid-Century masterpiece.

-I feel that antique sterling cigarette cases are one of the most undervalued areas in the antiques market today.  And this example – with its heavy gauge silver, excellent construction and superb Art Deco design – is well worth the $200 asking price.

Cons:

-This Art Deco cigarette case is too big to easily fit into your pants pocket.  If you opt to use it as a wallet or billfold, you will have to keep it in a jacket pocket, suit pocket or a purse.

-This vintage sterling silver cigarette case is monogrammed.  A lot of collectors don’t like monogrammed silver, but I don’t see it as a significant deterrent.  Instead, I view monograms as part of the history of a piece.

-The maker’s mark for this Art Deco cigarette case is “EJE”.  Unfortunately, this mid-century Birmingham silversmith’s mark has yet to be identified.  The desirability of the piece would be slightly enhanced if the maker were known.

Read more fascinating Antique Sage spotlight posts here.

-or-

Read in-depth Antique Sage investment guides here.

Photo Credit: sterlingmasters

Champlevé Enamel & Sterling Silver Gorham Dessert Set

Buy It Now Price: $1,395 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Here is a very rare champlevé enamel and parcel-gilt sterling silver Gorham dessert set, consisting of 11 scalloped spoons and one cake or ice cream serving knife.  This unusual set originates from the 1880s, during the Victorian era.

-The spoons in this set each measure approximately 5 inches (12.7 cm) long, while the server is 9.125 inches (23.2 cm) long by 2.5 inches (6.3 cm) across.  The total weight of this Gorham dessert set is 302 grams (9.71 troy ounces) of sterling silver.

-During the Victorian period, silverware sets were created for every possible situation.  One of these was the dessert, ice cream or fruit set.  As the names imply, these silver flatware sets were specially manufactured for use with dessert.  This could range from cakes or tarts to puddings, trifles or ice cream.  A luscious spread of fresh fruit was also a favorite Victorian dessert.

-The Gorham Manufacturing Company is one of the most desirable makers of antique silver.  The firm was founded in Providence, Rhode Island in 1831 and eventually came to dominate the high-end U.S. silverware market in the late 19th to early 20th century.  The company ceased to be independent in 1967, causing quality to gradually erode after that time.

-Enamel is a very challenging material to work with.  It requires the meticulous application of powdered glass to a carefully prepared metal surface.  The item is then fired in a furnace at very high temperatures (usually 750 to 850 °C or 1,380 and 1,560 °F) which allows the powdered glass to melt and flow over the object.  This creates a smooth, colorful enamel surface that contrasts beautifully with any surrounding metal.

-The bowls of the spoons in this Gorham dessert set are gilt.  This was fairly common among dessert sets because they would oftentimes come into contact with acidic fruits, especially citrus.  Regardless, it is a wonderful touch that indicates a high quality set of sterling silver.

-Champlevé is a particular enamel technique where a flat metal surface has a myriad of different cells carved into it.  These cells delineate the object’s design and each one is filled with a specific color of powdered glass, as required.  The item is then fired at high temperature as with other types of enamel.  Champlevé enamel was especially popular in Europe during the early medieval period and is often associated with Romanesque art.

-Most antique sterling silver sets were made from patterns – designs that were reproduced in quantity for decades after they were initially created.  However, this champlevé enamel and sterling silver Gorham dessert set is almost certainly a very low production or one-of-a-kind set, making it extremely desirable.

-I love the opulent, medieval-inspired trefoil design of this sterling silver Gorham dessert set.  The lavish enamel-work, with its combination of royal blue and golden-yellow, also really makes the pattern pop.

-Given its magnificent condition, prestigious maker and obvious rarity, I believe that this Gorham dessert set is worth the $1,395 asking price.  However, you can always make the seller a lower offer if the stated price is too high for you.

Cons:

-The ornate and florid decoration typical of antique Victorian silver is very much out of style right now.  This means this Gorham ice cream set is less valuable than it would be otherwise at the moment.  Of course, it also means that you can pick it up for a good price.  And, if you are willing to wait long enough, Victorian silver is sure to come back into vogue eventually.

-There is no way around it; this Gorham dessert set is pricey.  If we allot $295 of the asking price to the serving piece, it means that the seller wants $100 for each spoon in the set.  This is easily 2 to 3 times more than other sterling silver Victorian teaspoons commonly sell for.  However, this particular dessert set is not only very rare, but also superlative in terms of its quality.  In the end, I have found that buying “best of the best” antiques is often a worthwhile investment strategy.

Read more fascinating Antique Sage spotlight posts here.

-or-

Read in-depth Antique Sage investment guides here.

Photo Credit: Antiques-by-Sue-and-Otis-Moore

British Sterling Silver Edwardian Monteith or Punch Bowl

Buy It Now Price: $799.99 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Downton Abbey elegance is on display with this sterling silver Edwardian monteith, or punch bowl, produced during Great Britain’s Gilded Age.

-This Edwardian monteith measures 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) tall by 8.125 inches (20.6 cm) wide; it is not a small piece.  The bowl also weighs an impressive 700 grams or 22.51 troy ounces, a clear indicator of its high quality.

-Monteiths – large silver bowls with distinctively scalloped edges – were first made in the 1680s.  They were originally used to cool wine glasses by filling the monteith with ice and slotting the wine glass stems into the bowl’s crenulated rim.

-By the 20th century, monteiths had largely evolved to become ice holders or punch bowls – functions they still excel at today.  If filled with ice, a sterling silver monteith would also do a great job of chilling a few beers or carbonated beverages at your next intimate soiree.

– Like most British sterling silver, this Edwardian monteith is fully hallmarked, a feature that is always appreciated by antique silver collectors and investors alike.  The piece was made in London in 1910 by Harrison Brothers & Howson.  Interestingly, the firm of Harrison Brothers & Howson Ltd is still making sterling silver goods today!

-With silver currently trading at $16.97 per troy ounce, this Edwardian monteith contains $353 worth of the precious metal.  That means the buy-it-now price of $800 represents a modest 127% premium over the item’s intrinsic value.  This is a shockingly low premium considering the superb quality and heavy gauge construction of this 100 plus year old sterling silver masterpiece.

-I love this punch bowl’s chased and repoussé decoration.  It manages to be both streamlined and opulent all at once, making the piece a magnificent example of graceful Edwardian style rendered in solid sterling silver.

-Antique sterling silver flatware and hollowware is one of the most undervalued areas of the antique market right now.  This Edwardian monteith represents an unusual opportunity to invest in a classic piece of sterling silver that is both functional and desirable.  And if the $800 asking price is too much for your wallet, you can always make the seller a lower offer!

Cons:

-Some people are put off by antique silver because they believe it to be too stuffy or formal for regular use.  But I think sterling silver works just as well in informal settings or relaxed gatherings as plastic cups and paper plates.  And it looks a whole lot better doing it!

-People living in small apartments or condos might have difficulty finding the room to store this relatively large sterling silver punch bowl.  Alas, this is one of the few downsides of collecting antique sterling silver!