Antique Silver

Photo Credit: Leonce-Antiques-and-Antique-Silver

Austrian Silver Art Deco Box with Rose Gold Inlay

Buy It Now Price: $730 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Silver and rose gold combine seamlessly in this chic, silver Art Deco Box that was made in Austria, most likely during the 1920s or 1930s.

-The box is relatively large, measuring 7.125 inches (18.1 cm) long by 3.375 inches (8.6 cm) wide by 1.375 inches (3.5 cm) deep.

-This silver Art Deco box is very heavy, weighing about 15 troy ounces (467 grams).  Heavy gauge construction, as found in this box, is often associated with antique silver items of high quality.

-The silver box is stamped “Made in Austria”, indicating that it was almost certainly produced specifically for export to either the U.S. or U.K. market.

-The capital of Austria, Vienna, was a global artistic Mecca from the late 19th century until World War II.  Famous Austrian artists such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and Richard Gerstl were active during this period.

-This silver box’s crisp, linear lines and streamlined look absolutely exude Art Deco style.  The rose gold inlay also provides a bold contrast to the dominant silver metal.

-This is a superlative example of a silver Art Deco box.  It is a very desirable piece, which justifies the $730 asking price.

Cons:

-The silver box does not appear to be hallmarked, other than the “Made in Austria” mark.  Instead, you are relying on the seller’s claim that the box tested as high grade silver.  However, I see nothing in the item’s photos that would contradict that conclusion.

-The highest purity silver that Austria used between the World Wars was 93.5% fine.  Assuming this grade of silver was used, the box has an intrinsic value of about $238 with spot silver trading at $17 a troy ounce.  This means the box is selling for a hefty 207% premium over its bullion value.  I feel that this relatively high premium is justified, given the outstanding quality of the silver Art Deco Box.

Photo Credit: Nelson-And-Nelson-Antique-Silver

Antique English Sterling Silver Creamer and Sugar from the Victorian Era

Buy It Now Price: $420 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is a photogenic English sterling silver creamer and sugar set with a gilt interior.  It was created by the silversmith John Keith in London in 1859, during the heart of the Victorian era.

-Creamers, also known as cream pitchers, (for holding milk) and sugars (for holding sugar) first became popular in the British Isles during the early 18th century due to the rapid adoption of tea as the national drink.  A fine sterling silver set would have been de rigueur in the household of any wealthy or well-to-do Victorian Britain.

-The creamer measures 5.25 inches (13.3 cm) tall by 6.33 inches (16.1 cm) long by 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) wide, while the sugar is 4.75 (12.1 cm) tall by 9 inches (22.9 cm) long by 6 inches (15.2 cm) wide.

-The set weighs in at a very hefty 16 troy ounces or 498 grams.  That is nearly half a kilogram of sterling silver!  At the current silver spot price of $19.75 per troy ounce, the set would scrap for over $292.

-The slightly bulbous shape, massive form and heavy construction of this sterling silver creamer and sugar set are consistent with a mid 19th century attribution.  The set’s hallmarks also confirm this time period.

-The set is in excellent condition, with no visible dents, dings, cracks or repairs.  It also has a wonderfully mellow, satiny patina.

-Antique silver offers a lot of bargains today because it is often viewed as being “old fashioned” or “out of step” with the modern household.  But things that are out of fashion today inevitably come back into fashion tomorrow.

-This sterling silver creamer and sugar set is a phenomenal deal.  At the asking price of $420, this 150 year old set is only selling for a modest 44% premium over its melt value.

Cons:

-This sterling silver creamer and sugar set could be an anachronism in your kitchen if you don’t drink coffee or tea.  Of course, it would also be just as useful (and sumptuous) accompanying your morning breakfast cereal.

-Sterling silver hollowware was produced in large quantities in Victorian England and is not particularly rare today.  Even so, this sterling silver creamer and sugar set is of exceptional quality.

-The monolithic, ponderous tendencies of Victorian silver are not currently in vogue.  Although it requires a great deal of patience, this preference is likely to change over the coming decades.

Photo Credit: Bateman-Silver

Georgian Sterling Silver Madeira Grape Leaf Decanter Label 1833

Buy It Now Price: $116.91 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is a lovely example of an antique British sterling silver wine or decanter label from the Georgian period.  It depicts a magnificently sculpted grape leaf with the word “Madeira” pierced through it.

-This Madeira wine label measures 5.1 cm (2 inches) across and weighs 14.4 grams (0.46 troy ounces).  It is made of heavy gauge silver and features good workmanship.

-Wine labels – also known as bottle tickets, decanter labels or liquor labels – were hung on liquor bottles in the 18th and 19th centuries to identify the type of alcohol they contained.  This was necessary because the paper liquor labels we are familiar with today only became legal in Great Britain in 1860.

-There was a dizzying variety of sterling silver liquor labels produced throughout the 18th, 19th and even into the 20th centuries, including port, Sherry, Madeira, whiskey, gin, rum, brandy and scotch labels, among others.

-Madeira was a type of fortified wine produced in the Portuguese Madeira Islands that was very popular in Great Britain and its American Colonies.  No wealthy British gentleman’s wine cellar in the late 18th or early 19th centuries would have been considered well stocked without at least a few cases of Madeira wine.

-This Madeira wine label was created in 1833 by Charles Rawlings and William Summers, silversmiths who worked in London from 1829 to about 1860.

-The piece possesses the appropriate hallmarks for the period: the sovereign’s head duty mark, the famous lion passant hallmark guaranteeing sterling fineness and the date letter signifying 1833.  This well-made specimen is well worth the $117 asking price.

Cons:

-While the Madeira wine label is in good condition considering it is over 180 years old, the back has been reinforced with a small silver strip on the left side.  It is uncertain when this very minor repair was made.  It is even possible it is original to the piece.  In any case, it is almost unnoticeable and does not impact the value of the item significantly.

-Madeira wine labels with grape leaf motifs are fairly common and therefore less desirable than liquor labels with unusual shapes, rare liquor types or odd spellings.

Photo Credit: Noblesse-Collection

Antique French Sterling Silver Gilt Tea Spoons Set 12 pc Napoleon III c.1850

Buy It Now Price: $650 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is a set of 12 French silver gilt teaspoons from the period of Napoleon III (1850s or 1860s) made by the Parisian silversmith Guillaume Deniere.

-These teaspoons are executed in beautifully detailed, ornate Louis XV style, otherwise known as French Rococo.  This is consistent with their mid 19th century attribution.

-The pieces have the appropriate hallmarks for the period – the maker’s mark along with the head of Minerva, first standard.  French first standard silver is 95% fine, which is higher than sterling silver.

-The teaspoons are 5.82 inches (14.8 cm) long and weigh 26.8 grams (0.8625 troy ounces) each.  They are crafted from heavy gauge solid silver.  The total weight of the set is 322 grams (10.35 troy ounces) and its bullion value at current silver prices ($16 an ounce) is about $157.

-The set comes with its original 19th century ebonized wooden box, inlaid with decorative brass.  This is a highly desirable bonus.

-When knowledgeable connoisseurs speak of “old world craftsmanship” in hushed, reverent tones, this item is the sort of thing they are talking about.  Everything about these silver teaspoons exudes quality, from the original wooden storage box to the stunningly high relief decoration to the glittering vermeil (gold-plating).

-The workmanship of this set of silver gilt tea spoons is simply superb.  I have rarely seen silver flatware that matches the quality of these pieces.  They would make a great investment, even at the $650 asking price.

Cons:

-There are really very few negatives about this antique set of teaspoons.  I suppose you can argue that the asking price of $650 is a substantial premium over the intrinsic value ($157) of the set.  But that is only a reflection of its stellar artistic quality.

-The seller disclosed a crack underneath the box, so that piece isn’t in perfect condition.  All things considered, this set is in magnificent condition for being 160 years old.