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 cleaning mixed metal pieces
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| Author | Topic: cleaning mixed metal pieces |
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Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 |
posted 05-26-2000 09:22 PM
  
Hello. As I've only been collecting silver for less than a year, I'm not sure about the protocol for cleaning my mixed metal pieces. For instance, I have a Gorham preserve spoon which is hammered silver with an applied brass crane and copper marsh. I polish the silver. the other metals have attained a very nice color, but are dull, not shiny. should i polish these metals to make them shiny, without removing the nice coloring? or should i simply leave the other metals alone? to see a picture of the handle, go to: 
Thanks, IP: Logged |
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Brent Posts: 1507 |
posted 05-27-2000 10:35 AM
Paul: I know Scott will have some input on this. You can also go to the Society of American Silversmiths website for silver care advice. (The link is on the SMPUB home page, if you haven't noticed it.) That said, if you suspect a surface is original, leave it alone! I am not certain what the surface of the Gorham applied decoration is supposed to look like, but it may well have been specially lacquered or oxidized to achieve a certain effect. If you remove that surface, you could reduce the value considerably. Your vase looks like a Heintz Art Metal piece, or possibly Silvercrest. Either way, it should be clearly marked on the bottom. If you need additional identification help, let me know. Anyway, it is difficult to tell from the photo whether your piece is in an original "brass" finish or whether it had a darker finish which has been "cleaned" away. Heintz and Silvercrest pieces were availble in a fairly broad range of original patinas. The finish appears to be darker towards the lip of the vase. If it is, then it has already suffered through cleaning. Arts & Crafts metal collectors are outrageously fussy about original patinas. A cleaned piece is almost worthless to a serious collector. Collectors also greatly prefer the darker patinas. If your piece has not been cleaned, and it is in the original brass finish, it is still not worth as much as the same piece in a darker finish. All in all, it is almost not worth polishing the silver overlay on such a piece if it risks disturbing the patina on the copper. IP: Logged |
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