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 Silverplated?
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| Author | Topic: Silverplated? |
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salmoned Posts: 336 |
posted 05-12-2005 10:09 PM
  
[26-0428] I recently won a pair of tongs advertised as "solid silver with stamped hallmarks". When I received the item, the stamped marks proved to be: Was I cheated? IP: Logged |
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jersey Posts: 1203 |
posted 05-12-2005 10:27 PM
You bid it you bought it! If it brings you pleasure & you're happy that's all that counts, Nes't pas! Jersey IP: Logged |
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Argent47 Posts: 67 |
posted 05-13-2005 04:45 AM
Salmoned, There are hallmarks and then, there are marks. Before purchasing anything that is quoted as being "real silver" on Ebay, you should always ask to see a close-up of the said hallmarks. Sterling silver will always carry at least 4 types of hallmarks :- The Town assay mark, the maker's mark, the date mark and sometimes a duty mark. If those marks are not visible on the piece, it is quite likely your piece will not be sterling silver. Or so I believe. IP: Logged |
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Silver Lyon Posts: 363 |
posted 05-13-2005 06:02 AM
I fear that your tongs are EPNS - the marks you show are typical og those used by the large Sheffield concern of William Gallimore & Co. in the 1860s and 1870s - the accompanying marks refer to the quality of the plating used. I remember standing (open-mouthed) in the Portobello Road some twenty years ago when a nice Italian couple brought back a pair of candlesticks to the stallholder from whom they had purchased them on a previous visit in order to complain that the sticks were 'non argenta' (not silver) - the stall holder's response was "what colour would you call them then, ducky!" IP: Logged |
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nihontochicken Posts: 289 |
posted 05-13-2005 10:48 AM
The best rule to use for Brit marks is that if you can't identify a hallmark, then assume it's silverplate. Small items like sugar tongs often don't have a full set of marks, but usually have the lion passant or other sterling hallmark. If you can't fully identify this or a town mark, then pass (and don't rely on a crown for Sheffield, since many crown variations are used for plated items). American solid coin silver items may have just a maker's mark or no marks at all, but the general rule is still valid - if you can't identify the marks, assume they are for silverplate. In time you may develop a "feel" for marks and be willing to gamble that marks you can't identify are not for silverplate but instead are from, say, a small provincial sterling maker, but those bets are not worth rushing into. JMO. IP: Logged |
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tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 05-13-2005 11:32 AM
Salmoned, It is not just ebay that misrepresents stuff (usually by mistake), I have purchased spoons from dealers who thought they were silver rather than plate, most recently an art nouveau spoon made in Vienna. I had several hours of enjoyment researching the marks and the compnay (after I bought the spoon!), so I don't feel cheated. My general rule is not to spend more than I would mind losing. Argent47 it is right, enjoy it! Tom IP: Logged |
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salmoned Posts: 336 |
posted 05-13-2005 05:45 PM
Thanks all, the [single] photo was out of focus, but I could see there were 4 marks on this fiddle pattern piece. I made a bid, taking the risk, and didn't get a reply for a hallmark description until after the auction ended. I never unilaterally renege on auctions. The seller inherited it from their grandmother and always assumed it was solid silver (tho not 'sterling'?)... I thought this transaction might be of interest to new silver collectors - that's why I placed it in this forum. Happily, the entire transaction amounted to less than 4 GBP. [This message has been edited by salmoned (edited 05-13-2005).] IP: Logged |
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cannon50 Posts: 24 |
posted 05-29-2005 09:00 AM
Don't know if this helps but I use a very crude test to help verify sterling by getting a similar item that I know is sterling and apply an ice cube to one end, say in the bowl of a spoon. Wait a few seconds and then feel the handle. Sterling conducts heat very fast and most plated articles seem to conduct heat much slower. Of course plated copper also conducts heat well, but does not have much of a ring when tapped. So, if it slow to conduct heat and has no ring, I feel pretty sure it's plated. IP: Logged |
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