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Author	Topic: Sterling vs. plate costs
vathek Posts: 966 Registered: Jun 99	posted 10-30-2008 04:56 AM If it were the 1870's (for instance) and one was to order 2 identical pieces from a major silver manufacturer of moderate size like a centerpiece or large fruit bowl with applied masks, borders, maybe some chasing but one in sterling and one in silverplate, I would guess that the amount of hours of work in casting, assembling, finishing for both pieces would be the same. I was curious if anyone would have some insight into if there would be much of a difference in retail price between the two, excluding of course those very large trophies or plateaus where the weight of the silver would really start to add up. IP: Logged
Kimo Posts: 1627 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 10-30-2008 04:06 PM In 1870 the average price of silver buillon for the year was $1.43 per ounce. I do not have similar data on copper, but I would expect it to be a few cents per ounce. In addition to the higher raw material cost, I think part of the difference is the perception that silver is a precious metal and so things made of it are disproportionately higher priced than if one simply took into account the value of the metal itself. This lack of direct relationship between value of the metal plus manufacturing costs vs. the price at which it is sold is what is seen in modern silver flatware and holloware. IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 10-30-2008 09:14 PM One function of silverplate is that the under metal, usually a variety of pewter, could be cast in a mould. The skills needed to produce it were of a tool and die maker, which are rather different from the skills of a smith. Silverplate was in the time period a high tech procedure, requiring industrial discipline. IP: Logged

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