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 Oxidized silver finish
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| Author | Topic: Oxidized silver finish |
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abesilverman Posts: 38 |
posted 02-03-2007 07:35 PM
  
[26-1342] Does anyone have an opinion (expert or otherwise) on why some silverplate manufacturers offered hollowware items (mostly tea sets) in an oxidized (black over silver) finish? Was it to prevent/retard tarnish? To save the "butler" some work? To add "instant" age for appeal? How was this oxidized finish created? Chemical bath or application? Nowadays, many of the oxidized finishes on hollowware items are worn, leaving behind either a dull or shiny silver finish in areas. Is there a safe method to restore this oxidized finish to these areas? Or is this another - best left to the professionals? If so, does the process damage the silver itself? Not only do I have a few very nice Forbes/Simpson Hall Miller tea sets with this finish in my personal collection, but have received a few inquiries over the years from other dealers/collectors as to the WHY - to which, I have no answer. IP: Logged |
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Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 |
posted 02-03-2007 09:18 PM
Well, I always thought this dark finish happened with age as the silver plate wore off and/or was exposed to oxygen and other chemicals in the atmosphere. I have seen a lot of old quadruple and triple plate items with the oxidation, but I don't think any it was factory original. IP: Logged |
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abesilverman Posts: 38 |
posted 02-03-2007 09:36 PM
Page 73 of the 1894 Pairpoint catalouge shows a tipping water pitcher with "Fancy Oxidized" finish for an addtional $28.00 as an example. Once seen, it's easy to distinguish an oxidized finish vs. silverplate wear or loss. IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 02-03-2007 11:51 PM
Most manufacturers offered this service. My understanding is that it was created by an acid applied to the item. Why did they do it? Dunno really. Except some people did not want their silver to look all shiney and new. They wanted their silver toned down, to be uhhh not flashy. Perhaps it has roots in the English putdown: people who buy their silver. In any event the silver makers were ahead of Henry Ford: they had more than one color. I always feel it is best to imagine silver items seen in the light available when it was new. In candlelight, the oxidized silver has a very warm glow. Which is lost under modern lighting. IP: Logged |
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Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 |
posted 02-04-2007 04:02 AM
Maybe I don't understand what kind of finish you are talking about. Can you post a picture of one of your "oxidized" items? IP: Logged |
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abesilverman Posts: 38 |
posted 02-04-2007 10:02 AM
Certainly, Paul. Here's two photos (not the best I'll admit) The "oxidized" color is almost a blue/black - like a black pearl. If someone were to scrub the heck out of it (YIKES!), the oxidized finish would be removed, leaving behind either the traditional shiny silver finish or a duller silver finish. Haven't figured out why one would be different than the other as to "shine" of finish. IP: Logged |
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vathek Posts: 966 |
posted 02-04-2007 10:21 AM
From the photos it's hard for me to distinguish between 'oxidized finish' and plate wear. I have seen shinier pieces like this with a 'textured' surface tho and it still looked silvery but did not reflect as much light. How is this related to 'butler's finish'? I know some jewelers like Jensen used a smoky looking finish intentionally on some of his pieces. IP: Logged |
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swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 |
posted 02-04-2007 02:13 PM
The practice of chemical darkening of metal surfaces was not uncommon on brass instruments exposed to weather or frequent handling, as the surface produced was more resistant to wear than the usual lacquered finish (not unlike the bluing of steel gun barrels). The color most frequently used was black, but other colors could be produced by modifying the timing of the process - I have seen some very nice brown tones. A commercial "antiqueing" solution I have tried (on brass) is the color of copper sulfate. Immersion is best if a uniform surface is to be colored; the solution can be applied repeated by daubing, but if any other color than black is desired, the latter technique can produce uneveness (as will any other than an absolutely clean surface), and a blotchy appearance may result unless you let it go completely to black. "Recipes" for coloring various metal surfaces can be found in old painter's and gilder's formularies and other such sources. IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 02-04-2007 03:30 PM
This sort of finish seems to be a particular stock in trade of Pairpoint. Don't know why. There is some Derby with it, but not much Meriden Brittania. IP: Logged |
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abesilverman Posts: 38 |
posted 02-04-2007 05:59 PM
Eureka, Homan & Pairpoint I've seen. "Bluing" - like for guns is EXACTLY what I was trying to describe as the finish. It is DEFINATELY not wear or loss - which are dull and without the "pearl-like" reflective qualities. Keeping them more "resistant to wear than the usual lacquered finish" seems logical to me - as these DO tarnish a bit, but mostly in areas where the "bluing" has either worn off or been polished off. Although in pristine condition, the finish is very pretty, I can't see why families of old would pay more to cover up the desirable traditional silver finish. Much thanks .... and GO BEARS!!!!! [This message has been edited by abesilverman (edited 02-04-2007).] IP: Logged |
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argentum1 Posts: 602 |
posted 02-04-2007 08:11 PM
Would it be possible to show a photo of the catalogue page? I have never seen this finish before. Thank you. IP: Logged |
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abesilverman Posts: 38 |
posted 02-04-2007 08:54 PM
Per your request, argentum1 and Unfortunately, color photographs were not available back then. IP: Logged |
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ahwt Posts: 2334 |
posted 02-04-2007 09:57 PM
The term oxidation is not technically accurate as this web site (Liver of Sulfur Oxidizing Technique) suggests that the process is merely tarnishing the silver with liver of sulfur. This results in the blackened surface. Silver will, over extended time, oxidize and this adds to the patina of old silver. This patina however is not black. Maybe our silversmiths can tell us if the oxidization process(silver combining with oxygen)can be artificially accomplished in a short time period. Perhaps placing the silver object in 100 percent oxygen under high heat with some catalyst might accomplish what normally takes 100 years. IP: Logged |
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kerppola Posts: 69 |
posted 02-05-2007 12:29 PM
I think the term oxidization is a little missleading. The silver and also the copper in the silver darkens when oxidized but the darkening is also much affected by the unpurities like sulfer in the city air. Patina refers to old silver which has been cleaned hundreds/thousands of times during the years. This can not be produced artificially. There are fakes where patina has been tried to artificially produce but it has clear straight scrathes and its looks differs from real patina. [This message has been edited by kerppola (edited 02-05-2007).] IP: Logged |
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argentum1 Posts: 602 |
posted 02-05-2007 03:29 PM
Thank you for the illustrations. What I have seen over the years that resembles this is mostly silverplate. The areas engraved were treated chemically to give the appearance of shading. The smooth areas were left shiney but this could have been later owners polishing the piece until the oxidation from the smooth areas wore away. If you find a definitive answer be sure to let us know. IP: Logged |
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vathek Posts: 966 |
posted 02-05-2007 03:40 PM
I'm a little shocked at the prices given in the ad! IP: Logged |
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FWG Posts: 845 |
posted 02-05-2007 05:25 PM
I believe the process is akin to bluing: a chemical process, but not one using liver of sulfur (which makes a simple black tarnish, and is regularly used, for example, to darken the engraved or chased areas of a piece). In appearance it is also similar to modern anodized finishes, but I don't think it was done electrically then. I suspect the high cost is associated with the (assumed) fact that it may be difficult to achieve a uniform surface finish over such a large area. I've seen this seldom if ever on (American) solid silver pieces and not often even on silverplate. I have seen a similar if not identical finish occasionally on Japanese silver, where the intention was probably to evoke something like lacquer or blued steel. Perhaps the American version was inspired by such examples, since it often seems to be used on Aesthetic or Japanesque pieces? In case there may still be lingering confusion as to this finish, look closely at the very clear photos above. The oxidized surface is referring to the overall, smooth surface of the pieces, NOT to the engraved areas (which are left bright for contrast with this finish). This is the reverse of the more typical silver finish where the body is polished bright and the engraving is treated with liver of sulfur to make it dark for contrast. IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 02-05-2007 05:43 PM
I'm sure the process is different, but it reminds me of Thai niello silver, at least in terms of what was considered to be fashionable at one point in time. There may also be an element of the Victorian values involved where black was very fashionable. IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 02-05-2007 08:31 PM
Isn't this also found on Japanese silver? Forget the name, but I have seen it where the silver is darkened for effect. IP: Logged |
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nautilusjv Posts: 253 |
posted 11-07-2020 02:41 PM
I recently acquired this Derby figural piece of 3 Japanese figures up holding a hammered vessel which may be an ash receiver. The dark finish on the piece does not look like tarnish to me, but a deliberate choice including the gilding on parts of the figures. Any thoughts welcome. A Derby 1883 shows a piece in which can be ordered with an oxidized finish and a tray with a niello/gilt finish, perhaps relevant information to this piece. IP: Logged |
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