posted 03-24-2008 08:38 PM            

Hi All,

I was curious as to how people store their silver? When I built my house, I had a silver storage unit built in. It has upper cabinets which I lined with silver cloth and I store my hollware pieces. There is also a large drawer (also lined with silver cloth) where I store platters. I have my flatware in silver chests but these are getting a little out of control. I would be interested in knowing how others store their silver.

Robert

posted 03-25-2008 08:06 PM            

We live in a house in which the previous owners lined a number of kitchen drawers with silver cloth. There are also a couple lower cabinets with cloth-lined shelves -- that have little locks on them. I always thought of them as the "yoo--hoo, Mr. Burglar, over here" cabinets and don't put anything of value in them. The flatware and pieces that I use for regular entertaining live in the lined kitchen drawers -- which accommodate both flatware and holloware. I would be really, really upset if these pieces were stolen, but they are replaceable for the most part, and I've made the decision to have them at hand so I use them.

As for my other pieces: I bought a number of plastic storage boxes (at Target, made by Stearlite). They have translucent sides and solid tops, with an easy 'locking' mechanism that makes them reasonably airtight, and they can be stacked. Inside those boxes, some pieces are stored in their original silver cloth bags. Others are wrapped in Pacific cloth --I keep a length of it and cut it and simply wrap them. Some are additionally put in Ziplock bags. When I've run out of Pacific cloth, or quickly put something away, I put it in a Ziplock with a 3M anti-tarnish strip.

This isn't perfect. I need to be able to catalogue things better so I can find them more easily. And I am hoping that these plastic boxes (similar to Tupperware) don't offgas in some deleterious fashion -- I searched for info on that, but never found anything.

posted 03-25-2008 08:42 PM            

Robert

posted 03-25-2008 10:27 PM            

Oddly enough, I was burglarized just a few years ago. I came home for lunch for some reason (something I almost never do) and found the side door open and the window busted out. I promptly reconciled myself to the loss of all of my pretties. Found that very little that was important to me was stolen, mostly electronics, and the thief had tossed aside a Francis I bread tray (I'm so relieved it wasn't damaged!) to steal the almost dead laptop it was sitting on.

I just hope the thief doesn't remember what I had and where he saw it.

posted 03-26-2008 07:50 AM            

• Displaying SS Christmas Ornaments
  
• Does carbon mesh absorbs hydrogen sulfides?

posted 03-26-2008 11:14 AM            

Hard-plastic storage bins should indeed exhibit more outgassing when new than old (unless perhaps stored in sunlight that might cause them to break down -- not that I know that to happen, I haven't looked into the chemicals used, but it's a possibility I'd think about if I were going that route. Not that most of us are likely to store our boxes of silver in sunshine, either....)

posted 03-26-2008 11:23 AM            

I've been using the freezer bag method for about 4 or 5 years.

The containers are changed because the plastic seems to break down over time with the bags becoming stiff and the tupperware softer and almost tacky.

posted 04-01-2008 03:40 PM            

So how can I tell if a storage box is made of stable plastic? I went looking today at an office supply store and saw several that would work for me but when I asked if they were made of polyethelene, all I got was a blank stare and some mumbling. Of course the labeling on the boxes did nothing to enlighten my understanding.

posted 04-14-2008 07:05 PM            

I stumbled across a website gives instructions on "French lining". This is where an indention is formed so that the piece for storage fits in it. he suggests using florists foam, glue to cardboard then either "squish" your piece into the top of the foam or outline it and scoop out what is needed. Then you pour glue all over the foam and let it harden. Once that has happened, then you line it with the fabric of your choice (for silver pieces, I would use silvercloth). It sounds like what he is describing is what you see in the older boxed sets where the carving pieces (for example) has perfect little holes covered with satin.

This sounds like just the thing I would like to try but was wondering if anyone else has attempted this and what their results were. I am also a little hesitant because of the glue and how that would affect any silver. From what I understand the foam should be no problem since it is pretty inert anyway (at least that is what the salesguy at the art supply store said).

Any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated.

posted 04-14-2008 10:24 PM            

Among other things, I would be suspect of the foam. Not sure what he means by "florists' foam" -- I'm aware of two kinds. One is hard, more open celled, and I would think, not conducive to this sort of work. The other is commonly referred to as Oasis --it's the stuff that is relatively dense, with a closed cell, that holds water very well -- it's the stuff you see in most arrangements. But it would be a real pain to work with, I suspect. It can get crumbly and it dusts easily. I have no idea what it would do over time, but I would guess that it would get brittle and that it would dust.

posted 04-15-2008 11:17 AM            

I agree that silver should be appreciated in its three-dimensionality but I am really looking at storing it rather than displaying it. The tea service, goblets, plates are on display but at last count my silver flatware service is 167 pieces (and displaying these pieces would be impossible) and while storing the knives, forks, spoons etc. is easily done, the serving pieces prove more of a challenge. These are the odd shaped pieces that don't lie flat, like ladles, sifters, carving sets and so on. The part that appealed to me was that each one would have a snug place to fit. I have seen some of the bigger older sets that had custom cases made for them so that each piece was readily accessible and labeled. That is what has set my train of thought in motion. If this idea is feasible, then it would seem like a better way to store the silver than to just roll it up and stick it in plastic bags until ready for use. Anyway, I just think it would be a nicer way to show the silver when friends come over to look at the latest additions by pulling out a drawer and having the pieces all laid out and labeled and organized.

But like I said in my earlier post, I am concerned about the long term effect of the foam (and I think your right about it being the Oasis type foam) as well as the effect from the glue. I’d rather get it right from the beginning than to try to reverse any damage in the future.

posted 04-17-2008 04:26 PM            

I have some builtin display cases, in which I've placed some silver cloth (on the top shelves where I can't see), as well as black paper strips, which I believe contain activated charcoal. I'm also adding dessicant, on the half-formed theory that moisture can carry other impurities. Between the doors of the double-door cabinets, I've added a simple flange that bridges the gap between the doors. This should cut down on air leakage, and is also made of silvercloth.

I have a lot of hollowware in storage cabinets purchased from the usual purveyor of inexpensive Scandinavian furniture. They have glass doors so I can see in, some glass shelves and internal fluorescent lighting. I've put more silvercloth, charcoal strips and dessicant in these, the same silvercloth flange between the doors, and simple plastic stick-on weatherstripping around the doors, again to cut down on air leakage. (Hope that outgassing from that plastic, or the furniture itself doesn't come back to haunt me!)

Regular place silverware is kept in chests, along with those serving pieces I use regularly.

For the other serving pieces, I've purchased (plastic again) drawer systems. Each drawer is 2-1/2" high by 13" wide by 10 - 11" deep. I am sewing silvercloth envelopes that will fit into these, partitioning them with seams to fit individual pieces. I can get between 3 and 6 servers per drawer (but no soup ladles, as they are too big). Although these pieces aren't "on display", it is easy enough to open a drawer and throw back the top flap of the cloth envelop, showing off the pieces within.

posted 04-17-2008 09:44 PM            

I'm also wondering about the lighting in your 'scandanavian' cabinets. I have a friend who has been involved with a project to try to find the right lighting for cases displaying silver trophies...it's been a nightmare, I would gather.

posted 04-22-2008 04:46 PM            

Some photos.

First is a display cabinet. You can't see in the picture that there are incandescent rope lights up both sides. If I had it to do over I'd consider LEDs. I put them on dimmers, but this isn't necessary as they aren't very bright

There are simple locks on the doors -- not enough to keep a thief out, but it slows down the merely curious. Also means that I don't have to worry about them falling open in earthquakes. The shelves are adjustable, of course.

Next a flatware drawer. Not a great pic, but I think you can see everything you need to.

Finally a storage cabinet. Bolted down, hasp on the door (again, earthquakes), simple lighting. You can see the flap or flange attached to the inside of the left-hand door. This bridges the gap between doors when closed. It means I have to remember to open the right door first. It's hard to see, but there is also white plastic weatherstripping to keep air from leaking around the doors.

Although the fluorescent light is cool and efficient, I certainly would not use it in any application I considered a display.

Hope this helps --
Richard

posted 04-24-2008 10:29 AM            

How to care for ...

You'll note there reference to using acid-free tissue, a question that came up in another thread here a while back, and to polyethylene freezer bags.... I would add, although they don't specify un-buffered acid-free tissue for silver it does make a difference for some materials often found in conjunction with silver items (ivory, horn, etc., for example), so in general I'd recommend using the un-buffered tissue in most cases. (buffering is primarily for storage with certain kinds of textiles and paper)

posted 04-24-2008 07:22 PM            

Jersey -- can you explain what a 'chinese lock' is?