posted 04-26-2008 08:34 PM            

OK, now that I've finally posted, I'd like to ask a question that's bugged me for years! Why is it that hollowware pieces left out on display seem to tarnish from the underneath first? I notice it most with larger compotes, where I'll walk by a piece and think it looks great (not tarnished yet) but if I pick it up the underneath side can be quite tarnished. With goblets the outside seems to tarnish at a much faster rate than the inside (even without a gold wash) - and with my tea service the (rather flat) top seems to remain free of tarnish much longer than the sides.

I would expect that since contaminants are found in the air that they would "settle" first on the topside of a piece. It seems counter intuitive for the tarnish to begin underneath. (Under the foot of course, there is still no tarnish at all.)

I considered that perhaps there is some sort of "off-gassing" from the wood furniture most of my pieces sit on, but I have not noticed any perceptible difference between antique furniture or new, or mahogany or oak - and the silver service sits on a silver tray so this does not seem to be the issue.

Have other people noticed this as well? If so, does anyone have an explanation?

posted 04-26-2008 09:59 PM            

A very simple explanation is that heat rises! At least during the winter months, heat registers in the floor force hot air into a room and because the density of the hot air is less than than cooler air, the hot air will rise.. As it rises, the oxidizer (unburnt fuel), will come in contact with the bottom surface of the silver first, and will oxidize (tarnish ) it. The inner portion of a goblet contains an air mass which is less disturbed by the upward flowing system. So it will tarnish, but at a much slower rate.

Air that is trapped under the foot, does not circulate much, so the oxidizing nature of the hot air (oil, natural gas, coal) does not come in contact with that silver.

Hope this helps a little.

Marc

posted 04-26-2008 10:12 PM            

My 2 cents: Along with any technical chemical reasons, part of it could also be that someone may have polished the outside & left the underneath unpolished. I know I am guilty of that, (too much work at times)!

Jersey

posted 04-29-2008 09:39 AM            

Marc -I live in Florida, so we have the AC on most of the year rather than the heat, but maybe its a similar process. Your explanation does make sense to me, thanks.

Cheryl - thanks for the suggestion about the latex paint. I don't have any painted furniture, but the mantle is painted and I do seem to need to polish those items more often. Perhaps I need to move some things around!