Korean silver - SMP Silver Salon Forums

SM Publications

Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.

SMP | Silver Salon Forums | SSF - Guidelines | SSF - FAQ | Silver Sales

The Silver Salon Forums
Since 1993
Over 11,793 threads & 64,769 posts !!
20^th/21^st Century Silversmiths Forum

Silver Salon internal search
or

How to Post Photos

REGISTER (click here)

SMP Silver Salon Forums
tline

20^th/21^st Century Silversmiths
tline3

Korean silver

profile | register | preferences | faq | search

SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone!

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Author	Topic: Korean silver
Anuh Posts: 190 Registered: Jan 2003	posted 08-24-2003 02:26 PM Some years ago, I bought three 3-piece place settings of silver from Korea. They are decorated with a blue enamel marking at the top which a Korean friend of mine says would be very in keeping with Korean silver. However, she did not know what the standard for silver in Korea is as she has spent most of her life in the U.S. The pieces only carry the mark "Silver" on the back, and may have been made for the tourist trade in Korea. Does anyone know what the standard for Korean silver is? ------------------ Anuh IP: Logged
Anuh Posts: 190 Registered: Jan 2003	posted 08-24-2003 02:27 PM Chinese 3-piece Place Setting The place setting consists of a 7¾" long-handled oval soup or table spoon, a 7¾" long flat-handled dinner knife and an 8" long dinner fork. You are buying one 3-piece place setting, which weighs 4.5 ounces, with the option of buying all three place settings. Makers: Unknown Mark: Silver Monogram: Chinese pictogram for "Longevity". ------------------ Anuh IP: Logged
Davy C Posts: 4 Registered: Oct 2001	posted 08-24-2003 08:45 PM Although they were purchased in Korea, but they may not be of Korean origin. The blue enamel "marking" on the handles are not Korean characters. They are traditional Chinese character means "longevity". In the close up picture of the handle, the character appears sideway. Korean are very proud of their culture and will not put other country's language onto their products if they don't have to. IP: Logged
Anuh Posts: 190 Registered: Jan 2003	posted 08-24-2003 08:48 PM quote: Originally posted by Davy C: Although they were purchased in Korea, but they may not be of Korean origin. The blue enamel "marking" on the handles are not Korean characters. They are traditional Chinese character means "longevity". In the close up picture of the handle, the character appears sideway. Korean are very proud of their culture and will not put other country's language onto their products if they don't have to. Thank you very much. Assuming that they are Chinese, then, what is the Chinese standard for silver? Anyone know? ------------------ Anuh IP: Logged
Brent Posts: 1507 Registered: May 99	posted 08-24-2003 11:46 PM I have a similarly decorated set consisting of a spoon and a pair of chopsticks. I also believe that these are Chinese. I don't have the set with me, but I think the spoon is marked 900, which would be the silver standard. I'm not sure if that is official Chinese standard, though, or if there even is one. I will see what I can dig up. BTW, the main intended purpose of the Forums is to share information, not to sell. Questions are fine, but please confine commercial links and information to the "FOR SALE" Forum. Thanks! Brent IP: Logged
Anuh Posts: 190 Registered: Jan 2003	posted 08-25-2003 03:44 PM quote: Originally posted by Brent: BTW, the main intended purpose of the Forums is to share information, not to sell. Questions are fine, but please confine commercial links and information to the "FOR SALE" Forum. Thanks! Brent Brent, my intention was not to sell here, but that link was the easiest way to post all the information I had on these pieces. Since it is posted for sale elsewhere, I was not thinking in terms of sale potential. But, I also wasn't thinking in terms of Scott posting the entire ad as a picture. I've already made changes to the ad from the original which stated what I was told when I bought these - Korean with a Korean pictogram to the information about the Chinese. Sorry if I stepped over boundaries here. I would still like to know why it carries the term "Silver" and what that is likely to mean. ------------------ Anuh IP: Logged
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 Registered: Apr 2000	posted 08-25-2003 04:35 PM There is probably no way to know what "SILVER" means unless you actually have the stuff tested. It just means that it is some grade of silver. It could be .700 grade or it could be .950. A similar thing occurred with some jewelry made in the Victorian era. Several manufacturers would stamp their items "GOLD" or "SOLID GOLD." However, the pieces could be as low as 6k (25%) gold. These stamps just meant the piece was some grade of gold. Most pieces marked this way are only so-so quality manufacture and not very high karat gold. I wonder if the same is true of this Chinese silver. If it was in the higher range, like .900, why wouldn't the makers have specifically said so? [This message has been edited by Paul Lemieux (edited 08-25-2003).] IP: Logged
Anuh Posts: 190 Registered: Jan 2003	posted 08-25-2003 06:30 PM You would think they would. OTOH, it is just possible that they went with whatever the person who translated it for them told them was a proper term. I know many NA craftsmen who don't know that they should mark their work as Sterling when they are making it with that grade of silver. They often don't mark it at all, which makes it nearly impossible to sell as Sterling silver work. ------------------ Anuh IP: Logged
Anuh Posts: 190 Registered: Jan 2003	posted 09-13-2003 03:01 PM I just received an email from a man in Korea who had the following to say about this silver. "Standard Korean silver is 99% silver. And the enamel marking is a traditional Korean pattern, too. Yes, it is a Chinese letter. Since Korea is historically influenced by Chinese, we've been used Chinese letters as a pattern. Blue stands for a male, and red stands for a female. Usually husband and wife. The letter itself means 'luck' , 'fortune' or 'happiness'. I hope you have all the answers you wanted to know. If you have more question let me know. " So the quest goes on! ------------------ Anuh IP: Logged

All times are ET	next newest topic \| next oldest topic
Administrative Options: Close Topic \| Archive/Move \| Delete Topic
	Hop to:

Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a

^1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums.
Click here to Register for a Free password

^2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

^3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.

| Home | Order | The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects | The Book of Silver