posted 03-26-2003 09:36 AM              

My experience with silverplate is minimal; I know enough not to touch early Sheffield electo plate, but if there are any pitfalls I should be warned of, I appreciate the head's up.

posted 03-26-2003 12:02 PM            

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A few dealers and collectors have been heard to remark that they would not have old silverplated pieces replated beause it would destroy their value as antiques. This is utter nonsense. Electroplating "Old Sheffield Plate" would lower its value, it is true, as the original process of plating was entirely different. Replating old electro-silverplate, though, is simply to restore it to its original condition. Just as in buying new silverplate, reliability of workmanship is to be sought.

By far the greater of resilvering costs is the preparation of pieces, not in the cost of the silver itself. Preparation of the surface of old silverplate is essential to satisfactory resilvering. Even old silverplate that has not been dented or broken must be stripped of all the old silver, perhaps marks of wear must be buffed away and then the piece made chemically clean to remove the oxide before resilvering. Better shops remove the handles from tea sets, etc., so that the buffing operation will not leave course areas around the surface where the handles join the piece. They are then resoldered in place before silverplating.

Dents can be removed, missing legs and mounts replaced, covers refitted and bases straightened. One of the most difficult aspects about repair is finding or making missing parts. So, in the case of damage, it is important to save any parts which become detached.

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I believe it is a matter of taste. Some like "shabby chic", some don't, and some don't care one way or the other. The cost of replating (it can be more than you paid for an item in the first place) and how much you are willing or able to invest in a particular piece will also impact your decision.

posted 04-17-2003 04:28 AM            

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Replating can be a relatively inexpensive process. The depth of plating is measured in microns and -- for hollow-ware items, such as meat platters which are used for carving -- it is recommended that you ask for a 20- to 30-micron silver coating. Items such as coffee pots and salvers are unlikely to receive such extreme use and will require somewhere between 10 and 15 microns, depending or whether you wish the plating to last about 15 to 20 years.

Just how long plating lasts depends on how it is cleaned. Products with a high abrasive content will obviously erode silver faster than more gentle solutions.

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He also talks about the "do-it-yourself-kids-try-this-at-home" products --

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Another product widely available in the USA and UK actually puts silver back onto articles. It is especially useful for 'touching-up' plated goods that are beginning to expose their base metal. However, cautious use is needed to maintain the silver surface. Since the use of any other polish will remove the silver build-up, this is hardly a cost-effective way of replating an article.

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