Massive Price Reductions On Our Silver!

Karen and I have decided to move towards semi retirement over the coming 12 months. That means we are now downsizing on our stock levels with the aim of selling all 350 items listed in our eBay store  (click the link to visit the store and view the reductions) and then moving away from eBay as a trading platform. Ebay has been very successful for us, however due to the volume of sales we need either to take on staff or reduce our turnover. As we approach retirement age our aim now is to trade in rare, unique and unusual silver just from this website and at antique fairs.

The good news for readers is that we are reducing substantially the price of all our current stock in order to move towards this goal. There are over 500 hundred items to manually adjust prices here on this website so it will take us a few days to complete the task. The prices offered will be our best trade price. Once these items are sold we will be able to source fewer but more unusual and unique items for our new business model.

Silver Makers Marks App Update

I have just completed the whole update of the App and Silver Makers Mark website. You will now find on every entry on the app for a silver makers mark a link at the foot of the entry direct to the website. On the corresponding page of the website in the lower half you will find the current list of items for sale on eBay.co.uk for that maker. This will allow you to keep an eye on current prices for that maker and to shop direct from eBay.co.uk if you see the piece of silver you are looking for. Using the App this way is a great method to snap up any bargains from these listings.

You can view one such page here. Asprey & Co Silversmith

Featured Item

Austro Hungarian Silver And Enamel Lidded Pot. It is of a squat circular shape and the silver has been beautifully enamelled with purple violets, green stems and leaves. Open up the hinged lid to reveal a gilt interior, so it just oozes quality.

You can view its full listing here

New Arrivals

Here is the first of the more unusual stock we will be purchasing in the future

	Stunning Silver Jazz Band Figures Click here to view item
	French Silver Tea Caddy Click here to view item
	Georgain Soup Tureen & Cover Click here to view item

This Weeks Humour

And finally in the theme of approaching retirement........................

You Know You're Getting Old When...

Everything that works hurts, and what doesn't hurt doesn't work.

You feel like the morning after, and you haven't been anywhere.

Your little black book only contains names ending in M.D.

Your children are beginning to look middle-aged.

Your mind makes contracts your body can't keep.

You look forward to a dull evening.

Your knees buckle and your belt won't.

Your back goes out more than you do.

You sink your teeth into a steak, and they stay there.

You know all the answers, but nobody asks the questions.

Regards

Steve

The post Massive Price Reductions On Our Silver appeared first on Silver2Treasure.

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Antique News

Are you a serious silver collector? Do you collect spoons? Then this forthcoming auction at Christies will be of interest to you.

Promising to rank among the auction highlights of the summer, Christie’s are to sell the fabled Benson collection of early spoons on June 4.

Assembled over many years by the dealer, expert and advisor Jane Penrice How (née Benson), the incomparable group of silver spoons from the Roman period to the 17th century have been on loan to the  Ashmolean Museum  in Oxford since 2007.

Harry Williams-Bulkeley, European head of Christie's silver department, who has been instructed to sell by the How family, describes the collection as "the Holy Grail for spoon collectors" and anticipates it will realise in excess of £500,000.

The 45  spoons  and one fork, formally published last year in David Constable's detailed work, The Benson Collection of Early Spoons, include rarities such as a Henry VI spoon with a Wodewose or wild man finial (one of only four known, it is estimated at £40,000-60,000) and a set of six Edward IV parcel-gilt silver Apostle spoons from the 15th century (among the earliest extant and estimated at £150,000-250,000).

To read the full story click the link here

Silver Makers Marks App Update

Never underestimate the power of a mouse! This week I was busy working on the all the updates when due to operator error I accidentally clicked on a delete button with my mouse and wiped out 45 entries for silver makers marks beginning with the letter J. If you noticed the loss during the week I can only apologise. By the time you read this all 45 should have been rebuilt. I am annoyed with the company who host the App - Bizness Apps as they have no individual back up function hence I had to manually re create all 45  entries!!

I have now progressed through the alphabet from A to R. Please take a look at the new link at the foot of each app entry in these categories. The link will take you to the App website where you will find the current ebay listings for that maker. Several users have emailed me to say they like the addition as the can now see what prices items from these makers are achieveing. That way they have a better idea of the value of their own items. There is still a long way to go to get all these new links built but I am progressing slowly. I am also removing the donation facility by deleting the note from author pages. There has only ever been one donation. If you have not seen the new links there is an example below for you to click on if you are not currently logged in on the App

You can view one such page here. Asprey & Co Silversmith

Featured Item

Here we have an unusual set of 6 sterling silver Chinese Napkin Rings

Boxed Set of 6 Chinese Silver Napkin Rings. They are circular in shape with a raised line around the rims. The have an engraved dragon which runs around the whole of the sides except for the plain circular cartouche which is still blank so they could be personalised. The dragon is engraved on top of a textured orange peel background. This super set comes complete in its original hard cardboard box which has a colourful pattern on the lid which has what I think is a clear perspex top.

You can view its full listing here

New Arrivals

This Weeks Humour

And finally........................

This week saw the passing of Margaret Thatcher. I was a very young Policeman when she came to power and I had first hand experience of Policing these troubled times including the Toxteth Riots. I would describe her as a Marmite Prime Minister. You either loved her or hated her. Whatever your political views we have all lost a true "Great Briton". I only hope her coming funeral does not allows the world to see the very worst of British Society but instead celebrates a truly outstanding woman. Here are just a few of her memorable quotes.

“In politics, If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.”

“Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't.”

“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”

“If you set out to be liked, you will accomplish nothing.”

Margaret Thatcher

Keep smiling! Thanks for reading.

Regards

Steve

The post Silver2treasure Newsletter 12/04/13 appeared first on Silver2Treasure.

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Antique News

Why would the Pope have a gun?

In 1739 Pope Pius VII certainly had one as it was sold recently at auction.!.

This exceptional Spanish flintlock sporting gun is dated 1739, but both the gun and case bear the arms of Pope Pius VII, whose papacy was dominated by the Vatican’s troubled relationship with France during the Napoleonic period nearly a century later.

Faced with this dating conundrum, the auctioneers concluded that this was indeed a royal commission, made in Madrid for Charles III of Spain in the early 18th century, but subsequently presented to Pius by his son Charles IV, who lived in Rome following his abdication in 1808.

It was sold for €50,500 (£45,910) bySan Giorgioin Genoa on March 25.
You can read the full story here

Silver Makers Marks App Update

I am ploughing through each listing in the slow process of adding a new function to the App for silver collectors who follow a favourite maker. I have updated pages in the alphabet for the letters A to I so far. This new link takes you from the app to my Silver Makers Marks website. Here under the image of the maker and its details you will find the current items listed on eBay.co.uk for this maker. This means you can browse the current items to check prices and keep an eye out for specific items you require. This is a time consuming process for me and will be done over the coming weeks in between new mark listings and the day job here at Silver2treasure.

You can view one such page here. Asprey & Co Silversmith

Featured Item

You can view it full listing here Large Heavy Sauce Boat

New Arrivals

Below are the latest additions to the website. Click any link to view the item of your choice.

	Stunning Silver Jazz Band Figures Click here to view item
	French Silver Tea Caddy Click here to view item
	Georgain Soup Tureen & Cover Click here to view item

This Weeks Humour

And finally........................

If you are one of the 520,086,207 who have watched this on Youtube already I apologise. But I bet you will watch it again!

"Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action."
Benjamin Disraeli

Keep smiling! Thanks for reading.

Regards

Steve

The post Silver2treasure Newsletter 05/04/13 appeared first on Silver2Treasure.

Is a question I frequently get asked. On the face of it, it seems a simple question. However it is anything but simple. There are many factors to consider when valuing your own silver. The main issues are; age, condition, maker, weight, wow factor, availability and what will someone actually pay for it. I have completed a simple guide which is published already here on the Blog and has also been created into a PDF if you wish to download it to keep. If I have done things correctly you just need to click the link below to access the PDF and then click the save button at the top left corner of the PDF when it opens. (any problems leave a comment below)

Whats_my_silver_worth

Another great way to get a valuation online is at Value My Stuff . Com The below video show its founding member Patrick van der Vorst, explaining how the system works. They have access to a pool of 25 experts from auction houses such as Sothebys and Christies who will give an appraisal and extra information for you. There is however a cost to use this service. They claim a turn around time of 48 hours for a cost of £5.99. This may not be too dear for such an expert valuation so please take a look.

This Weeks Discount Item

Here we have a Silver Sugar Basket Swing Handled . This is a beautiful good sized basket which has a delicate pierced scroll design pattern to the top half of the basket interspersed with plain decorative solid shapes, a spreading pedestal foot which has a gadrooned pattern around the edge of the base. This gadrooned pattern is also around the top rim and running around the middle of the swing handle. It is hallmarked Sheffield 1912 by William Hutton & Sons Ltd and is currently on offer on this website here for £395 Silver Sugar Basket Swing Handled

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Silver Makers Marks App Update:

If you are viewing this Newsletter for the first time following downloading our Silver Makers Marks Application then welcome.

To date we have now had over 2200 downloads from Google Play and the Itunes store. The App has been constantly added to since March when it launched. If you have any suggestions for improvements you would like to see then please leave your comments below.

This week has been extremely busy. We attended an Antiques Fair on Saturday and I have been to two auctions this week. I have purchased a number of interesting items which when cleaned and prepared will feature here in the Newsletter. I have managed to acquire two stunning antique Victorian Silver Plated Tea Sets which are really quite special. Also in plate is a quality warming entree dish as well as a number of small silver items for the collector so watch this space.

Featured Item This Week:

Here is something a bit different to help you celebrate during this summers festivities. Here we have a very good Set of 6 Russian 875 Standard Silver Tots/Shot Beakers. Just the thing to toast our Queen during her Diamond Jubilee Year. For those of you outside the UK you can expect good old England to grind to a halt as we have a 4 day weekend including two days of public holiday to celebrate the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

As I said its been a busy week out of the office so only two new listings for you this week.

Heavy Silver Brandy Decanter Label / Bottle Ticket

Silver Gin Decanter Label / Bottle Ticket Heavy

This weeks humour (on the theme of Russia and Vodka)

“Vodka is our enemy, so we’ll utterly consume it!” – Russian Proverb

“Vodka spoils everything but the glasses.” – Russian Proverb

“Money, like vodka, turns a person into an eccentric.“ - Anton Chekhov

“Vodka is tasteless going down, but it is memorable coming up.” - Garrison Keillor

There were many more I could not publish!

Thanks once again for visiting

Regards

Steve

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The post What Is My Silver Worth? appeared first on Silver2Treasure.

Age

Silver values increase with age of manufacture. There are many reasons for this but the obvious one is rarity. The older the item the more likely they will have been made by hand individually by a craftsman. Silversmiths served apprenticeships of many years and developed techniques of manufacture based around hand tools. Modern silver is often machine produced in part or whole and hence can be produced for much lower costs. Age affects styles; many periods of our history are linked to trends and fashion. Brand New Silver is often expensive in comparison as a result.

Condition

This is vital in valuing an individual piece. Most Antique Silver Items were produced as utensils or utility pieces, they had a function in the home which could still be fulfilled today if in good working condition. You may see a gorgeous pierced silver sugar basin for sale but if it does not come complete with its glass liner it will be of no use to your breakfast table or collection. Having said that Silver as a metal is comparatively soft.  Antique silver will most certainly have been handled by staff over the years and is bound to have a few knocks and marks received from use. It would be almost impossible to purchase an antique silver item without some wear and tear.

Maker

Just as a modern day Mercedes is worth more than a Ford, so individual Silversmiths influence greatly an items value. Many Silversmiths specialised in producing highly crafted and decorated pieces which required many days and weeks of work. This skilled labour did not come cheap and hence individual silver items from highly skilled craftsmen cost more. As fashions grew in popularity so did the influence of individual Silversmiths. Those who produced items for the rich and wealthy built up reputations which have survived the years. Many collectors will only seek out and purchase silver made by their favourite Silversmith. This means there is a huge market demand for a limited number of pieces hence prices rise dramatically for their work compared to others. Hester Bateman Paul Store and many others have huge followings today of collectors prepared to pay a premium for their work.

Below is the sponsor mark for Hester Bateman whilst next to it is the sponsors mark for Roberts & Belk. The mark on the left for Hester Bateman is on a silver Coffee Pot which has an assay office stamp for London, The lion Passant stamp denoting fineness of silver to a minimum standard of 925 and a date letter for the year 1779 with a value of around £2600. The mark on the right is not silver. It is on an antique silver plate serving dish. The makers marks are for Roberts & Belk (who also produced quality silver items)and the letters EP stand for Electro Plate. This substantial serving dish is worth just £150 in comparison.

You may find a visit to Silver Makers Marks website helpful

Also this Value My Stuff Video from YouTube might again be helpful to you

Weight

Similar to my car analogy Silver also has a value as scrap metal. Unlike your modern motor car Silver has a scrap value as a precious metal and is still used today in many manufacturing industries. This means that your heavy antique silver items such as salvers or trays can increase in value as scrap metal prices rise. In the current financial markets with recession and financial uncertainty precious metal prices for Gold and Silver always rise. Silver Plate does not have such a scrap metal value as the content of silver in relation to the base metal is very small ie a fine coating of silver. There are a number of websites where you can get a current value of scrap silver. here is just one Hatton Garden Metals On the Home page there is a blue block marked calculator. In the drop down menu you will find Silver 925 which you select and then enter a weight of your silver to get the current price. Remember this is a guide price only to scap metal values.

The WOW Factor

I know, you will not see this term in any reference book but it is true of all collectors and buyers of antique silver. If you look at a piece for the first time and think WOW I want it then it has the WOW factor and its value just increased as you will not be alone in wanting to buy it.

Availability

Market forces fluctuate, currently scrap silver metal prices are high. Many dealers and sellers are choosing to sell items for scrap and pocket the profit. This is short term gain which can disrupt market prices. It can also make certain items scarce on the open market. For example flatware such as spoons and forks are usually a good weight of silver. These are frequently scrapped when prices are high. This means eventually they become scarce and prices therefore go up.

What will someone actually pay?

The acid test incorporating all of the points above is what will someone actually pay to buy the item? Now there are a number of simple tests you can make to value your own item of antique silver for free.

If you use eBay, or even if you do not they have a good search facility called eBay Completed Listings. If you search completed listings for antique silver you see a wide selection of antique silver items which have sold and what was paid for them. It also shows those not purchased with prices which is a good way of testing the eBay market place for prices.

You would also be wise to visit a local reputable auction house. They will be willing to give you a free appraisal of what they think they will be able to achieve at an auction for you for your item. They do however expect to charge you a commission fee upon a successful sale and the commission charge also attracts tax. Some auction houses also have a habit of taking their time in sending out your cheque!

You can also choose to sell direct to a dealer. Now bear in mind that any antique dealer has to make a profit. They have overheads like any business and are not buying your item to collect but purely to resell. They will consider all of the above based on what they think they can sell the item for. They will then deduct a percentage for profit and costs and value the item accordingly and make you an offer. This price will be nowhere near the prices displayed on their pieces for sale as a result.

So what seemed like a simple question, what’s it worth is far from simple in reality. Always seek expert advice and do as much research as you can before you decide to sell but also be realistic.

If you found this article useful do Like Us on Facebook by the link at the top of this page, bookmark the site and visit us again. Please feel free to comment in the box below, it’s good to get feedback.

The post Antique Silver What’s It Worth? appeared first on Silver2Treasure.

I start the video at the kitchen sink (where else!) and I have gathered my rubber gloves, Soda crystal and aluminium plate and a bowl. Now the plate shown is one you can buy from a company called qwicksilver and works very well. Others have told me they also use aluminium kitchen foil but I have never tried this. The soda crystals can be found in any supermarket.

You place the aluminium plate into the bottom of your bowl and add some  sodium carbonate soda crystals. I then add some boiling water to start the electrolytic process off. I then fill the bowl with hot water and then add some more soda crystals. You then place your silver item into the solution making sure the silver is touching the aluminium plate. In the video I point out some dangers with this process. Do not let wooden handles or finial gets wet and do not use this on anything with enamel. As the silver heats up in the water it will expand and if any enamel is loose it will fall off. Also wood and plastic can discolour in the solution.

Once you are happy most of the tarnish has come off I then wash the item in warm soapy water.

If it remains tarnished I then use a good quality silver polish such as Goddards to polish the item to a good shine.

This method works for the majority of silver items I buy to resell.

Now any silver polish will remove a minute amount of silver. Be careful around the hallmarks as you will reduce the value of your silver if these marks are rubbed away.

You can see the process unfold in the video below. I apologise for the slight hiss on the sound track.

We have a wide selection of Bedroom Silver, Dining Room Silver, Nursery Silver and Library Silver for sale.

Thank you for watching

The post How To Clean Silver appeared first on Silver2Treasure.