Victorian Antique Silver – What Is It? How Do You Spot It?

Back in the Victorian Era, silver plated household goods had enormous value and were extremely expensive in the marketplace. Not everyone could afford items that were plated with any amount of pure silver in them, so they had to settle for items made from pewter. Pewter was known as the “poor man’s silver” and was more of a lacklustre shade of gray that was close enough to silver for those without money.

Today, silver continues to be of lesser value when compared to gold, but it still has its value. Since you can purchase many silver plated items extremely cheaply nowadays, there is a danger that some Victorian antique silver plated goods could be tossed out in the trash with the belief that they have no value.

While many of these items may not have enormous value compared to other antique items, most are worth a lot more than people assume.

The Victorian era was a great time for the United Kingdom. Many new inventions started opening up to the masses, from gas lighting and anaesthetic, to silver plated household goods that contained some amount of pure silver. The good news about the opening of the silver plating market was that pewter items started to become more affordable as there was a new standard of luxury on the market.

Yet not all silver plated Victorian era household goods were equal in value. There was the standard silver plating which contained a low amount of pure silver in the plating mix and then you had quadruple silver plating which included four times the pure silver in the mix. There was also triple plating which had triple the standard amount of silver as well.

It is rare to find genuine quadruple silver plated items from the Victorian era on the market today. Most people know the value of these items and hang onto them, while others may have them stored away in belongings that have been passed down through the generations without realising what they have.

When it comes to judging the value of silver items, you can’t just assume that something that looks cheaply made is inferior in value to something that is made of gold or marked Cialis Jelly as sterling silver.

It isn’t easy to spot Victorian era silver plated items when you look at them, but it helps to know that they do have a tendency toward more elaborate decorative markings. While some items used in hotels were rather plain, most household goods that were silver plated received picturesque designs with birds and floral designs. This was true of Victorian era goods in general.

If you find something with silver plating that was officially marked “quadruple plated,” then chances are you have found something that was top-of-the-line silver plating during the Victorian era. These items are not very common on the market today, but there are some still out there.

You never know what that inexpensive-looking silver plated spoon warmer or silverware set from long ago may be worth! If you have items that have been sitting in storage for some time or which was handed down from elders in your family, it is worth the time to have it looked over by a professional. Many silver items have a lot more value than their owners realise until they are told the good news by a professional!

Author Bio: Find out more about Victorian antique silver by visiting www.boningtons.com.

Category: Hobbies/Collecting
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