Post by Admin on Oct 16, 2014 20:31:29 GMT
Whether this is your hobby or your profession, you will need some tools to examine antique silver. Fortunately, you already have the most important tools you need – your hands, your eyes, and your nose (yes, silver smells different).
When you pick up a piece of silver, notice how it weighs in your hand (its “heft”). I can usually tell just by the weight whether or not the piece is silver or silverplate. Most people are surprised when I tell them that silver is usually lighter than silverplate, because silverplated bodies are cast and solid silver pieces are made from thin sheets.
Let your hands feel over the surface. You will notice dents, deep scratches, and large solder repairs with your hands a lot faster that you can find them with your eyes. You should have a good 10 power fully corrected, triplet loupe. A triplet simply means that the magnification is accomplished by means of three lenses. Since there can be some distortion at the edges, a corrected loupe minimizes that distortion and gives you a larger field of vision. Currently, 20.5mm is the popular size. You can see more.
It costs more than most of the bargain brands, but if you have an interest in antiques, you’ll find that you will quickly graduate to a professional quality loupe. This one tool will help you in all areas of antique identification.
You can use the loupe to look at the surface of your item. The quality and smoothness of the surface will help you decide how well the item is made. You can also use the loupe to take a closer look at the areas you felt with your hands.
Sometimes, too much of a good thing is not helpful. The same is true with loupes and hallmarks or maker’s marks. After decades of polishing, marks can wear to the point that they are barely visible. Sometimes, a 10x loupe is too much. In these cases, you need a 6x power loupe so that the mark is not magnified beyond the point of recognition. Sometimes, turning the item so that the light reflects off the item from a different direction makes it easier to decipher marks.
The most common mistake people make when using a loupe is how to hold it. You do not hold a loupe several inches away from your eyes like you hold a magnifying glass. Place your index finger through the opening that closes over the loupe.
Identifying silver hallmarks is a study in itself, so if you are interested in antique silver, a good beginner book is All About Antique Silver with International Hallmarks. This book has hallmarks for 24 countries and gives you a good foundation for identifying both flatware and hollowware. The benefit of using this book over a book like Tardy’s is that Tardy’s just have marks.
Now if you have inherited silver or perhaps bought it many years ago, consider having a silver appraisal done. While most homeowners policies cover general contents, silver flatware and silver hollowware have low coverage without an appraisal.
When you pick up a piece of silver, notice how it weighs in your hand (its “heft”). I can usually tell just by the weight whether or not the piece is silver or silverplate. Most people are surprised when I tell them that silver is usually lighter than silverplate, because silverplated bodies are cast and solid silver pieces are made from thin sheets.
Let your hands feel over the surface. You will notice dents, deep scratches, and large solder repairs with your hands a lot faster that you can find them with your eyes. You should have a good 10 power fully corrected, triplet loupe. A triplet simply means that the magnification is accomplished by means of three lenses. Since there can be some distortion at the edges, a corrected loupe minimizes that distortion and gives you a larger field of vision. Currently, 20.5mm is the popular size. You can see more.
It costs more than most of the bargain brands, but if you have an interest in antiques, you’ll find that you will quickly graduate to a professional quality loupe. This one tool will help you in all areas of antique identification.
You can use the loupe to look at the surface of your item. The quality and smoothness of the surface will help you decide how well the item is made. You can also use the loupe to take a closer look at the areas you felt with your hands.
Sometimes, too much of a good thing is not helpful. The same is true with loupes and hallmarks or maker’s marks. After decades of polishing, marks can wear to the point that they are barely visible. Sometimes, a 10x loupe is too much. In these cases, you need a 6x power loupe so that the mark is not magnified beyond the point of recognition. Sometimes, turning the item so that the light reflects off the item from a different direction makes it easier to decipher marks.
The most common mistake people make when using a loupe is how to hold it. You do not hold a loupe several inches away from your eyes like you hold a magnifying glass. Place your index finger through the opening that closes over the loupe.
Identifying silver hallmarks is a study in itself, so if you are interested in antique silver, a good beginner book is All About Antique Silver with International Hallmarks. This book has hallmarks for 24 countries and gives you a good foundation for identifying both flatware and hollowware. The benefit of using this book over a book like Tardy’s is that Tardy’s just have marks.
Now if you have inherited silver or perhaps bought it many years ago, consider having a silver appraisal done. While most homeowners policies cover general contents, silver flatware and silver hollowware have low coverage without an appraisal.