Wash, or at the very least, rinse your sterling or silver plate immediately after use. If food is left on your silver for an extended period of time, it can stain or damage the metal. Acidic or corrosive foods such as mayonnaise, salt, vinegar, or eggs are especially problematic. Avoid soaking your silver in water [...]
How to Identify American Silver Marks Part II: Investigating the Maker
In this post, we will walk through the basics of researching your makers. This is certainly a quick overview; for more detailed information, please browse our post “Books for the Beginning Silver Collector.” If you want to use the internet to find the maker of your piece, then I would recommend starting at this site: [...]
How to Identify American Silver Marks Part I Sterling Silver Flatware Holloware Jewelry
This week and next, we will discuss the basics of identifying the marks on your American silver antiques. The myriad of sterling silver items in your home may be endless: sugar castors, liqueur tags, flatware, hollowware, Native American jewelry, frames; the list could go on. You will need bright lighting and a magnifying glass or [...]
Antiques with Stories and Provenance- An Engagement Ring that Spanned More than a Century
The best antiques are the ones with stories behind them and are not for sale. We’ve have had the privilege of getting to know one Philadelphia family that traces their family tree to before the founding of America. Listening to stories and looking through family journal reveals interesting provenance that make items like Uncle Castors [...]
The Legacy of Atsidi Sani- Navajo Jewelry by Ann Sheyka
In the early 1800′s, the relationship between Native Americans & white settlers was still amicable. Trade had developed between the two groups with Indians trading settlers for household goods like the kettle, traps, tools & rifles. The white man got snowshoes, canoes, tobacco, & corn. Tribes like the Cherokee and Seminole Creek traded for [...]
