Antique silver is in great demand amongst people who have an interest towards collecting unique items. Antique silver can include silver ring, earrings, watch, coin, silver flatware, tableware and many more things.

The most common source of Antique Silver has to be the royal and noble families of yesteryears. Silverware was a staple in these families and today, exquisite silver articles such as plates, bowls, cutlery etc can be found for sale. Most of these showcase wonderful craftsmanship and are generally stamped with the family crest. Even though with the advent of electroplating technology silverware has become accessible to the common man today, such examples of old silver are still valued for their exclusivity.

Antique silver items are relatively commonplace in the antique market. However, it is important to possess some idea of the style and patterns of the available ones. There are hundreds of distinct style and patterns present in the market. To make a selection amongst them is really difficult. Moreover, authentication of a genuine silver piece is very important. You should make sure to look for the ‘hallmark’ that can provide you the information regarding the designer and the origin.

With the inclusion of electroplating, silver crockery has turn out to be an affordable extravagance in average households. If you are looking for antique silver, it will be more likely that you are searching for the sterling silver flatware or sterling silver tableware. Sterling silver wares are rarer and they usually include the name of the maker and initials along with detailed location where these items were manufactured.

Are you wondering about how to distinguish antique silver from the usual ones? Well you can opt for an acid test by your jeweler that will cost you a small amount. In addition, there are certain tips to test silver. First of all do not use a touchstone, test the silver piece yourself. Scuff or lightly scratch a minute spot underneath and then you should apply Nitric Acid on that spot. If the color changes to cloudy grey then it is a sterling silver and if it turns to black then it is Coin silver. If it turns to green it indicates that the item is plated.

Antique silver is a very collectible area with an added bonus of being a valuable investment. During periods of inflation or recession a fluctuation in prices can offer good returns.

Apart from antique silver ware, antique silver jewelry is highly popular amongst the fairer sex. Fashioned to embellish different parts of the body, an antique jewelry piece creates a charm of its own. In the western societies, antique silver bracelet is a popular choice amongst fashionable women. These ’silver charm bracelets’ come in a range of sizes, designs, shapes and color combinations.

Antique Silver coins hold a special place among silver collectibles. Almost all nations at some point or the other have issued silver coins. Be it coins from the Roman Era, Chinese old coins or even commemorative and old American coins, silver coins are found everywhere, including some truly rare pieces. For a collector, the ideal way to get his hands on Antique Silver coins is through auctions that take place from time to time.

Just acquiring an antique silver piece for your collection is not sufficient. You need to take adequate care of them. Preserve them in a different place as they are vulnerable to corrosion, scratches and dents. It is necessary that you clean antique silver with a soft cloth to ensure prolonged use.

Colored Glaze Jewelry

Chinese Liuli, or “colored glaze,” is a perfect integration of ancient culture and modern art. With more than two thousand years of history, Liuli is currently made using dewaxed casting and artificial crystals. The entire process may take up to 20 days for each figurine. Each one must be exquisite, bright and limpid.

In the Bai Gong Handicraft Museum near the Beijing Guang Xi Hotel, I found a shop named “Bai Yi De Kun.” There are many gorgeous colored glaze items displayed in the shop. Also, they offer many necklaces, pendants, and bracelets.

After talking with the shop owner, I learned that Liuli is as hard as jade, even though it looks like glass. She showed me the most popular item in her shop, a beautiful pendant named “Yuan Meng,” which means “realizing one’s dream.” The blue was so translucent and shiny, and hung beautifully from a 14K white gold necklace. It was so mysterious and gorgeous, no wonder it was so popular.

You can also find some crafts fit for presents or gifts, such as a screen decorated with traditional Chinese images, all of them are high quality items.

Fantastic Silverware!

Situated on the Dong Si South Street close to the Beijing Fraternal Cooperation Hotel, Qian LongTang (Pure Silver Life) is the place for finding sterling silver flatware, silver accessories, and amber ware. They have rare antiques and contemporary designs.

At the first glance, you may feel the products in the shop are similar to those at other shops. But if you look closer, you will find the unique material and exquisite craftsmanship come from Nepal, India, and Tibet.

The most popular item is a classical silver ring featuring a 4mm square gem in the middle, with 2.5mm stones on the sides that alternate blue and clear. This polished sterling silver ring is priced at RMB 388.

Prices for the products there range generally from RMB 10 to RMB 1,000. The shop owner himself is from Nepal and speaks a little English. He knows nearly everything about the products and will help you to find the right fit.

By Carl Formby

Cutlery is the most essential part of tableware. Known as flatware (of which silverware is just a form) in the USA, it refers to any hand utensil used to serve and eat food in. It traditionally includes spoons, forks, and knives. In the US, it also includes plates, besides spoons, forks, and knives.

A flatware set commonly comprises a salad fork, a dinner fork, a dinner spoon, a soup spoon, and a teaspoon. It is available in the market both in single units as well as a set of five, twenty, or forty five pieces. These utensils are primarily of two main types, sterling silverware and stainless steel. There are other less expensive variants such as silver plated, plastic, and ceramic flatware. Based on the raw material used, the prices may vary from $10 to hundreds of dollars. Available in a wide variety of prices and styles, these items of flatware serve both utilitarian and decorative purposes.

The most expensive variety of silverware available is sterling silverware. According to US regulations, sterling silverware must contain at least 92.5% pure silver. The balance metal in sterling silverware is copper which is added for strength. Silverware required for a five place seating costs anything from $200 to $800, or perhaps more.

Silver flatware can be manufactured in an ornate and unique design, as silver is highly malleable in nature. Such cutlery is very flamboyant and is available in sets of not only five, but also in over a hundred pieces. Sterling silver, however, tarnishes very soon and needs regular polishing.

A more utilitarian and affordable variety of tableware is made of stainless steel. Manufacturers market them as 18/0, 18/8 or 18/10 stainless steel flatware. The figures depict the amount of chromium and nickel in the stainless steel alloy. In the 18/8 variety of stainless steel flatware, the 18 stands for the percentage of chromium and 8 stands for that of nickel.

Generally considered corrosion-free and stain-proof, stainless steel flatware is easy to maintain. There is a wide variety in the design and cost based on the finishing, weight, design, and knife blade quality.

Silver-plated flatware is another very good alternative to expensive silverware. Made from stainless steel coated with a thin layer of silver, it is more affordable and attractive. Production of plastic cutlery has increased manifold in recent years. Used as disposable flatware, it is very hygienic and has great usage in the fast food industry and by various airlines.

The flatware industry has come a long way since its inception in the 1800s. With a large variety in its design and its cost, it today caters to the demands of each strata of society.

Carl Formby owns and operates http://www.flatwarechoice.com, a website dedicated to Antique Silver Flatware.

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By Rod Low

Towle silver flatware is produced by one of the premier silverware companies of the United States, Towle Silversmiths. Its origin can be trace back to 1690 and they are one of the producers of best quality silver flatware in the United States.

In the United States, flatware are known for knives and other cutting instrument but in Europe, the term ‘flatware’ most importantly include spoons, forks and knives. For use everyday, its suggested to get flatware made of stainless steel. In fact some quality designs are also made of stainless steel. For cheaper alternative, Pewter seem to be a goo choice while the disposable flatware are usually made of plastic.

As a producer of the best selling silverware patterns, Towle provides excellent quality cutting blades and give great attention to details. Some of the various types of silver flatware are detailed below.

An all purpose XL flatware, like the name suggest, serve a number of purposes. It is used to prepare and serve as well as eat food.

Baby spoon is also another flatware made by Towle. Most baby spoons are made for use to feed baby age ranging twelve to twenty-four months.

Cake forks and cake serving forks are ideally used to serve and eat desserts. A cake knife can be used to cut cakes and pastries.

A cheese cleaver is used to cut large blocks of cheese. A cheese grater and cheese server are also used to grate and serve cheese respectively.

A demitasse spoon by Towle is used to serve after-dinner refreshments. It is ideally used to serve tea or coffee.

Dinner forks and knives are also available. These are used to eat solid food. However, dinner forks and knives of continental size are much bigger and heavier than regular dinner knives and forks.

Double jigger is a type of flatware that is used to measure liquor so as to prepare mixed drinks.

Engrave type flatware is one which have various designs on the surface of the metal. Electroplated flatware is one such flatware and which has a base metal coated with silver.

Flatware made by Towle also includes the fruit knife that is used to cut both fruits and vegetables.

The fish knife, fish serving knife, and the fish fork are flatware items that are used to cut, serve, and eat fish.

The gravy ladle by Towle is used to serve gravies and sauces.

The ice cream slicer is used to cut ice cream bricks as also custard-filled pies and cakes. Ice cream scoops are used to scoop ice creams or frozen yogurt. Ice cream forks are used to eat ice cream.

Through this article I hope that you may have better knowledge of the various types of flatware made available by Towle. For more information about Towle silver flatware, you can find it at thesterlingsilverflatware.com

The Sterling Silver Flatware is an online store that offers many different brand of sterling silver including Towle, Reed & Barton, Wallace etc. Browse the catalog of sterling silver flatware and find the pattern you are looking for at The Sterling Silver Flatware.

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By Rod Low

Just think about this, eBay is the world wide treasure chest of attic, dinning room and estate on earth. Just selection by specific item name alone cannot be matched. When you buy a piece of silverware on eBay, the chances of something going wrong is very slim. The buyers know what they want and most sellers are knowledgeable dealers too. If the listing does not provide accurate information, and the terms are not air tight, you can simply pass it by and buy it from someone else.

eBay as a Value Reference for Silverware

I simply can’t count the number of times I have sat down in front of my computer with a piece of silverware in my hand and a big question mark over my head. With the use of eBay’s key word search, I have more often than not be able to identify what piece it is I am holding, who made it and what is the going price on eBay. As a seller, this tells me where I should be listing on eBay, and as a buyer, this tells me what I can expect to pay for a piece of silverware. Don’t think you can do that on a retail store or auction house!

The Secret of Searching for Silverware on eBay

I shouldn’t be telling you this till you were slightly older, but since you look like you can handle it, here it goes. The problem with searching on eBay on anything made of silver is when the search result comes in. You are bombarded by hundreds if not thousands of listing for charms made of silver. Now, what should you do? Well in the search window, when typing in the search words, also include a minus sign and charms – or whatever items you want to omit from the search. Then *poof*, these items will be omitted from the search.

For example “Oneida silver -fork”. Get it?

So have fun searching for your collection on eBay. It would be the best experience and sometime, it can get addictive too.

The Sterling Silver Flatware is an online store with hundreds of different Sterling Silver Flatware at discounted price.

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