Silver & Sterling
Sterling silver, hollowware, and flatware.
Serving pieces, tea sets, and heirloom flatware, with marks and any metal testing disclosed on the listing. Ideal for collectors and hosts alike.
Estate silver carries its own paperwork stamped into the base. Sterling, coin silver, continental 800 and electroplate all look similar in a photograph and are worth very different amounts.
What to look for in silver & sterling
- STERLING / 925
- 92.5% silver — solid silver by the US and modern international standard.
- COIN / .900
- 90% silver, typical of American pieces made before about 1870.
- EPNS / triple plate
- Electroplated base metal. Decorative value only, no bullion value.
- Hallmark sequence
- British pieces carry maker, lion passant, town mark and a date letter that pins down the year.
How we list silver & sterling
Every piece listed as sterling is either hallmarked or tested. Weights are given for solid silver so you can judge value against the market, and monograms, removals and repairs are always disclosed.
We clean lightly and stop at the marks — over-polishing rounds hallmarks and strips the patina collectors pay for.
Common questions
Does 925 always mean sterling?
925 is the sterling standard and is genuine on legitimate pieces, but it is also the most commonly faked mark, so weight, sound and a magnet test still matter.
Is silver plate worth anything?
It has decorative and maker value but essentially no bullion value. Named Victorian and Deco plated hollowware still sells well.
Should silver be polished before sale?
Light cleaning helps photographs. Aggressive polishing permanently reduces value by wearing hallmarks and patina.