Silver Patterns | Sarasota | Tampa | St Pete
At Sarasota Antique, we are always searching for those unique sterling silver patterns found in many collections.
The rare and timeless beauty of any sterling piece also creates a fantastic image of the time from which it came. They have been traded in Europe since the 12th century where they were highly valued. And after the expansion of global commerce, items made their way overseas to join the market in the US.
We have a true appreciation for the effort and time silversmith put into every minute detail as they craft. This is precisely why we made it our business to appraise and purchase antiques and vintage items.
What is Sterling Silver?
Part of our job is to share our knowledge of silver patterns to the residents in the Sarasota area. Sterling has a minimum purity of 92.5% and is alloyed with 7.5% of other metals (typically copper), which assures its durability and continued beauty. You can check to make sure your piece is sterling by looking for their hallmarks such as “Sterling”, “925”, “950”. Sterling is also a non-ferrous metal and therefore has no magnetic properties; so often a simple way to determine a plated piece is with the use of an everyday magnet.
If you still find yourself with questions, we are more than willing to help you distinguish the difference and determine the value of your valuable.
Types of Silver Patterns
There are countless, highly desirable flatware and silverware sterling silver patterns just waiting to be discovered in Sarasota. Some of these most common name brands include:
- Kirk
- Tiffany
- Gorham
- Chrysanthemum
- Towle
- Seymour
- and many more
As you can conclude, there are a large variety of quality brands, which often makes it quite difficult to differentiate one from another. Each name has a specific design and detailed hallmark that qualify them as an authentic piece.
Part of our passion comes from the associated history of these pieces and we want to share the thrilling experience with our clients. With our extensive experience in historic and vintage items, we can identify the items in your collection.
Authentic or Modified Silver Patterns
Since original silver patterns from the 17th and 18th centuries are valuable, many of them were copied in the 19thcentury. They were created in order to widen their availability and to replace missing artifacts. You can often tell the authenticity by the appearance of the sterling. The metal used in the 18th century was of a higher quality than is used today. In addition, the silver is normally worn: A spoon becomes thinner because it is used over time.
Knowledge of Silver Patterns
With over 22 years of experience with evaluating, buying, and selling silver patterns and other antiques, when you come to Sarasota Antique Buyers we guarantee you an educational and insightful experience.
Our clients frequently have questions and concerns about their silver patterns. For your convenience, we include our online contact form on every page that you can attach information and photos to for free verbal appraisals.
If you live in the Sarasota area and have sterling silver patterns, we would love to appraise them. Our passion is in expanding our knowledge and handling valuable pieces of history. With the proper training, education, and experience you can depend on us for any questions, concerns, or comments you may have regarding your piece.