PROFILE
I am listing my private collection of sterling silver that I collected over the last 25 years. I worked almost 20 years selling collectible wrist watches, jewelry and sterling silver hollowware, mostly for the international market.
My passion has always been modern design and these silver pieces represent my personal taste for interior design that met my requirements for beauty and elegant simplicity. The majority of these pieces are design and craftsmanship ranging from the early 1920’s to the early 1960’s.
The quality and existing condition of these pieces are exactly the same as when I originally purchased them. Any damages that I may indicate in the postings or lists are the same damages these pieces had when I purchased them. I have carefully maintained my collection, polishing at least 1 time a year.
Item for auction:
· CARTIER PAUL REVERE REPRODUCTION BOWL ANDORIGINAL BOX w/ monogram
Manufacturer: Cartier Silver Co.
Weight: 182 g/6.41 ounces
Metallurgy: Sterling Silver 925/100
Hallmark: 1950’S – 1960’S
Design Function: Bowl
Size: Diameter 5” / Height 3 1/8” / Base Dia. 3”
Condition: Excellent Condition
MAINTENANCE & CARE FOR STERLING SIVLER
Sterling silver has been used since the days of the Egyptian pharaohs dating back to 4,500 years ago and is considered a rare precious metal. “Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals (typically copper). While the addition of copper to the silver is what makes it more durable, copper is also what makes sterling silver more susceptible to tarnishing over time as it reacts to environmental factors in the air.” www.southernliving.com/home/cleaning-and-housekeeping/does-sterling-silver-tarnish#
TO POLISH OR NOT TO POLISH: Sterling silver hollowware production in the USA occurred principally between the 1850’s to the late 1960’s. Handmade silver hollowware was sold perfectly polished. It was always intended that these beautifully crafted objects would remain polished. I would never buy or sell heavily tarnished or oxidized silver pieces. Buying unpolished silver, places the buyer at risk, because damages due to use or improper care can be easily hidden or masked.
POLISHING CREAM: The best quality silver polishing cream as recommended by professionals is WENOL Metal Polishing Cream. This is the product I have used exclusively for 25 years. It does an excellent job of reducing very light scratches and provides long term protection against tarnishing. Always use gloves during cleaning and polishing. Use a soft flannel, low nap, slightly damp cloth, and with a dab of polishing cream and work the entire area several times until your cloth is almost black. Allow the residual to dry.
POLISHING: Polishing is somewhat of an art. I use flannel rags and I go through 3 stages of removal and polishing.
1st stage is to remove the bulk of the dried polishing cream rubbing with a slightly damp rag.
2nd stage is to work the polishing cloth to create a shine using a dry rag.
3rd stage is to buff the silver to the highest polish possible by hand.
CLEANING: After polishing, wash your silver with a mild soap and rinse with clean water only in areas where food or liquids will be served in them. Otherwise, for short- and long-term storage, sterling silver should not be washed and rinsed after polishing.
STORAGE: To preserve your sterling silver from tarnishing after polishing, objects should not be placed in conditions with long exposure to UV light, high humidity, salty air and not placed in close proximity to air exchangers, heating or cooling ducts. Use silver polishing mittens or latex gloves to avoid grease marks from hands and fingers after cleaning. In ideal conditions you can display sterling silver for up to a year or longer before needing polishing. For long term storage I suggest wrapping your silver in multiple thin packaging paper sheets and store them in a closed box or container.
FREQUENT USAGE: I used my silver collection fairly frequently. It was created to be used. Of course, you want to use care, but the good thing is that sterling silver can always be repaired. There are numerous craftsmen who can repair almost anything with made with sterling silver, which can be soldered, bent or straightened. Most dents, cracks and scratches can be easily removed, monograms can be eliminated and Sheffield (silver plate) can be re-plated.
QUALITY CONDITION RATINGS
POOR: Sterling silver pieces that are visually damaged, such as cracks, heavily dented, bent and require repairing. Used in Poor Condition.
GOOD: Sterling silver pieces that are visually damaged by scratches or small dents but are in fairly good condition. Used in Good Condition.
VERY GOOD: Sterling pieces that are visually, slightly damaged by dents or scratches, but the overall appearance is ideal. Used in Very Good Condition. It is somewhat common to find good antique sterling silver in this condition.
EXCELLENT: Sterling pieces that may have very slight dents, dimples or scratches that may not be easily visible and the overall appearance is excellent. Used in Excellent Condition. It is not common to find good antique sterling silver is this condition.
PERFECT: Sterling pieces with no visible damages; no monograms, no scratches, dents or dimples and has a perfect finish and polish. These items with this rating may appear to have never been used. Used in Perfect Condition. Finding antique sterling silver in this condition is rare.
MINT: Sterling Silver that has never been used and is in perfect condition, with no monograms, scratches, dents or dimples and has never been polished or buffed.* Often may often include original box and packaging. Never used, new in Mint Condition. Finding antique sterling silver in this condition is very rare.
*POLISHING SCRATCHES: Unfortunately, the moment that new or buffed sterling silver is polished by hand polishing scratches will appear, which might not be visible by the eye unless a magnifying glass is used. Polishing scratches under a micro lens (close ups) will also show up in photos even more dramatically but again, these scratches are not usually easily visible under normal observation.