Sterling Silver

Pure silver, is generally too soft for producing functional objects, so silver is usually alloyed with copper to give it strength while maintaining the appearance of a precious metal. Sterling silver contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% of other metals, usually copper.

Sterling silver was first used for commerce as early as the 12th century. The first legal definition of sterling silver specified that 12 ounces of silver for coinage should contain 11 ounces 2 1⁄4 pennyweights of silver and 17 3⁄4 pennyweights of alloy, with 20 pennyweights to the Troy ounce.

Silver objects sold commercially are usually stamped with one or more silver hallmarks indicating the purity of the silver, the mark of the silversmith, and sometimes the date and location of manufacture.

Silver flatware includes tableware items that are relatively flat and constructed as a single piece. This includes silverware such as forks, knives and spoons.

Silver holloware (hollowware, or hollow-ware) includes tableware such as sugar bowls, creamers, coffee pots, teapots, tea sets, soup tureens, hot food covers, water jugs, platters, butter pat plates, and other metal items that went with the dishware on a table.

While sterling silver has intrinsic value for the silver content, antique sterling silver can have far more value as a collectible item. The additional value depends on the silversmith or maker, the quality of craftsmanship, the condition and age of the item.

Renowned silversmiths include:

  • Buccellati
  • Chrisofle
  • Georg Jensen
  • Gorham
  • Puiforcat
  • Tiffany
  • Towle
  • Wallace

Read the full history of sterling silver at Wikipedia by clicking here.



Most commercially available sterling silver objects are stamped with one or more silver hallmarks indicating the purity of the silver and the mark of the manufacturer. Some also have other markings to indicate date of manufacture and additional information about the piece.


Photo fromTiffany Studios (United States, New York, 1889 - 1902). original photograph on Flickr was taken by Beesnest McClain.

Silver in the News
Read the latest news articles about silver on our News page.
Top News Items

SJ Auctioneers' Oct. 27 Auction, Has Items Ranging From Estate Silverware To Vintage Japanese Toys
Brooklyn, NY, USA, October 5, 2024 -- More than 250 lots of diverse items ranging from high-end estate silverware to highly collectible Japanese tin buses will come up for bid in an online auction ... continued..
Antiques: Silver and gold are getting hot and hotter
Besides jewelry, if you have unused flatware, serving pieces, tea sets and similar items, you might want to look for silver marks on their bottoms or undersides. If you see imprints such as ".925" or ... continued..
CHRISTOFLE "ARIA" STERLING SILVER FLATWARE SET
CHRISTOFLE ARIA STERLING SILVER FLATWARE SET by Christofle Co is available at October Major Estates Auction - artnet ... continued..

Latest Silver Videos
Check out all the latest Youtube videos about silver on our Videos page.

Phil Dreis, owner of the Antique Cupboard and author of the Warman's Sterling Silver Flatware: Value & Identification Guide talks about his favorite strange pieces of silver. continued..
Phil Dreis, owner of the Antique Cupboard and author of the Warman's Sterling Silver Flatware: Value & Identification Guide talks about receiving silver from customers and melting it down or not melting it down. continued..
A magnificent, fine and impressive, large pair of antique George V English sterling silver bowls / centrepieces in the Art Nouveau ... continued..
A magnificent, fine and impressive, large pair of contemporary Elizabeth II English sterling silver table ornaments modelled in the ... continued..
Phil Dreis, owner of the Antique Cupboard and author of the Warman's Sterling Silver Flatware: Value & Identification Guide talks about a rare 19th century Whiting Company catalog that came into Antique Cupboard's possession. Highlighted are hollow ware trophies from that era continued..

Previous Next