what is a silver tea set worth

Full Answer

What is the value of a silver plated tea set?

Your 19th century 3-piece silver-plate tea set is a lovely reminder of your family history and the history of a successful British firm. Its monetary value is about $200. Jane Alexiadis is an appraiser with Michaan's Auctions. Likewise, are old silver plated trays worth anything? Unfortunately, silver-plated items hold almost no monetary worth.

How to evaluate silver tea set?

All About Antique Silver Tea Sets

• Determination of Value. Antique silver tea sets never seem to go out of style, but beautiful as they are they require a great deal of upkeep.
• History and description of tea services. Silver tea sets, or services, are part of the past when afternoon high tea was offered as a small meal.
• Determining value. ...

What is the value of William Rogers tea set?

Vintage of 2 WM.A Rogers S.P.Copper Lead MI-7977 TEA & Chocolate Pot Set. $34.98. $34.45 shipping. WM. A Rogers Quadruple Silver Plate New York #912 Covered Creamer. $25.00. 0 bids. $9.10 shipping. Ending Aug 13 at 1:50PM PDT.

Are old tea sets of value?

Whether you have inherited you grandmother's china or picked up a tea set at a garage sale, you may be wondering what your set of tea cups and saucers is worth. Antique or old china may be very valuable or worth very little, depending on the manufacturer, condition, rarity and current demand. The value of your cups and saucers is whatever a buyer is willing to pay for them; you can have them appraised or research what comparable china sells for to determine their value.

Are old silver tea sets worth anything?

Based on age, maker, and the pieces included, value can be a wide range. A sterling set can start at $1,000, while a silver-plated set is much less- though the maker will matter. Services without a tray are less valuable, and those with additional pieces are of course more desirable.

How do I know if my silver tea set is worth anything?

Both silver-plated and sterling tea sets have value, but sterling silver sets are worth considerably more because of the value of the silver itself. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver. You can tell if an antique tea set is sterling silver, silver plate, or another metal option by looking at the marks on the bottom.

Can you sell silver tea sets?

Gorgeous old silver flatware, trays, bowls, pitchers and tea sets may be more of a responsibility than many people today are able to take on. If you decide to sell it, you'll want to get top dollar. A wide array of businesses buy household silver, and many offer considerably less than your silver is worth.

How can you tell if a silver tea set is real?

"A silver object that is to be sold commercially is, in most countries, stamped with one or more silver hallmarks indicating the purity of the silver, the mark of the manufacturer or silversmith, and other markings to indicate date of manufacture and additional information about the piece.

How can you tell how old a tea set is?

Look at the numbers on the bottom of the tea set. Numbers represent the code of the manufacturer, a pattern number or its registration number. The number will have "rd" following it if it is the registration number. The number is an important piece in identifying tea set age as you combine all of the previous steps.

How can you tell silver from silver-plated?

If you do not see the sterling marking, the item is probably silver plated. Check the colouring of the item carefully; genuine silver is generally less shiny and colder in tone than silverplate. If you see places where the silver appears to be flaking off or turning green, the item is silver plated.

How do I sell my old silver tea set?

Get an appraisal in person for antique/collectible value but find a separate buyer. Consider selling online through eBay or another web site. Call around for the going local price for sterling and for silver plate if you want a quick sale.

How do you get rid of silver tea sets?

Add enough water to cover the silver pieces. Pour in 2 quarts of hot water and add 2 teaspoons of baking soda, stirring to dissolve. Place the silver pieces on the foil. Once the tarnish is gone, remove the silver, rinse well and buff dry with a soft cloth.

What can I do with grandma's silver?

Some people do take their antique silverware to auction or sell it through a middleman, but you do have to pay a commission on that. Instead, you can sell it yourself online. There are a number of auction sites dedicated to selling silver, plus you can always turn to sites such as eBay.

What markings are on real silver?

The vast majority of items made from sterling silver contain a quality mark, a stamp placed in a discreet spot that denotes its purity. These marks will say ". 925" or "925" or "S925" or sometimes "Sterling." Along with the quality mark, a hallmark (the maker's registered mark) must also be placed on the piece.

Does a magnet stick to real silver?

Conducting a magnet test is another quick and easy way to find out whether a certain silver object is authentic. Similar to other precious metals, pure silver is regarded as nonmagnetic. It exhibits weak magnetism, but the effects shouldn't be noticeable. Grab a magnet and see if it's drawn to the item in question.

How can you tell if silver is antique?

Silver hallmarks are one of the most important factors in identifying antique silver jewelry, flatware, and other items. These small stamped symbols on the back or underside of silver items can tell you the purity of the silver, the manufacturer of the piece, and sometimes even the date it was made.

What is a vintage silver tea set?

A fabulous vintage silver tea set comes with many pieces such as a one or two pitchers, a cream bowl, a sugar bowl and also a waste bowl. It has ornate carvings which bring out the beauty of the silver metal. When polished, pieces of the set simply gleam in the sunlight.

What is a tea set?

Tea sets are some of the most common, and desired of the Antique Silver collectables. Silver Tea Sets started becoming common in the 18th century and often took the "bullet form" style. Antique Silver Tea Sets can have great value beyond their basic Silver Value as they can be beautifully decorative and add a wonderful elegance to any home.

What are the factors that increase the value of a silver tea set?

There are many factors which are considered and can greatly increase the value of your silver tea set. Desirably and uniqueness of design. Quality. Manufacturer. History. Most Antique Silver Tea Sets have little to no historical value. However, consulting an expert is the best way of determining this for your tea set.

How many pieces are in a basic set?

A basic set will often include 3 pieces or more including: the tea pot, sugar bowl, creamer, waste bowl, coffee pot, tray, and so on. The more pieces, and the condition they're in, the better.

Is sterling silver teaware valuable?

While Sterling Silver Tea Sets do exist and can be quite valuable, and can be identified with such Silver Marks as "925" (indicating 92.5% pure silver) or lion passant for genuine English silver, many Antique Silver Tea Sets are made with Sheffield Silver, which describes an English silver plating technique developed in the 1740s. However, despite being silver plated, or hollowware, these pieces can still be quite valuable.

How to clean silver tea set?

How to Clean a Silver Tea Set. Fill your sink with hot water. Place a sheet of aluminum foil over the bottom of your sink. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 2 tablespoons of salt. Place the silver tea set in the sink and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Remove the silver tea set and dry with a soft towel.

How to get black marks off silverware?

Rub a soft white cloth over the silverware, then check for black marks on the cloth. Real sterling silver oxidizes, tarnishing with exposure to the air, so the cloth should have some black tarnish on it. If the silver is plated with platinum, this method won't work.

What is sterling silver made of?

Sterling silver objects are made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. Unfortunately, silver-plated items hold almost no monetary worth. There is not enough silver content to have melt down value and generally, these pieces do not retain their resale value. How do you clean a silver plated tea set?

How much does a sterling silver set cost?

A sterling set can start at $1,000, while a silver-plated set is much less- though the maker will matter. Services without a tray are less valuable, and those with additional pieces are of course more desirable.