Question 1

Is Wallace silver real silver?

Accepted Answer

Yes, some Wallace silver is real silver. In 1875, Wallace introduced its line of sterling silver flatware, which was 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloy metals. The silversmith is perhaps best known for its ornate sterling patterns from the 1930s and ’40s. Among these were Wallace Rose Point, Sir Christopher, Stradivari, Grand Baroque and Romance of the Sea. It's important to note that silverware produced by Wallace prior to 1875 usually isn't real silver. Before the release of the Wallace sterling range, the company primarily manufactured pieces made with German silver, a copper-nickel alloy that contains no real silver. Shop a selection of Wallace silver wares on 1stDibs.

Question 2

Is electroplated silver real silver?

Accepted Answer

Yes, electroplated silver is real silver. However, it is not solid silver. Electroplating is the process of coating a base metal with a thin layer of precious metal. In the case of electroplated silver, sterling or pure silver may be used as the precious metal. Due to the manufacturing process, an electroplated piece will consist primarily of another type of metal, such as nickel. Shop a large selection of silver wares on 1stDibs.

Question 3

Is Russian silver real silver?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Russian silver is real silver, but it gets a little confusing because they do not have the same sterling silver standards that Europe, Australia, Canada, the United States and other countries associated with the British Commonwealth have. Russian silver is roughly 94.79% pure silver and the rest is copper or other alloys. The British Commonwealth silver standard uses 92.5% pure silver and the rest is copper or other alloys. Shop a collection of authentic Russian silver from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.

Question 4

Is Gorham silver real silver?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Gorham silver is real silver, however, the silver content changes depending on the item. Some Gorham items are sterling silver, which isn’t pure silver, but a mix of mostly silver and a small amount of another alloy, likely copper. Some other Gorham items are silver-plated. Shop a collection of Gorham silver jewelry from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Question 5

Is Taxco silver real silver?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Taxco silver is real silver. Pieces bearing the Taxco mark come from silversmith workshops located in Taxco, Mexico. The region has been known as a major center for silver production since the 1920s. Find a diverse assortment of Taxco silver jewelry, tableware and decorative objects on 1stDibs.

Question 6

What is the difference between silver and antique silver?

Accepted Answer

The difference between silver and antique silver is age. Items of any age made of silver or a silver alloy may be called silver. The term antique silver refers to silver pieces that are at least 100 years old. On 1stDibs, shop a range of antique, vintage and modern silver tableware and decorative objects.

Question 7

Is argent silver real silver?

Accepted Answer

Yes, argent silver is real silver. Also called argentium silver, it is an alloy that consists of 93.5% to 96% silver, depending on the manufacturer's formula. Instead of being mixed entirely with copper, the pure silver in argentium silver is usually combined with a blend of copper and germanium, giving the metal improved heat and stain resistance. On 1stDibs, explore a wide range of silver jewelry, tableware and decorative objects.

Question 8

Is antique silver real silver?

Accepted Answer

Whether or not antique silver is real depends on the piece. Sometimes, manufacturers simply call a gray-silver finish antique silver. In these cases, the item is usually not real silver. It is possible for antique silver to be pure silver, sterling or silver plated. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of silver decorative objects and jewelry.

Question 9

Is Poole Silver real silver?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Poole Silver is real silver. However, the American silversmith didn't produce all of its pieces out of solid silver. Poole developed an electro-plating technique that allowed a thin, durable layer of silver to be applied over sturdy base metals. On 1stDibs, find a range of Poole Silver Co. silver wares.

Question 10

Is Thai silver sterling silver?

Accepted Answer

Most thai silver has more pure silver in it than standard sterling silver. Most sterling silver is 92.5% silver with another alloy, typically copper, making up the rest of the metal. Thai silver often falls in the range of 97.5-99% pure silver, so a significantly higher percentage of it is pure silver, making it softer and less likely to tarnish. On 1stDibs, find vintage and contemporary silver jewelry from top sellers around the world.

Question 11

Is Godinger silver real silver?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Godinger silver is real silver. The American luxury brand produces tableware, decorative objects and giftware out of silver plate. As a result, their silver items have a base metal to which a layer of genuine silver is applied. They are not usually solid silver. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Godinger silver wares.

Question 12

Is silver cutlery real silver?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the make and model whether or not silver cutlery contains real silver. Some flatware contains a percentage of sterling silver, however, not all silvertone flatware contains silver. Shop a wide collection of flatware, including silver, on 1stDIbs.

Question 13

Is Leonard silver real silver?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Leonard silver is real silver. However, the Leonard Silver Company electroplated most of its pieces, crafting them from base metal and finishing them with a thin layer of genuine silver. During the 1970s, Towle purchased Leonard Silver and continued to produce silver-plate serving trays and other silver-plated tableware under the brand name through the late 20th century. On 1stDibs, shop a large selection of silver wares.

Question 14

Is Sheffield silver real silver?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Sheffield silver is part real silver, part copper. Sheffield manufactured what is known as a Sheffield plate, which is a “double sandwich” form of plating—it has a sheet of silver on each side of a piece of copper. Shop a selection of Sheffield pieces on 1stDibs.

Question 15

How can you tell silver from silver plating?

Accepted Answer

To tell silver from silver plating, try holding a strong magnet near the item. If the magnet is attracted to the piece, it is most likely silver-plated, as solid silver is unlikely to be magnetic. You can also check the hallmarks. Markings that say silver plate, EP, EPNS, EPBM or BP indicate plating. Alternatively, you can have a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer evaluate the piece. Explore a large selection of silver jewelry, tableware and decorative objects on 1stDibs.

Question 16

Is Barbour silver real silver?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Barbour silver is generally real silver. However, not all pieces produced by the brand are solid silver. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the American silversmith produced both solid sterling silver and silverplate tableware, flatware and decorative objects. Silverplate items consist primarily of base metal and have just a thin layer of genuine silver applied as a finish. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Barbour silver wares.

Question 17

Is the International Silver Company real silver?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the International Silver Company produced real silver products. The hallmark "IS," however, refers to the brand and does not indicate purity, as International Silver mass produced silverplated flatware and holloware as well as sterling. In order to determine if the piece is real silver, look for the standard marks that indicate purity — the number 92.5 or 925 and the word “sterling” are indicators of sterling quality.

When an object is described as “silver” or “sterling silver,” it means that it contains 92.5% pure silver (the remaining 7.5% consists of copper and/or other alloys). The purity standard was first established in England and later adopted in the United States. The mark on antique British sterling-silver pieces is the lion passant (a lion walking to the left), which signifies a work is 92.5 percent pure sterling; if it’s not there, it is likely silverplate — or not English.

International Silver was a Connecticut conglomerate formed from 17 companies in 1898. It was once the largest manufacturer of silver and silver-plated products in the world.

Find antique International Silver Company serveware, platters and decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.

Question 18

What's the difference between silver and sterling silver?

Accepted Answer

The difference between silver and sterling silver is its composition. Silver is a general term used to describe metal that is rich in or made completely of the element silver. Sterling silver is a specific alloy with 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals like nickel or brass. Fine silver is the term for 99.9% pure silver. On 1stDibs, shop a large collection of silver jewelry, watches, tableware and decorative accents.

Question 19

Is sterling silver real silver or fake?

Accepted Answer

Sterling silver is real silver, not fake. However, it is not solid silver. A piece of sterling silver usually contains 92.5% pure silver, and the remainder of its content comes from base metals. Sterling silver is a popular material for jewelry because it is durable and resists tarnishing. On 1stDibs, shop a large collection of sterling silver jewelry.

Question 20

Are sterling-silver spoons solid silver?

Accepted Answer

A sterling silver spoon is mostly fine silver, but not quite solid silver. Sterling silver is an alloyed form of silver, and is 92.5% fine silver and 7.5% copper. You can shop a collection of authentic sterling silver items from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.

Silver Were

Late 20th Century Hong Kong Modern Stud Earrings

Ming s Hawaii 3D Rose Earrings 14 Karat Yellow Gold

20th Century Figurative Paintings

Anna Katrina ZinkeisenA Boxing Tournament, British Oil, Major Sporting Event

Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Table Lamps

Fish Table Lamp , German , 1920, design: WMF ikora , Technique: dinanderie

Late 20th Century Hong Kong Modern Link Bracelets

Ming s Hawaii White Jade and Hawaiian Quilt Design 14 Karat Yellow Gold Bracelet

Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Center Tables

Dominique Two-Tiered Table

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Sofas

Dominique Meridian, Daybed or Sofa

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Sculptures

Colleen WolstenholmeUntitled (8 Prozac bracelet), 2011

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Club Chairs

Dominique Pair of "Mustache" Club Chairs

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Michele MorataSUENO {DREAM} TRIPTYCH - SET OF 3, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel, 2020

Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Side Tables

Dominique Low or Side Table in Rayed Sycamore

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Peruvian Pre-Columbian Antiquities

Pre-Columbian Inca Mantle with 16 Figures, Peru, 1476-1534 AD

Antique 1860s French Greek Revival Pedestals

Pair of Neo-Greek Pedestals. C.G. Diehl J.Brandely, France, circa 1867

Early 2000s American Organic Modern Vases

Ceramic Moon Jar Vase by Otto Heino

Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Inkwells

Bronze Inkwell Sculpture "Les Moutons à L abreuvoir" by Jules Moigniez

21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Sofas

Customizable ClassiCon Lota Sofa by Eileen Gray

1990s Portrait Photography

Susan DergesThe Observer and The Observed, 1991/2022

Vintage 1960s Space Age Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Space Age Vintage Glass Chromed Coffee Table or Sofa Table with Rings, 1960s

Vintage 1970s American Brutalist Dressers

Vintage White Lacquer over Wood Gentlemen s Sculptural Chest Dresser or Cabinet

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Club Chairs

Dominique Single Round-Backed Club Chair

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Club Chairs

Dominique Single Faceted-Back Club Chair

Vintage 1940s French Modernist Cocktail Rings

Jean Després Lapis Lazuli and Gold Ring circa 1940

Antique 1860s Italian More Mirrors

Antique Italian Giltwood Mirror Carved with Fruiting Vines, 19th Century

Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export More Asian Art, Objects and Fur...

Amazing Full Size Hardstone Burial Suit

1930s American Realist Figurative Paintings

Stephen MopopeIndian Chief, 30 s - gouache, 29x23 cm., framed

Antique 18th Century Italian Religious Items

Peace Depicting the Crucifixion in Dark Patina Bronze 18th Century

18th Century Portrait Paintings

Charles PhilipsPortrait of a King s Messenger, 18th Century English Artist, Original Frame

Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Drop Necklaces

Jacob Bengel Art Deco Chrome and Galalith Pendant Necklace

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Music Stands

Lee Rohde Sculptural Lectern Form in Wengé, 1970

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Side Chairs

Dominique Pair of Ebonized Side Chairs

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Bookends

French Art Deco Bookends Young Satyrs by C. Charles on Marble Base, 1930

21st Century and Contemporary Prints

Martin Parr Jubilee Street Party Elland Yorkshire 1977 Print

2010s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Britney Penouilh"Providence Mountains" Contemporary Abstract Multimedia Painting, 2019

Antique 1840s English Early Victorian Dining Room Chairs

circa 1845 C Hindley Sons Lion Carved Chesterfield Brown Leather Dining Chairs

Antique 19th Century German Neoclassical Sculptures

19th Century Berlin Iron Work Statue of Goethe

Early 2000s Mexican Spanish Colonial Candelabras

Iron Floral Candelabra by Jan Barboglio

Early 18th Century Sculptures

Spanish Colonial (Peruvian)Silver and Transitional Andean Textile Casket, ca. 17th/18th Century

1960s Contemporary Black and White Photography

Buzz AldrinNASA Sun Visor by Neil Armstrong, Vintage Apollo 11 Photo of Buzz Aldrin 1960s, 1969

Vintage 1980s Italian Barware

Couple of Vintage Bamboo Gucci Ashtray in Silver 800

20th Century French Art Deco Tea Sets

Tea Set in Chrome and Wood, Attributed to Maison Desny, France, circa 1930

20th Century Spanish Georgian Sterling Silver

Anna Katrina Zinkeisen
A Boxing Tournament, British Oil, Major Sporting Event

Colleen Wolstenholme
Untitled (8 Prozac bracelet), 2011

Michele Morata
SUENO {DREAM} TRIPTYCH - SET OF 3, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel, 2020

Susan Derges
The Observer and The Observed, 1991/2022

Stephen Mopope
Indian Chief, 30 s - gouache, 29x23 cm., framed

Charles Philips
Portrait of a King s Messenger, 18th Century English Artist, Original Frame

Britney Penouilh
"Providence Mountains" Contemporary Abstract Multimedia Painting, 2019

Spanish Colonial (Peruvian)
Silver and Transitional Andean Textile Casket, ca. 17th/18th Century

Buzz Aldrin
NASA Sun Visor by Neil Armstrong, Vintage Apollo 11 Photo of Buzz Aldrin 1960s, 1969