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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 Continental / International Silver
 Cutlery Set
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| Author | Topic: Cutlery Set |
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Wombat Posts: 4 |
posted 02-27-2007 04:40 PM
  
[26-1365] Subject: 60 piece cutlery set with heavily patterned handles. Each piece has 800 stamped on handle while the knives have Super [anchor imprint] Inox on the blade. Am I right in assuming that this is a silver-plated set with stainless steel knife blades, and made in Europe. Would also appreciate any advice as to the meaning of the anchor - am familiar with the sterling hallmarks of Birmingham. Any connection? IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 02-28-2007 04:42 PM
Welcome to the forum Wombat. If you would please take a moment and click on the link in the bright green box near the top of every page on the forum where it says "Please Read Before You Post" then add the requested information to your original post - things like introducing yourself to the members of the forum, telling us a bit about your interest in silver in general and why you would like to know about this flatware in particular, and adding some clear photos of the appropriate size (click on the link just above the "Please Read Before You Post" link where it says "How to Post Photos" if you need help in this, then I am sure you would get a good response to your question from the nice members on the forum. IP: Logged |
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Wombat Posts: 4 |
posted 03-01-2007 02:56 AM
quote: Mt apologies for not having introduced myself first. I am an almost 60 year old Australian recently singled woman with a small collection of sterling bibs and bobs, as well as some plated items - because they are pretty. I also have a silver plated cutlery set which has been used for Christmas and offspring's birthdays. I'm really pretty insignificant in this realm of silver collectors and experts. I picked up this particular cutlery set at a garage (estate) sale for a fairly reasonable price for any setting for 12. I thought it might make a nice present for my son and his partner, so they could continue the tradition. But as it is "second-hand", I would like to be able to tell him what it is. I have no knowledge at all of either sterling or plated European marks. I really only wanted confirmation that my assumptions - silver plated with stainless steel knife blades - was correct. I don't have a digital camera so can't provide a photograph (unless you wait another few months until I get through a roll of film). IP: Logged |
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rian Posts: 169 |
posted 03-01-2007 07:09 AM
My guess would be that the handles are not plated but rather made with 800/1000 parts silver instead of the sterling standard 925/1000. The European 800 standard may more durable and better for pieces that get regular use. Granted, I was told that by a dealer who sold me a set of 1880s German serving spoons. But, given the hard use they've been subjected to since, I have no reason to believe he was wrong. IP: Logged |
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FWG Posts: 845 |
posted 03-01-2007 11:26 AM
Yes, although without photos there's chance something else could be going on, as rian says they should be solid .800 silver handles with stainless steel blades. There is a Taiwanese company Super Inox that makes stainless steel, but the name also seems to be associated with German products. Germany also uses the .800 standard and has some major producers, so that would be my first guess. The anchor almost certainly has nothing to do with Birmingham, but is just a trademark. If German, of the modern period as these must be, there should also be small marks, probably near the 800, of a crescent moon and crown, and possibly a maker's mark as well. But I see a fair amount of .800 silver with no other marks. Also, yes, .800 silver is stronger than sterling. It is 80% silver, 20% other metals; sterling is 92.5% silver. The other metals lend greater strength to the alloy. [This message has been edited by FWG (edited 03-01-2007).] IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 03-01-2007 12:53 PM
Many thanks for introducing yourself, Wombat! I fully agree with the excellent information Rian and FWG have already provided, and with their caution to take it with a grain of salt until you have a chance to post some clear photos of some of the flatware with some closeups of all the markings. It is so hard to be definitive without actually seeing what someone else is describing. And please don't feel intimidated by anyone here - we range from complete novices to big time experts with everything in between but we all share the interest in silver and try to help each other. You already fit in perfectly by dint of your personal interest in shiney bits and we all hope you stay as a long term member of the forum. IP: Logged |
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adelapt Posts: 418 |
posted 03-01-2007 01:48 PM
When FWG says that the handles are possibly/likely "solid silver", this doesn't imply that they are that all the way through. They are likely to be virtually a shell, with the blades fixed in with a cement or resin of some kind. This is quite standard, and is why knives should not go into dishwashers nor be left in very hot water or immersed for long. IP: Logged |
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FWG Posts: 845 |
posted 03-01-2007 03:56 PM
Thanks for the clarification -- quite right! IP: Logged |
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Wombat Posts: 4 |
posted 03-01-2007 09:41 PM
The brain functioning is getting slower by the day, and it's becoming difficult to remember what I know. I've been wondering how to tell the difference between silver and silver plating. And it hit me - finally. Electro-plating can only be done with pure silver, can't it? At least that's what I'm thinking. If the silver is in suspension, then it can't be an alloy and therefore not.800 - right? The weight of the individual pieces suggest that the handles are not solid, but cast using lost-wax technique or similar. Many thanks to all who replied and offered their valuable advice. IP: Logged |
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efuerst100 Posts: 34 |
posted 08-01-2007 11:59 PM
If the flatware does not have symbols representing a crown and a crescent moon, then it probably is not silver from Germany. Is the 800 mark outlined by an oval? If so, it might be Italian. Italian silver usually also has a hexagonal mark containing a two-letter province abbreviation and a one to four digit number associated with the maker. IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 08-06-2007 11:26 AM
In general, electro plating is done with pure silver for the reason you mention, but keep in mind that there can be other metals in the solution that can be co-deposited with the silver. Or the old style silver plating is done by the fusing of a thin sheet of silver of whatever standard you like onto a sheet of copper. IP: Logged |
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salmoned Posts: 336 |
posted 08-06-2007 04:16 PM
Whoa! Chemistry does not allow for simultaneous plating of different metals, due to differing electronegativity (one metal will always display a preference). Yes, trace amounts of different metals may plate out due to random 'local' solution issues, but for the most part only 1 'pure' metal can be plated at a time. In fact, this is a method for metal purification. IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 08-07-2007 01:12 PM
I don't think we disagree, Salmoned IP: Logged |
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Wombat Posts: 4 |
posted 08-07-2007 05:34 PM
From the time my elder son was a little kid, he has loved polishing to family silver plated cutlery set. Vigourously! Having come to the conclusion that this setting is .800 silver, and not silver plated, I gave the setting to him for his birthday in June. He can polish away to his heart's content. And wear holes in it, rather than wear the silver off. I have also learnt to polish mine BEFORE he comes home for Christmas/birthday dinners. Many thanks to all those who replied to my posting. And since most of what I own is plated, I have found this a very interesting and enlightening journey. IP: Logged |
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