Having collected antique silver for over 15 years, I have found that antique silver is much like any other commodity in terms of value. Something is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it. Hallmarks and condition play a great part in the valuation but the process involved to determine a value, prior to placing an item up for sale, requires research and can be time consuming. In this article you will find some practical advice to help you determine the value of antique silver pieces.
Antique Silver Written Valuations
If you need a written valuation for an antique silver piece, this can be obtained either from a professional antique valuer, an expert appraiser or in some cases from a jeweller but no matter the value they may place on your item the true value will only be determined when you come to sell it. Normally a valuation for insurance purposes is always higher than the actual value because the chance of replacing such an item could prove difficult.
Auctions and Auctioneer Sale Guide Prices
If you have ever attended an auction and seen something that you want to buy, the auctioneer may have provided a sale guide price which is the price the auctioneer believes the item will sell for, based on his or an expert's appraisal. The budgets of the buyers will effectively set the price at which a piece of antique silver or any other item is sold. If the piece is, for example, an unusual William IV silver comport dated 1834 and made by Robert Hennell and you are an avid collector of this silversmith's work, it may well be that you would be prepared to pay more than the guide price or exceed your budget. This does happen at auction occasionally but only if the right buyers are in the room or bidding over the internet. You should check with the auctioneer, as to his expected attendance levels and where he has targeted his advertising for the auction if you intend to sell an item at auction. If there are lots of buyers likely to attend that are looking for porcelain you should consider waiting for an auction that features mainly antique silver. When placing a reserve on your item make sure that you allow for the commission that the auctioneer will charge.
Comparing Prices
Searching for the exact antique silver piece that you own on the internet is a good start in attempting to establish how much the item is worth. For example, if you own a Charles III silver sauce boat, you will need to look up the hallmark to find out when it was made and by which silversmith. There are several reference books and websites available where you can look up hallmarks. When you have established the year your item was made and by whom, you can then begin searching the internet for comparable pieces. You may find several or just a few and they will possibly vary in price considerably depending on who is selling. A private collector may value his antique silver more highly than a dealer or lower, but if you make a note of all the prices you can calculate an average. Naturally you will have to take into consideration the condition of your item against those that you find advertised for sale.
Rare and unusual pieces of antique silver may be difficult to find and it is conceivable that you may own a unique item, in which case you will need to find an expert valuer. Rather than seeking a general antique silver appraisal expert you should look for one that has specific knowledge of the period in which your item was made such as the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian silver periods.
Research is the key to getting a fair and reasonable price for antique silver and doing your own can pay dividends in establishing a true market value if you seriously want to sell.
Bernard Warner has acquired an impressive collection of antique silver over many years and has become a renowned collector of Georgian silver spanning the reigns of George I, George II and George III. Part of his enormous collection is now for sale including some pieces from the Queen Anne, William IV, Victorian and Edwardian periods. Some pieces date back to 1711. His website at www.warnersantiquesilver.com is well worth a visit whether you are a collector, investor or just looking for a very special gift.
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