Silver has always held an exalted position within the decorative arts. The fact that it is a precious metal distinguishes it from other media such as porcelain, wood, and glass, which do not have inherent value. The monetary value of silver usually meant that objects made in silver had more than just a utilitarian purpose; […]
Normally when we think of antique sterling silverwe think of England, where the tradition of hallmarking the metal for quality control goes back to the 13th century. French sterling silver hallmarks and maker’s marks were not as systematic as their British counterparts, but they and French sterling silver itself have quite an extensive history. When French […]
The Gold-Silver Ratio We’ve been screaming about silver since it was $6 an ounce nearly a decade ago. During the height of the credit crisis in 2008 silver fell to $12; we couldn’t have been more bullish. And, silver prices have more than quadrupled since then. But this run is far from over. Gold is in a bull market […]
Welcome to the discussion and please feel free to contribute. Estate-sterling.com specializes in French antique sterling silver items. With a network throughout France, I access estate sales across the country, daily. And even after 15 years, I am still amazed at the quality of the items that I am able to find and their excellent condition. […]