Detecting Modified Silver
and Silverplate Flatware
A number of modified flatware pieces regularly appear for
sale on the internet at both auction and fixed-price web
sites. A modified flatware item is a commonly-found piece
which has been altered to make it appear to be a more
valuable, rare or unusual piece. A large number of
modifications occur with popular or rare patterns, as well
as pieces which were produced by very desirable
manufacturers. Your primary defense for detecting modified
production flatware pieces is to familiarize yourself with
1) the general length and shape of the commonly made
pieces; and 2) which pieces were originally produced for
the pattern or patterns in which you are interested in
collecting.
These are some of the more prevalent modified items:
Baked Potato Fork: Modified forks were originally meat or
other serving forks which have been altered by the removal
of the center tine.
Butter Pick and Candle Snuffer: These items are made using
the handles from authentic production pieces and adding
the remainder of the piece in sterling silver, stainless
steel or silverplate. We have also seen butter picks which
were made from nut picks by twisting the end of the piece.
Cream Ladle: We have found modified cream ladles which
were fashioned from what were originally bouillon or gumbo
spoons.
Fruit Spoon: These are modified from regular teaspoons by
altering the size, shape or edge of the bowl. A fruit
spoon has either a serrated edge or a bowl which is
narrower and smaller than a teaspoon.
Ice Cream, Terrapin and Ramekin Forks: These forks are
often much like spoons except they have short tines. They
are not generally available with modern services.
Modifications are made from a variety of spoon styles. In
many cases, but not always, the bowls of the authentic
forks are ornate. If the tines seem too sharp for an old
piece, even on seldomly used pieces, it could be an
altered spoon.
Mustard Ladle: Modified mustard ladles are fashioned from
teaspoons, iced tea spoons and other spoons.
Napkin Ring: Modified rings are made from large spoon
handles, usually large soup or table serving spoons.
Generally, if it looks like a spoon handle, it probably is
a spoon handle.
Pierced Table Serving Spoon: Solid bowl table serving
spoons are modified with piercings in the bowl. If the
edges of the piercings seem sharp or crude, it could be a
modified item.
Sugar Sifter: Modified sifters are generally made from
regular sugar spoons or shells. If the piece is about the
same size as a sugar spoon with the exception of the
pierced bowl, it could very well be a modified item.
Many of these modified items can fool anyone who does not
possess a solid background in this field. When shopping
for silver online without the benefit of handling it prior
to purchasing, check the dimensions, study the shape and
do not hesitate to ask questions. Buy from knowledgeable
antique silver dealers who will honor returns. Remember,
the above list includes only the most common examples of
modified items.
Reprints of the old flatware manufacturer catalogs may be
purchased online, particularly those for the most popular
patterns. These reprints are valuable resources if your
goal is to collect all the pieces which were originally
produced in a particular pattern, or to identify unusual
or uncommon pieces. Some silver collecting books available
at your local library or book store include reprints of
flatware catalogs.
A note about Reissued Sterling Patterns: These are not
modified items, but rather previously discontinued
patterns which have been recently reintroduced. Some of
these patterns are still in production. For example,
Gorham has reissued many of its most popular patterns such
as Adam, Bead, Colfax, Dauphin, Lily, Old Orange Blossom,
Roanoke, Versailles, Mythologique and others. These
reissued patterns are known as Gorham's Masterpiece
Collection. If your interest is in antique silver pieces
only, familiarize yourself with what's old and what's new.
The differences between old and new silver are equivalent
to the differences between new and antique furniture,
primarily the patina or lack thereof.
by
Bay-dreamer's Silver Chest
Reprinted with permission
Copyright © 2000-2004 ©
Bay-dreamer's Silver Chest™
All Rights Reserved. May not be reproduced,
reprinted or published without permission.
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