How to Buy Silverware

Back when entertaining meant a formal meal rather than a backyard barbeque, people set ornate tables full of unusual pieces, a treasure trove for today's collector.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Select a conversation piece to collect, like a crumb knife (looks like a sugar scoop with a flat bottom and one open side; used to sweep up crumbs between courses) or a butter pick (looks like a mini corkscrew; used to grab individual curls or balls of butter).

2. Choose large serving pieces you can use at holiday time, or pick a silver pattern you like and try to collect a complete set. One fun collectible category is ladles. Our ancestors relied on ladles for serving (from smallest to largest) mustard, mayonnaise, sauce, gravy, bouillon, oysters, soup and punch.

3. Look for the word sterling on the back of the handle. If it's not there, it's silver-plated. Look for the name of the manufacturer as well. An 18th-century find may have the craftsman's initials.

4. Avoid badly worn pieces if you plan to use them at your own table. Over the years, the silver plate on the back of a spoon or along a fork's tines can wear off.

5. Collect flatware for an affordable hobby. You can find teaspoons for less than a dollar. Large serving forks and spoons in fine condition can be had for $20 or less. Harder-to-find patterns will cost more, of course.

Tips & Warnings

• Collecting silverware is not a labor-free hobby. Silverware needs to be polished to look its best. Buy products expressly meant for silver cleaning. Never substitute toothpaste, which may include abrasives like baking soda that will damage silver. Rub polish back and forth instead of in a circular motion for a uniform finish. Rinse immediately with warm water and pat dry with a cotton dish towel. Silverware used and washed frequently is less likely to tarnish.