How to Identify Silver Patterns
America has a long association with Sterling silver. Tiffany & Co. established the 925 standard for Sterling silver in America as early as 1851. The Sterling silver alloy contains 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent of some other metal, typically copper. Given our history, the abundance of American silver patterns---not to mention patterns that came to us from Europe---should come as no surprise. Follow a few simple steps to identify the manufacturer of your silver, which will not only allow to order replacement pieces but to determine the true value of your set. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sample of your Sterling silver
- Original packaging
- Encyclopedia of silver patterns (in book form or online)
Instructions
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Examine the front and back of the silver, as well as its packaging. Make note of any markings on the silver or on the box that may give you a clue as to the manufacturer. A mint mark---a marking set right into the silver---can help to identify the manufacturer. Some popular silver manufacturers include Gorham, Georg Jensen, International, Lunt, Oneida, Reed and Barton, Rogers, Tiffany, Towle and Wallace.
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Try an encyclopedia of silver patterns. If you cannot identify the manufacturer with a mint mark, check the pattern on your flatware against those shown in the encyclopedia.
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If you have trouble finding your pattern---especially on an older or antique set---contact a company that provides replacement pieces for sterling silver flatware sets. Some of these companies will invite you to send a photograph of your silver pattern, and will then identify it for you.
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Tips & Warnings
Ask a friend to provide some help by identifying the pattern by eye. If you know an antique dealer, someone who sets a formal table, or even a bride-to-be searching for her own pattern, you might save yourself the trouble of research. When identifying your silver for replacement purposes, find out exactly what you need. Older Sterling silver flatware sets included many different silver pieces. In the case of forks alone, some sets contained dinner forks, salad forks, place forks, viande forks, grille forks, pie forks, serving forks and cocktail forks.
