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The Kitchen Table

polishing familly silver

11 years ago

I am heading up to DDs to help with reorganizing the house since their renovation of the kitchen and downstairs is done. She is painting today. Two weeks ago, we unpacked her husband's family sliver serving pieces that had been used by the past generations for all the showers, weddings, and celebrations that community put on. They like their parties, and it was a small enough town that they could celebrate only in their homes.

She has about 15 to 20 silver platters in the collection. They were used for all sorts of food service, and sadly, people took sharp knives to whatever was on these platters and made deep, long gouges across them over the years. I am bringing up polish to start polishing them today. Some of them are black in areas. But what a shame to ruin most of these pretty serving pieces with sharp knives. Her sister-in-law had no use for these sliver pieces, so her MIL shipped them all to her.

Maybe she can use them some day.

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Comments (8)

Georgysmom
11 years ago
Years ago my son brought a girlfriend home for Christmas. She was lovely and helpful. She insisted on doing the dishes with my son. She cleaned all the silver serving pieces with Brillo. Yikes! Oh well, makes a good story, but I feel your pain. Some people simple do not know.
susanjf_gw
11 years ago
oh georgysmom! was at work and a lady was doing the same to a serving spoon there...I about fainted! to tell you the truth, I'd tell her to have them appraised and sell them...I don't think I've seen one service of sterling in use in 30 years...I had 4 platters (from first marriage) and gave one to each child....and they've about said I ought to sell everything that i cherish cause they don't want them! how sad is that?
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If it's plate, it would probably be good to have it polished somewhat--that way any wear can be seen. If you want more than a few bucks for it, a collector might be concerned that the tarnish is hiding bald spots. If it's not tarnished enough to hide wear, then I'm not sure. A gentle polishing shouldn't hurt it though.
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I use Silver wipes to polish it up. Wet the cloth, wipe, rinse well and dry. Here are the one I use.https://www.amazon.com/Connoisseurs-Silver-Wipes-10-Count/dp/B000RB5SAE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1486753835&sr=8-3&keywords=silver+wipes
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So there's no magic solution huh? Just careful and slow. Alright. :) Jem, people still wax brasswinds with car wax! I happen to have a can of car wax for just that. Do people still wax cars? (I wonder if it'll help silver stay shiny--I might try it out on the spare A slide. I don't think it will harm it.) The gold accent on silver was a trendy upgrade in early 20th century. I'm sure that's what this one is. You can still find the ordering options from some of the bigger manufacturers. Lacquer wasn't common until the '30s I think. (Here is a compilation of assorted finish options from much bigger manufacturer Conn for example, if you're curious: https://cderksen.home.xs4all.nl/ConnArticle11.html )
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I have sterling silver flatware that onky gets used a few times a year. I've never needed to polish it in the 25 years we've had it but it is stored in one of those boxes designed for sterling utensils. @3katz4me this statement made me chuckle "I was thinking about Downtown Abbey when I was doing this and how helpful it would be to have "staff" to polish the silver" When my paternal gandmother died, her grandkids were allowed to choose anything we wanted from her china cabinet. She was old school Italian with the plastic covered furniture and ornate formal dining room. One of the few things that I liked were her silver salt and pepper shakers. They were already somewhat tarnished, but they have been sitting in my china cabinet for 20+ years and look awful so I have never used them. My elderly but spry parents came over for Thanksgiving dinner. My father likes to keep busy so is always looking for a project. Having noticed the shakers while setting my table, I suggested to my father he take the salt and pepper shakers and polish them for me. He was happy to do it and already reported they are ready for me, and look nothing like they did before. So I guess I don't need a staff, just an elderly parent who needed a project.😀
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glenda_al
11 years ago
All my silver platters, etc have been stored in a closet for many a year.

Gone are the days when they were used a lot.

I do use my sterling silver dinnerware.
cate52
11 years ago
I have my great-aunt's and some of my mother's silver serving pieces... but who throws dinner parties, buffets, etc. There is, however, a market for silver pieces.. check out on Ebay. Also, you can have pieces re-silvered...I've seen ads in papers, I think it was Macy's..
Also, just an FYI, don't keep salt in salt shakers.. it damages the silver.
May be your church might be interested?
chisue
11 years ago
You might see how much these are worth as silver scrap. Probably not a lot if this is the usual American 20th Century electroplated silver, but who is going to USE these ruined pieces. Before you invest in replating any, think who would ever USE them. (Research any hallmarks first.)

I had a cleaner 'polish' a 19th Century silver water pitcher with steel wool. The cleaning service paid to have it replated.

The pair of cleaners I hired a year ago to spend a full day cleaning my house told me they wouldn't touch my 'gold' bathroom faucets. (They are polished brass.) Life is full of surprises!
hounds_x_two
11 years ago
A few years ago, I decided to use it and enjoy it! That includes the daily use of sterling silver flatware. Why have it if you don't enjoy it?

Most of my entertaining is casual, rather than formal, but it is fun to make it all work. I love to find wonderful old serving pieces at estate sales.
Marigene
11 years ago
I use my sterling every chance I get...I want to enjoy it, not hide it away. I also use all my crystal, china, delicate linens...if I am not good enough for them, no one is! Use and enjoy your treasures, life it too short not to.
iowagirl2006
11 years ago
Silver dip is a lot faster to use. You can use a cotton ball soaked with it for large items. Rinse well.

Get some treated flannel to store the silver in so it doesn't tarnish right away - why bother polishing other wise! :)

I actually like to polish silver - lol!~

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