In my area, Craigs List is for bargain hunters. Luxury items such as these would not command any decent price. You might try estate sale dealers or antique malls-they might have a dealer who'd be interested in purchasing them. Of course, you'd also be getting a discounted offer, but it might be safer than a CL ad.

Missymoo can have the flatware, I'll take the Lismore :-)

Oops, it is Kildare Waterford. I just looked it up - it is really pricy now to purchase new but sad to see how low secondary market prices are on eBay.

I'd try an upscale consignment store if there are any in your area. Worked for me in the past just fine. Of course, they charged a commission, but they also sold my china and crystal for a higher price than I could realistically get on CL. They saved me a lot of hassle.

Consignment or eBay....don't expect a big return. If you have the room to store, keep the silver til prices comes up..

Thirty or so years ago, after my divorce, I thought I could sell my sterling for some much needed cash. I found that what I could get would just not make any real difference. The price I would get for flatware was not enough to get me to sell it. I don't think you will ever realize a big return. If money is not the issue, then just list it or take it to a consignment shop. Do you have any daughters, nieces, daughters of dear friends to whom you might give your silver and crystal? Of course, I have tried to give one of my sterling sets to my son and DIL, but they don't want it, not yet anyway. Sigh. Someday, they will have several sets to sell (mine and my mother's, my mother's everyday sterling that we used when I was growing up, various partial sets from great grandmothers ). It is so silly.

I have decided to get rid of my stainless and use some of the sterling as my everyday. It just seems silly to have it and use it only for special occasions. Haven't switched over yet though. Maybe you could do that, too.

This is just a wild thought since I don't know what the silver content is or the present price of silver, but I wonder if it could be sold for its silver value to some dealer. Might be a good idea to inquire at a nice pawnshop or place that sells antique jewelry and similar items.

Do you have a DD/DG/niece you could offer it to? You might advertise on CL as well as a newspaper since there may be jewelry designers who would melt it down for their jewelry designs.

I understand the crystal; I don't understand the sterling. Sterling feels so good in the hand. But, if you don't want to use it, cannibalize the set, divide into place settings, and sell them individually on eBay.

Sell it to Replacements Ltd. I did that when we downsized and was able to get quite a bit for my sterling.

namarie, thanks for the tip! i'm in the same predicament as rgrs....have held on to my sterling and crystal for many years because the fetching price is not worth the hassle.

The 18th Century pattern is not that ornate. I think it would look great with contemporary as well as vintage china patterns. Check estate sale professionals in your area. Like consignment places, they will take a percentage, but I think you would still do better than you would on CL.

Our local ballet has an antique shop that takes donations to sell to help them raise funds. I'm pretty sure they give tax receipts for donations. Not sure if this route would be worth your while.

rgrs, don't you use glassware or utensils? Why not use what you have? Kildare is a lovely pattern and I don't think there is a sterling pattern that I wouldn't use over regular flat ware.

I use my sterling and crystal every day. There is no sense in keeping it for company because there is no one as important in our home than DH and myself. Crystal is so much prettier than regular glass ware and sterling is wonderful. If you use it every day you won't need to polish it often.

WTBS, if you don't want to bother with it I would look for a family member to gift it to or sell it on eBay. I'm not familiar with your pattern but you can search eBay for it to get an idea how to price it and sell it there. I would guess that it would sell rather quickly.

My MIL used her sterling every day & put it in the dishwasher.

I hope you'll find a way to use both!

Holly - I do actually use glassware or utensils, LOL.

I'm not keen about using leaded crystal for health reasons.

Peppapoodle - I've read that the knives shouldn't go in the dish washer because they have hollow handles...?

My stepson helped me sell my silver on eBay. It went quickly.

My crystal had no takers and I still have it,

Rgrs, I apologize for that comment. When I re-read it sounded snarky. I'm not sure but I think lead crystal is only reactive with some substances, like wine. Maybe I'm wrong about that but you could google. I use mine to drink water out of. I did look at your silver and the R&B 18th Century brings decent pricing on eBay. I don't wash my sterling in the dw because with just the two of us using it every day it's easy peasy to hand wash.

You are right about not putting hollow-handled knives in the dw.

Lead crystal is safe enough to drink from, but it should not be used for storing liquids.

I think the trend is going away from formal dining rooms, fine china and sterling flatware, which is why these items are not selling well. I have a beautiful set of china, it was my mothers and is probably 60 - 70 yrs old. But, it must be hand washed and dried, and when I have a large holiday gathering, who wants to be bothered with that? So I never use it. I keep it more for the sentimental value than anything else.

Nobody entertains the way they used to (other than the 1%), so you'll be lucky to get a pittance for the stuff. Sell the flatware for scrap, sell the dishes for whatever you can get. Holding onto it, or trying to find a relative to foist it upon, is futile. :(

I have used my sterling every day since 1957....and when I got a dishwasher, I put it in the dishwasher. The bit about the hollow handled knives only has to do with knives made earlier than '57....they used a rosin in the handles that could come loose with the heat.
I also have my mother's Waterford, as well as some Schott Zweisel crystal of my own. I don't use stemmed glasses every day, but for wine..and I stashed my mother's double old fashioneds and wines in the top cupboard....and a few years back decided if I am ever going to use it, I better start now....and I can't tell you how much I enjoy using it daily!
As for any issue with lead....unless you are going to store your wine or orange juice long term in lead crystal, you really have no worry>
For heaven's sake use rather than sell it for pennies on the dollar!

My parents gave me a place setting of sterling flatware every Christmas growing up, until I had a service for 12. This was starting in the 50's. It is still in the original wrapper, I've never used it once. I have beautiful etched crystal stemware too, rarely used because its so delicate, it also must be hand washed and dried. I have inexpensive department store wine glasses when I drink wine.

I have found studies that show lead leaches into glasses. While it is a small amount, I would rather not use. I think we are exposed to too many chemicals as it is.

" Experiments with wine glasses suggested that lead migrates from crystal to wine "within minutes." Although the concentrations were quite low compared to those found in decanters, and the scientists said they do not believe it risky to drink from a crystal glass occasionally, Graziano and Blum recommend reviewing the use of both crystal glasses and decanters."

I spoke with a neighbor who owns a consignment shop. They do not take china because there is no resale market. It took them over a year to sell the one set they did have and it only brought a pittance.

It's a shame, but the world has passed us by. Every time I entertain, I use my silver because I don't have enough of my everyday. I will pass the sterling on to my nieces when the time comes. I am only now getting my mother's china. I'll mix it in with my china on every opportunity. This stuff should be used and used often. Create some occasions to use it.

If your children or in-laws don't want it, I suggest you gift it to someone who is getting married. It would be quite a lavish gift, but for the right girl, you will be golden.

Both my daughter and daughter in law use their china and silver. My friends do too.
My mother didn't have silver and china until she was married about 25 years. One grandmother was too poot to ever have any and the other grandmother lost everything in a fire.
I grew up with the table being set for every "meal"...breakfast eaten on the fly didn't count but if you sat at a table to eat, you had a place mat, napkin and utensils. And my kids do the same.
I know more than a few people who consider "dinner" food in the kitchen and everyone grabbing a plate and a fork and sitting wherever and eating. I am sure those people would never use china nor silver.....and I am sure there is no effort made by family members to be "home for dinner"....nor to bring a friend, nor to share events of their day>
I agree with Homechef. Find someone who will love it and give it to them....with love!

Just because someone doesn't use china or silver for dinner does not mean that they don't have family dinners, or friends to dinner. Some people prefer a more informal meal, it does not mean they make "no effort to be home for dinner" You don't need fine china and silver to enjoy a family meal together.

I agree with home chef......make some young woman very happy.

editing this to add that I recently purchased a set of Lenox Federal china (platinum band) for a friend who had never owned any before. We had been antiquing and saw a set that literally stopped him in his tracks, he was so taken with it. I went back to the store and purchased the six place settings they had plus several useful sized serving bowls and one platter. When I gave it to him it was received like no other present I have given to anyone---he had gone back to the shop only to be told it was sold. It was a good deal, certainly less than the replacements site price, and I was happy to have given him a gift some would consider a white elephant, but that he considers a treasure. He's in his mid forties so he is not a young man just starting out, and he doesn't entertain much, but he loves this china as much for its decorative value as anything else. It is white with about a 1 cm cobalt band with platinum edges, very tailored and beautiful!

kswl - that was such a thoughtful gift. What makes it even better is that you know how much the recipient will treasure it............especially since he made a special trip back to the store to purchase it and must have been so disappointed when he discovered that it had been sold. Sounds like an O'Henry short story.

What a nice friend you are!

I am in my mid 40s and use my sterling flatware and china every chance I get! Do people not enjoy setting a pretty table anymore? I didn't think I was THAT old! When I go to book club, casual parties, wine tastings, etc....people in my circle DO use nice china, flatware, serving pieces, crystal. I mean, you'd need to serve on SOMETHING, what's wrong with something nice? Unless eating with fingers is a new trend, humans will always need flatware. Why not sterling? It looks and feels divine. I firmly believe people with good taste will always want these things.

Nini, I always feel that way about clothing too. Everyone has to get dressed for the day so why not wear something pretty? A few years ago I commented to a friend about how wonderful she always looks. She told me that she remembered me telling her that it takes as much effort to dress sloppily as it does to dress nicely many years ago and she took it to heart. That truly made my day.

Fortunately my daughters inherited my taste for sterling, silver, and china. I have gifted them both sterling teaspoons and I have enough sterling for them and my DGD to have a set.

KSWL, that was a wonderful heartfelt gift! The Lenox Federal is a gorgeous pattern and he is truly blessed to have you for a friend!

Iam, I love to use my china and pretty things but I totally agree that you don't have to use it to entertain and love and enjoy your family and friends. The important thing is truly the time spent together not what you dine off of.

I do think it's a shame to see lovely sterling sold for it's silver content. There will always be people who want to own a lovely flatware set.

When my *now* 5 adult children were growing up, I always felt dinnertime was extra special as it was the one time we were all together. Sometimes we would eat later if there were after school activities, but I would say 95% of the time we ate together. Placemats were always used, an everyday Noritake china, stainless flatware, and glasses ALL matched-i've never had mis-matched glasses, hate that. I used the nicer Chinette napkins, since 7 cloth napkins at least 5 nights a week was too much ironing, even for a perfectionist like myself. As for paper plates, Friday was always pizza night, so it was very casual, but still used plcemats. Now it's just oldest DD who moved in with me 3 years ago and myself, and we continue the ritual. When I visit my kids it's good to see they must have 'taken note' and learned something since their set tables are a repeat performance of mine, but usually a folded paper towel rather than the Chinette napkin. I feel it's important to set a precedent, not done often enough these days, and at least *try* to bring back a lost 'art' that has been thrown by the wayside in most homes. Imo, it just makes dinner time a bit more enjoyable.

I am in the same situation as the OPer. I have a 64 piece set of Waterford crystal

and 8 place setting of Reed & Barton Francis I My daughter has no interest. It breaks my heart to see the value and the interest in such beautiful things fall.

I am hesitant to use them for everyday as my DH has thrown many pieces of flatware in the trash; I frequently by cheap flatware in order to have enough utensils to set the table. And he is clumsy and would surly break the crystal. So, I have to save it for company.

I love crystal, silver and china. I have some crystal and a couple of sets of china. I was able to acquire all of the china for reasonable prices (outlets and one pattern was discontinued so I bought unsold stock). Unfortunately for the silver though, the prices can be quite high for good stuff and so it is not in the cards right now. Honestly, for most of the people in my crowd, the use of the nice stuff does not make them feel like I value them so highly that I am willing to go through with the extra work the nice stuff entails just for them, rather it makes them uncomfortable (never mind that the china place setting cost as much as I pay for a Fiestaware setting on sale). Oh how I wish though that my forbears had purchased a large service of Towle's Provincial pattern.

rgrs,

You know your lifestyle and your taste. If the silver and crystal does not bring you pleasure, then gift it or sell it. It would fly out at Goodwill.com and you'd be giving to a good cause.

We have crystal and sterling and use it regularly. We put all but the knives in the DW (learned something new about knives on this thread.) Wine in those silly crystal wine glasses is not something we enjoy. We use Riedel wine glasses instead.

Don't be a slave to things you do not enjoy! Life is simply too short.

Riedel glasses!! They cost more than the Waterford!....and I do like them better!
Mustangs, the value of Waterford and Sterling has not fallen. The spot for silver is half what it was in the Bunker Hunt days, when so many melted lovely old heirlooms....but more than it was 10 years ago.
I have been collecting a silver set for my grand daughter for about 10 years......and the price is now about 3 times what it was 10 years ago.

Patty Vinson, here's something to point out to your children: you can get a nice set of cloth napkins online for about the price of a bulk pack of paper napkins. Washing the napkins just means a few extra items in the laundry.

Amazon has a 24-roll package of paper towels going for $24.99. Sets of 12 dozen cloth napkins go from $12-20 online. Say that we go through about 48 rolls of paper towels a year--the cloth napkins have paid for themselves after six months. Note: we don't iron the napkins--we just fold.

"Riedel glasses!! They cost more than the Waterford!" ? My HG sells the Sommelier series for substantial discount.

Amazon has Riedel for 79.80. It includes 4 white wine, 4 red wine, and 4 champagne flutes. A single stem of Waterford is two to three times that amount if purchased new.

For us the cost of the wine glass is not as important as the style and function. We enjoy fine wine, cellar it and choose to serve it in Riedel wine glasses. Waterford is now making some very fine wine glasses:

http://www.top10listland.com/top-10-best-wine-glasses/

I hadn't priced Riedel in about 10 years....At that time they were $39 a stem for the bordeaux....which was more than I could buy Waterford Alana for at Ross Simons.
I read now that Riedel has eliminated the lead....and dropped the cost....
I have more wine glasses than I have shelves....but I may have to do a little triage and rethink.
And the cost of a wineglass is important to me....especially when I break one!