How Do You Find Antique Silver Tea Sets?
Antique silver tea sets are the prized possessions of many collectors. While most buyers are thinking of the words “antique” and “silver” when purchasing a tea set, the words “caveat emptor” are actually more important to keep in mind. It’s not uncommon for reproductions of antique silver tea sets to be passed off as genuine, so it’s imperative that you do some research before making a purchase. While antique silver tea sets have a high monetary value, reproductions do not. Determine whether or not the silver tea set is actually silver. Real silver, or sterling silver, has a silver content of 92.5 percent. Look for the numbers 925, 92, or 92.5 or the word “sterling” imprinted on the piece. Be warned, however, that manufacturers trying to sell reproductions as real will often falsely imprint their pieces. Silver plate is silver over metal. Silver-plated pieces usually have the manufacturer’s name and sometimes have the pattern name imprinted on them. If there are no marks found, that do
