How Antique Silver Dealers Evaluate Rare Pieces
Rare antique silver carries value for many reasons. Collectors and investors often look beyond weight when they consider a purchase or sale.
Read article →The Journal
Silver Antiquities Journal
The Silver Antiquities Journal explores the history, craftsmanship and everyday enjoyment of antique silver. Discover guides to hallmarks and authenticity, celebrated makers, collecting flatware and hollowware, and caring for treasured pieces. Articles also cover selling and valuation, thoughtful gifts and heirlooms, and bringing antique silver into your home.
The journal draws on the experience of Steve Nelson, co-founder of Nelson & Nelson Antiques, and the gallery’s more than fifty years of advising collectors in New York. Steve and his staff inspect and authenticate every item before purchasing it for the gallery, bringing firsthand knowledge of silver’s makers, materials and condition to their work. Whether you are choosing your first piece or deepening a lifelong collection, these articles offer a seasoned dealer’s perspective on what makes antique silver worth understanding and preserving.
38 articles · Collecting & Buying
2026
9 articlesJune
May
A Guide to Collecting Antique Sterling Flatware Sets
Antique sterling flatware sets attract collectors for their craftsmanship and long-term decorative appeal. A well-chosen set can serve a table, complete a collection, or preserve the work of an important silversmith.
Read article →April
Decoding Silver Hallmarks: A Collector’s Guide
Silver hallmarks can reveal more than most collectors expect. A small stamp on the back of a tray, the base of a tea set, the handle of a serving piece, and other silver items can offer details about purity, maker, and age.
Read article →High-Value Silverware Brands Worth Investing In
Silverware is one of the most appealing entry points into antique collecting because it offers beauty, function, and long-term value in a single category. For beginners, the market can seem crowded with unfamiliar names, shifting prices, and pieces that look similar at first glance.
Read article →Tips for Selling Your Tiffany Silver Collectibles
Tiffany silver collectibles hold strong appeal in the antique silver market because the name carries a long record of quality, design, and collector demand. Sellers who understand how buyers evaluate Tiffany pieces make better decisions and avoid preventable mistakes.
Read article →Types of Silver: What You Need To Know Before Buying
Buying silver often looks simple until markings, purity standards, and plated pieces enter the picture. There are several types of silver and various things to know before buying.
Read article →January
The Important Role of Vintage Collectors in Conservation
Vintage collecting is an endeavor of passion, a pursuit that connects us to the artisans and epochs of the past. Beyond the thrill of discovery and the satisfaction of owning a piece of history, collectors assume a vital position as stewards of our shared cultural heritage.
Read article →How To Display Antique Silver Collections
Discovering the perfect way to display your treasured antique silver pieces transforms them from mere possessions into captivating focal points that speak to your refined taste. Whether you've inherited precious family heirlooms or carefully curated pieces over the years, presenting these magnificent items requires thoughtful consideration of both aesthetic appeal and preservation needs.
Read article →How Reputable Dealers Authenticate Antique Silver
The allure of antique silver lies not only in its lustrous beauty but in the stories it holds. When you hold a Georgian tea caddy or a Victorian candelabra, you connect with a lineage of craftsmanship that spans centuries.
Read article →2025
1 articlesJuly
A Complete Guide to Collecting Antique Barware
If you love the elegance of cocktail culture or the history hidden within traditional pieces, collecting antique barware can become a cherished hobby. Each item represents a specific era of artisanship and social customs.
Read article →2024
7 articlesAugust
How To Sell Antique Silver to a Professional Buyer
Selling antique silver can be a rewarding experience financially and as a way to pass on pieces with historical and artistic value. Understanding the transaction process can make the selling experience successful, whether you inherited a collection or found a valuable item.
Read article →July
Exploring the Importance of Provenance in Antiquing
Antiquing is a passion that connects collectors to the past through tangible items. One critical factor that elevates the value and authenticity of antiques is their provenance.
Read article →June
Things To Consider When Choosing an Antique Buyer
Selling antiques can be an exciting yet overwhelming task. Choosing the right antique buyer is important for a successful transaction, whether you’re downsizing, liquidating an estate, or want a new home for your cherished heirlooms.
Read article →Antique Holloware: What It Is and Why You Need It
Antique holloware holds a special place in the world of antiques and home decoration, embodying both historical significance and timeless beauty. Whether you’re an avid antique collector or a home décor lover, you can appreciate antique holloware by learning about them.
Read article →April
Things To Consider When Shopping for Antiques
Whether you're a seasoned collector or a novice enchanted by the timeless allure of antiques, acquiring new pieces is incredibly rewarding. However, navigating the complexities of shopping requires more than an eye for beauty.
Read article →February
5 Things Antique Stores Look for When Buying Silver
Antique stores carefully evaluate various factors when acquiring silver items for their collections. By considering these factors, buyers can curate an exquisite selection of silver treasures that captivate collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Read article →January
5 Ways Antiquing Has Changed Over the Years
Collectors are always searching for rare and valuable pieces to add to their collections, making antiquing a popular hobby for centuries. However, as we enter a new era of technology and changing tastes, the world of antiquing has undergone significant changes.
Read article →2023
3 articlesDecember
3 Antique Holloware Items You Should Consider Buying
Antique holloware items are true delights for lovers of elegance. These precious pieces also hold historical value.
Read article →November
3 Items Antique Stores Will Always Want To Buy From You
Antique stores constantly seek unique and valuable items that grab the attention of collectors and enthusiasts. While many assume antique jewelry is the most desirable commodity, other highly sought-after items exist.
Read article →4 Things To Consider for First-Time Antique Shoppers
Antique shopping is a fascinating experience, especially for those who are looking to add unique pieces to their homes. However, the experience can be overwhelming and intimidating for first-time shoppers.
Read article →2022
3 articlesNovember
5 Reasons You Should Consider Buying Antiques
You may be skeptical about beginning an antique collection. Maybe you’re unsure how to care for the pieces or display them.
Read article →September
Debunking 3 Common Myths About Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver has been around for centuries. In fact, you can find antique sterling silver pieces that are hundreds of years old.
Read article →June
The Difference Between Sterling Silver and Coin Silver
Coin silver is typically 90% pure silver, or .900 fine, while sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver, or .925 fine. Although sterling contains slightly more silver, it is not automatically more valuable.
Read article →2021
3 articlesNovember
How To Start Collecting Silver: Antique Dealer Tips
Antique silver is a tremendous and valuable collecting focus. The variety found in silver collecting makes it easy to want to get started.
Read article →January
What Is Silver Overlay: Everything You Need To Know
All silver is beautiful. However, the quality of a silver piece can change depending on how the item was made.
Read article →What To Add To Your Antique Silver Collection
Antique silver collections are something to behold. If you have one, then you know how it feels when people marvel at your artifacts.
Read article →2020
4 articlesAugust
Compelling Reasons to Start Collecting Antiques
2020 has been one of the most unpredictable years in human history. Businesses across the country were forced to shut their doors, and people were required to stay home to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Read article →May
The Difference Between Antique and Vintage Silver
Not all silver is the same. To the naked eye, it’s easy to think that all silver is equal.
Read article →February
Top Reasons to Invest in Antique Silver
Most people have the wrong idea about investments. In reality, your investment portfolio doesn’t have to consist of stocks and municipal bonds.
Read article →January
Why Do People Collect Antiques?
Thousands of people around the world collect antiques. There are even television shows dedicated to the hobby.
Read article →2019
5 articlesJuly
Use These 3 Tips for Your Antique Silver Collection
Buying antique silver can be exciting and confusing. This is evident just by looking at some of the most commonly asked questions by antique collectors.
Read article →May
Learn More About Buying Antique Silver
Throughout time, silver has been valued highly. In fact, in at least 14 languages, the word for 'money' and the word for 'silver' are the same.
Read article →April
How to Buy and Sell Antiques Like a Pro
'Everything old is new again' could be the unofficial mantra of antique collectors and sellers. After all, antique store revenue represents 13% of all U.S. resale industry revenue, a sector that brings in an estimated $17.5 billion every year.
Read article →How to Buy and Sell Antiques Like a Pro
'Everything old is new again' could be the unofficial mantra of antique collectors and sellers. After all, antique store revenue represents 13% of all U.S. resale industry revenue, a sector that brings in an estimated $17.5 billion every year.
Read article →January
3 Tips to Follow Before Working With an Antique or Silver Dealer
If you've inherited some family heirlooms or have accumulated some fine silver you never really use, you might consider finding some reputable antique or silver dealers to take these items off your hands and to help you potentially turn a profit.
Read article →2018
3 articlesOctober
Why Collect Antique Jewelry?
Many people collect antique silver candlesticks or other pieces because of their classic aesthetic and their value. You may not know it, but silver and gold are downright celestial.
Read article →August
So You Want to Collect Antique Silver: Tips to Help You Get Started
If you have an affinity for tracking down rare items or want to fill your home with unique valuables, you might want to consider starting an antique sterling silver collection. But before you run out and spend a lot on pieces that might not retain their worth, you'll need to do some research.
Read article →So You Want to Collect Antique Silver: Tips to Help You Get Started
If you have an affinity for tracking down rare items or want to fill your home with unique valuables, you might want to consider starting an antique sterling silver collection. But before you run out and spend a lot on pieces that might not retain their worth, you'll need to do some research.
Read article →