By Dan Donaldson

SILVERPLATE
CARE & RESTORATION

CARE

Before the sixteenth century even city air was pure and did not cause silver to tarnish.  The use of coal, and later of oil, and gas, for lighting and heating released sulphurous gases into the air and tarnishing of silver resulted.

No great amount of detective work is necessary to disclose the principal causes of silver tarnish.  A comparison of the rate of tarnish in wintertime when central heating units are in operation and summer when air conditioning is used provides the clues.  Heating in most areas is accomplished through the use of coal, oil, or gas, while air conditioning is usually electric.

Sulphur compounds in foods, such as eggs and salad dressing, and in rubber of all kinds are causes of tarnish.  Sterling and silver plate should be washed immediately after it comes in contact with salt, as salt will leave pits which cannot be removed.  Fruit juices contain acids that can pit both silver plate and sterling.  Plastic bags or glass liners should be used inside of bowls used for displaying fruit.

Silver used in flower displays needs to be protected from sap and acids.  Water in flower displays should be changed daily, of course, and silver containers rinsed thoroughly and wiped before refilling.  Flowers should be removed at the first signs of wilting.

It is not possible to avoid entirely the agents that cause tarnish but it is comparatively easy to keep that lustrous sheen so much admired.  Sterling and silver plate should be washed immediately after use in hot soapy water and rinsed carefully before drying.  This time-honored method cannot be improved.  Soap, rather than detergent, is recommended because the latter often contains phosphorous or sulphur compounds.  Rinsing is essential because silverware dried without rinsing will tarnish much more rapidly than pieces that have been rinsed.

Rotation of pieces in use will assure that every piece is kept clean and free from tarnish-causing agents.  Tarnish cannot be prevented entirely but it can be retarded by daily use of the  silver items and immediate washing there after shall remove sulphurous oxidations before they become visible.  Constant washing poses no threat of removal of silver plating.  Rather, it imparts a patina that comes only through use.

Both sterling and silver plate, when washed constantly in a dishwasher will acquire an off-white or yellowish film probably from the phosphates in the dishwashing detergent.  When this becomes noticeable it may be removed by a brisk rub with a rouge cloth or silver polish.

A tarnish deterrent can be devised for flatware (table service) by lining the storage drawer with a silver cloth.  Line the drawer completely, leaving a free length to be pulled over the silver from back to front of the drawer.

RESTORATION

A few dealers and collectors have been heard to remark that they would not have silver-plated pieces replated because it would destroy their value as antiques.  This, in my opinion, is nonsense.  True, electroplating "Old Sheffield Plate" would lower its value, as the original process of plating was entirely different.  Replating old electro-silver plate though is simply to restore it to its original condition.

With the desire of restoration, reliability of workmanship is to be sought.  Reputable silver platers take great pride in their ability to restore old silver plate.  They are usually happy to take the time to explain what steps are necessary for complete restoration.

By far the greater part of re-silvering costs is the preparation of pieces not in the cost of the silver itself.  Preparation of the surface of old silver plate is essential to satisfactory re-silvering.  Even old silver plate that has not been dented or broken must be stripped of all the old silver, perhaps marks of wear must be buffed away and then the piece made chemically clean to remove the oxide before re-silvering.  Better shops remove the handles from tea sets. etc., so that the buffering operation will not leave course areas around the surface where the handles join the piece.  They are then re-soldered in place before silver plating.

Dents can be removed, missing legs and mounts replaced, covers refitted and bases straightened.  One of the most difficult aspects about repair is finding or making missing parts.  So, in the case of damage, it is important to save any parts which become detached.

After re-plating, silver plate should receive the same care and attention as advised above.