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How to Identify European Silverplate Flatware

Flatware is another term for knives, forks and spoons. Industrial production of silver plated flatware originated in Europe in the 1900's. Each knife, fork and spoon was originally constructed from copper or nickel and placed into a small bath. Varying grams of fine silver was added to the bath to allow the silver anodes to dissolve and adhere to the flatware after a long soak. Manufacturers in Germany would commonly use 90 grams of silver for this process and then engrave the name of their company along with the number of grams used, to identify the amount of silver that was plated onto the flatware.

Things You'll Need

Unscented dish soap
Sponge
Clean dry towel
Old toothbrush
Clean polishing cloth
Silver polishing cream
Black construction paper
Digital camera

Instructions

- 1
  Clean the silver plated flatware prior to inspection with unscented dish soap and water. Wash the flatware with a sponge to remove any residue or buildup from age. Scrub with an old toothbrush into the engraved detail, to remove any debris in the design. Dry the flatware thoroughly and lay it on a clean towel.
- 2
  Cover the flatware with silver polishing cream. Let the cream sit for approximately 10 minutes and polish the flatware with a clean cloth. This will aid in identifying the markings.
- 3
  Place the flatware on a piece of black construction paper. Place no more than two at a time on the paper, for a clear identifying image. Take a picture of the flatware with a digital camera at the highest resolution available for a clear picture. Turn it over and take a picture of the back.
- 4
  Compare your picture with any of the listed manufacturers, to identify the origin of your flatware. Compare your digital photo to the examples listed on the website. If you do not see the manufacturer of your particular flatware, proceed to Step 5.
- 5
  See Reference 3 to register the digital photos of your flatware, to further aid in identifying the manufacturer and flatware pattern. By registering, you will be able to find out the value of your flatware.

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