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How to Find the Manufacture Date of a Poole Silver Plate

Poole Silver Company made a wide range of silver plate and sterling silverware. Located in Taunton, Massachusetts, the company began producing its wares in 1893. Dating Poole silver plate using the markings on the metal alone is impossible, due to there being no standard marking system used by the company. The plates can often be dated based on styling, however. Determining an exact manufacture date is unlikely, but you should be able to establish a general date range by comparing the style of the piece with other Poole Silver Company plates with known manufacture dates.

Things You'll Need

Pen
Paper
Camera
Price guides

Instructions

- 1
  Make notes about the size, shape and style of the piece, including a detailed description of the design. Take close-up pictures of the silver plate pieces.
- 2
  Compare the pictures to Poole Silver Company silver plate pictures in silver plate price guides available at your local library or bookstore. Use the detailed descriptions in these books to help you find the exact pattern you have. Be aware that some patterns were reproduced several times, with only small changes in the pattern. Careful comparison is necessary.
- 3
  Check auction records if you cannot find the silver plate in a price guide. Most large auction houses keep extensive records on the pieces they sell. Contact the auction house to determine the public availability of their auction records. Some are published online, and even have searchable databases.
- 4
  Consult a professional appraiser who has experience with Poole Silver if you cannot find the design in any published materials. He may have access to unpublished auction records, or may recognize the pattern from a past appraisal.

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