What is a silver epergne?
Epergne (/ɪˈpɜːrn, eɪ-/ ih-PURN, ay-) is a type of table centerpiece that is usually made of silver but may be made of any metal or glass or porcelain. Epergnes were traditionally made from silver, however from around the start of the 20th century, glass was also employed.
Is antique silver worth anything?
Sterling silver holds intrinsic value as a precious metal, but antique silver pieces can be even more valuable than their silver content would indicate. With more and more antique silver pieces being destroyed for their scrap value, the price of pieces that survive will continue to rise.
What is antique sterling silver?
What Is Sterling Silver? Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent another metal — typically copper — according to Steve Nelson, owner, Nelson & Nelson Antiques in Manhattan. The addition of the copper hardens soft silver, so it can be both thin and durable.
Where would you find an epergne?
The epergne was displayed at the centre of the dinner table or the sideboard. The dishes/bowls were often decorated with sweets or flowers. Occasionally the centre columns were fitted with candle holders or a vase.
What were epergne used for?
An epergne is a dining centerpiece that sits on four feet with a large central bowl and four or more smaller bowls at the end of arms that extend from the central bowl. They were traditionally used to serve fruit, pickles, nuts, sweetmeats, or other small food items.
How can you tell if antique silver is real?
“Silver also oxidizes and tarnishes. Rub the tarnished piece as if polishing. If no black residue appears on your cloth, it’s not silver.” Polishing the silver item is a very good indicator of its authenticity. Rust or a lack of oxidation indicates that the item is made of a different material from silver.
Does solid silver tarnish?
While pure 99.9% silver does not tarnish, any sterling silver will tarnish over time as a result of the metal mixed in. However, fortunately there are many ways to keep sterling silver from tarnishing. This is a tricky question, as technically, tarnishing does not occur in pure silver.
What is difference between silver and antique silver?
One of the most significant differences between antique silver and vintage silver is their age. For a piece to be considered antique silver, it must be over 100 years old. Silver items from the nineteenth century and early twentieth would be classified as antiques.
Is there a difference between sterling silver and solid silver?
Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver. Instead fine silver is alloyed with copper to create sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. This percentage of fine silver is why you will sometimes see sterling silver referred to as ‘925 silver’ or hallmarked with a 925 stamp.
What does an epergne look like?
Design and Color. Glass epergnes usually have a tall central flute or column that is surrounded by shorter flutes. Fancier glass epergnes have stems made of glass that hold small glass baskets. In these flutes and baskets were placed flowers and bonbons or sweetmeats.
What do you do with an epergne?