Christie’s silver department offers expert advice on the best ways to maintain the precious metal’s sparkle, from avoiding tarnish to going easy on the Brusselssprouts
1. Get storage right
A pair of silver water pitchers. Mark of Frederick Marquand, New York, circa 1830. Sold for $5,000 in the American Furniture, Folk Art and Silver sale on 22 January 2016 at Christie’s in New York
Silver should be stored wrapped in dry, acid-free tissue paper and placedinside cotton or Tarnprufe bags. It should not be kept near to or touchingsmoke, household paints, rubber, newspaper, wool, felt or velvet.
It is also advised that it should not be kept inside oak furniture due to thewood’s acidic nature. Silver that has been lacquered can be stored withoutspecial protection — although it might be sensible to cover each piece withacid-free tissue paper to protect from dust.
2. Tackle tarnish
A mid-century American silver three-piece tea and coffee service. Mark of Gorham Mfg. Co., Providence, 1956. Sold for $875 inLiving with Art, 9-10 February 2016 at Christie’s in New York
Over time, tarnish can appear on silver items as a dull, grey or black film.Silver dip can be used to remove this coating. Contrary to the name, youshould never submerge silver in silver dip, but should apply it with cottonwool, before drying pieces with a soft linen tea towel and then polishing witha silver cloth.
Try to avoid getting Silver Dip into hollow decorations — such as fruit orsmall figures — as they may prove difficult to rinse and then dry thoroughly.Silver polish provides a more long-term solution to tarnish removal as, unlikesilver dip, it leaves a protective layer on the item’s surface. Don’t betempted to use solutions designed for other materials, such as copper orbrass.
3. For smaller items, use the right tools
A pair of silver salt cellars. Mark of Tiffany & Co. New York, circa 1890. Sold for $2,375 in the American Furniture, Folk Art and Silversale on 22 January 2016 at Christie’s in New York
For small objects use a hog’s hair brush, not a toothbrush or householdpaintbrush, because these are too abrasive. If necessary, use a cotton bud:dip this into Silver Dip and work gently into crevices to remove the tarnishbefore rinsing and drying.
4. It is possible to clean too much
A silver soup tureen. Retail Mark of A.Schmidt & Son, probably New York, circa 1900. Sold for $15,000 in the American Furniture, Folk Art and Silversale on 22 January 2016 at Christie’s in New York
Although it’s tempting to remove tarnish as soon as it appears, ideally silvershould be cleaned as little as possible. The abrasive nature of polish candamage engraved decorations, as well as causing holes in embossed work oreroding the surface of Sheffield plate.
To avoid abrasion when cleaning, consider switching harsh polish for hot,soapy water, rinsing and then drying your silver before budding with a softcloth specially made for silver — Goddard’s Long Term Silver Cloth is ideal.Silver should never, however, go in the dishwasher.
5. Dry — then dry again
A silver tea urn. Mark of Ball, Black & Co, New York, 1851-1876. Sold for $4,375 in the American Furniture, Folk Art and Silver sale on 22 January 2016 at Christie’s in New York
Silver that has been properly dried does not tarnish as easily. After removingdamp from silver with a soft linen cloth, it should either be placed in adrying cabinet at 50-60°C for 15-30 minutes, or dried using a hair dryer keptat least 15cm away from the silver. However, do not use this method if theobject has handles or other fittings of wood or ivory, since these couldbecome damaged.
6. Handle with care
An assembled American silver flatware part service. Mark of Gorham Mfg. Co., Providence, late 19th/early 20th century. Sold for $2,500 in Living with Art, 9-10 February 2016 at Christie’s in New York
When cleaning silver, rest it on your hand, rather than on a hard worksurface, and work gently in a circular motion. Wearing cotton gloves whenhandling silver is recommended, so as not to leave fingerprints, which containpotentially damaging acids.
Where silver is used as tableware, be aware that foods including eggs,Brussels sprouts, vinegar and salt all tarnish the material very quickly. It’simportant to wash silver soon after it has come into contact with these.
Main photo at top: Ray Tang/REX/Shutterstock
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