Silver is a precious white metal that has been prized for tableware, ornament and display for thousands of years. Pure silver is too soft for everyday use, so it is alloyed with a small amount of copper; in Britain the legal standard for most wares is sterling silver, containing 92.5 per cent pure silver, with the higher Britannia standard used for some pieces made after 1697.
British silver is unusually well documented thanks to the hallmarking system, which records the maker, the assay office, the standard and, through a date letter, the year of assay. This allows collectors to identify where and when a piece was made with considerable precision. Antique silver ranges from Georgian candlesticks, salvers and tea services to Victorian presentation pieces, flatware and dressing-table accessories. Condition, weight, crispness of decoration, the clarity of the marks and the reputation of the maker all influence value. Silver should be distinguished from silver plate and electroplate, where a thin layer of silver covers a base metal.
