Silver

Unlike many other antique wares, silver has an intrinsic value that resides in the material from which it is fashioned, although this may be far less than the value of the finished piece. Indeed, since silver was first mined over 4,000 years ago, there have been numerous periods of war and economic uncertainty when silver artifacts were melted down and converted to bullion or coinage. To some degree, investment in objects fashioned from this precious metal and stamped with hallmarks of provenance remains an expression of wealth and status. However, nowadays the collecting of silverware is primarily motivated by aesthetics, notably the reflectivity and lustre of the metal, and also by the types of artefact available, the designs and decorative techniques employed, and the craftsmanship displayed in the manufacture of individual items. Many private collections are made up of functionally related objects, such as candlesticks and candelabra; flatware, or cutlery; the many vessels devised for serving, eating, and drinking; toilet accessories; and mirror and picture frames. Usually, such collections consist of pieces that display nuances of shape and decorative embellishments derived from one of the major historical styles of design and ornament.