Mixing Antique and Contemporary Silver
A collection does not have to belong to a single period. Contemporary silversmiths continue to explore many of the same forms that have appeared on British tables for centuries: bowls, cups, jugs, candlesticks and serving pieces. Placing contemporary work beside antique silver highlights both the differences and the continuity between them.
It can also make collecting less prescriptive. Rather than trying to complete a particular service, collectors can choose individual pieces because of their form, maker or simply because they enjoy using them.
Can Antique Silver Be Used Outdoors?
Antique silver can be used for outdoor entertaining, although a little common sense helps. Pieces should not be left outdoors for extended periods, particularly in damp conditions, and food residues should be removed after use. Silver should also be handled carefully when moving dishes and tableware between the house and garden.
Otherwise, many pieces of domestic silver are considerably more robust than their age might suggest. They were made to be handled, filled, poured from and passed around.
Caring for Silver After a Summer Gathering
Regular use can actually encourage owners to become more familiar with caring for their silver. After use, pieces should generally be cleaned of food and drink residues, dried thoroughly and stored somewhere dry. Tarnish is a natural reaction and does not mean that a piece has been damaged.
Over-polishing, however, can gradually soften decoration and hallmarks, so polishing should be sympathetic rather than aggressive. For collectors, those hallmarks are particularly important. They can reveal the maker, Assay Office and date of a piece and are often central to understanding its history.
Why Use Antique Silver Rather Than Simply Display It?
Silver changes when it is used. A jug filled with water or flowers makes more sense of its proportions. A candlestick becomes part of a room once it is lit. The weight and balance of a serving spoon become apparent only when it is picked up. That physical relationship with an object is one of the pleasures of collecting domestic silver.
Summer entertaining provides an informal setting in which to rediscover it. Surrounded by linen, flowers, food and conversation, centuries-old silver can feel surprisingly contemporary. These objects have spent generations appearing at tables. There is no reason they should stop now.
