Featured Old looking sterling silver dish ?

Terry, this is what tin does on a scratch test stone. The sterling turns a light blueish white color. Compare the 2. First photo is my cup sterling scratch test, the second a piece of tin.

 

Quaich, indeed. It's most likely to be pewter.

 

I often use the 18kt acid to test for sterling. A positive test does turn blue as shown in the pics. @billy3dus maybe polish the bottom a bit and show us what it looks like. I have to agree with the others that the bowl does not actually look like sterling...more like pewter...but your test shows otherwise (at least in my experience). It's got me curious; I thought the 18kt acid test was dependable.

 

It's sterling. I took it to my gold buyer yesterday and he confirmed it was sterling.
And I also sold it yesterday for $200

 

Congratulations on the sale.
But I think your gold buyer was extremely happy, this Dutch miniature silver brandewijnkom sold for 1950 euros:

http://www.miniatuurzilver.nl/collectie/antiek-zilveren-miniaturen/miniatuur-zilveren-brandewijnkom/
Ok, better condition, but I think yours was older and more rare, and they sell for more in the US.
I suppose the price was ok for a wine tasting bowl.
But as long as you are happy, that's all that counts.

 

Thanks, not sure why I got a few replies saying it was pewter and or tin.

 

Billy, I imagine it was because the color just didn't LOOK like silver! (Most sterling doesn't show tarnish that looks like what shows in your photos.)

A couple of folks suggested that you might try polishing it:

Had it been polished, I imagine they would have changed their minds about what it was made of!

 

Billy, congratulations!! I know I can't speak for everyone else, but in my time searching for silver it is much more common to have hallmarks then to not have hallmarks, so i'm guessing some people factored that in. When I first saw your post, I thought the decorative features on the side looked like they were made in a mold, and the color of the metal definitely didn't look like silver to me, so congratulations on you find. Also, can I have that watch in the background of the first picture? I'll give you $200 (just kidding)

 

Thanks man, dang I almost said yes on the ladies Rolex watch.

 

Thanks, it looked that way because it was old. I have had some sterling pieces that had black patina, some looking like my dish I posted, all with the word ( sterling ).depending on how much silver is used or sometimes mixed with other metals, the object will look different when it has patina until polished. My friend the gold man, is 76 and has been doing business for 40 years in the gold and silver market.

 

Odds are he's not melting that little darlin'; he's probably going to shine it up a bit and hoard it.

 

I couldn't bear the thought of anyone melting an early 17th century (possibly older?) piece.

 

I have a hard enough time melting pre-WWII American.(sigh) Post-war 50s mass produced "weighted" stuff on the other hand is just metal.

 

even if it's silver which I doubt it's still be called white metal without a mark and still be worthless without one

 

Are you claiming that without a hallmark, something made of silver is worthless? I'm just wondering what you are making that claim based upon? Did you see the part where his gold dealer confirmed it was silver?

There are some amazing modern ways to test metal, including $20,000 metallurgy x-ray machines. While I agree that hallmarks are great to confirm material, some of the most valuable silver items in the market do not have hallmarks, and that doesn't make them worthless, quite the contrary.

 

Really Manny? An early 17th century, possibly 16th century Dutch brandy bowl?
Oops, might as well throw these away, then:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundestrup_cauldron


https://www.mfah.org/exhibitions/ancient-luxury-roman-silver-treasure-berthouville

Etc, etc.

 

If they're throwing, I'll get my catcher's mitt out!

 

I'll be in front of you for the Gundestrup Cauldron, I love that old piece of unmarked junk.