Featured A silver log of last week

Good evening everyone!

For my post today, I thought I would mix it up and describe my week (and reveal my purchases). While this isn’t necessarily a “typical” week, the stats of number of messages and number of purchases are probably a good average on what I’m doing each day to find treasure. So, without further ado, here’s a recap of my week hunting for silver:

May 17th:
Number of listings viewed: 1,000’s
Number of messages sent inquiring about items: 5
Number of purchases: 2

May 18th:
Number of listings viewed: 1,000’s
Number of messages sent inquiring about items: 9
Number of purchases: 0
Near misses: 1

May 19th:
Number of listings viewed: 1,000’s
Number of messages sent inquiring about items: 6
Number of purchases: 1

May 20th:
Number of listings viewed: 1,000’s
Number of messages sent inquiring about items: 9
Number of purchases: 0

May 21st:
Number of listings viewed: 1,000’s
Number of messages sent inquiring about items: 13
Number of purchases: 1

May 22nd:
Number of listings viewed: 1,000’s
Number of messages sent inquiring about items: 6
Number of purchases: 2

May 23rd:
Number of listings viewed: 1,000’s
Number of messages sent inquiring about items: 12
Number of purchases: 1

I ended up getting three sterling flatware sets, a really heavy sterling oblong centerpiece bowl, some sterling items I scrapped, a set of sterling goblets, and a Gorham sterling pitcher with a reinforced handle. I’m still waiting on a few of the items to arrive, but my estimate on everything I purchased this week is 5,692 grams of sterling silver. The total price I paid was $728; my dear friends I share this for one reason alone, and it's to let you know the goodies are out there and if you are patient, focused and willing to try you will score something! Here’s a few quick photos, and then back I go to hunt more!

 

I've found a piece or two here or there, but 1000s is about the size of it.

 

Thanks Mr. Nate, you keep me on the hunt

 

The top is Gorham Strasbourg pattern, very nice.

 

You nailed the pattern!

 

Thank you Marie, I definitely will

 

@MrNate, curious as too how rare it is to find a sterling trivet (pic #6). Don't think I have seen one yet. Congrats on such nice pieces.

 

I've had one like Nate's for decades, likely made by Webster, of actual silver overlay rather than silver-deposit - have sold several others over the years, both overlaid and silver-deposit (they were made in silverplate as well, sometimes sold as sterling, despite the lack of any quality mark)...

~Cheryl


https://www.google.com/search?q=web...hUKEwix_4TmyOfwAhVqQzABHdzIA-8Q_AUoAnoECAEQBA


https://www.google.com/search?q=sil...i=qFyuYNKnBY6ezwKjyJX4Cw#imgrc=jcJkax72Av30oM

 

This would be a first for me with this one, I don’t recall ever finding one in sterling before this one. I’ll snap a photo later when I’m home but I think it’s Webster (probably the same design Cheryl is mentioning)

 

You’re a wild man!

 

As suspected, it was Webster:

 

I thought I was doing pretty good when I got $200-$300 in melt more than I paid for a flatware set a week or so ago. This was my best score last week IMO, just because I love it. Way bigger than I realized it was going to be. Seller called it silver but didn’t call it sterling or show the mark so I was just going off the luster, tarnish, hammered finish, and monogram in guessing it was legit. Turned out to be 240g, paid $60 all in. I’d imagine it’s worth near double it’s melt value as a nice flask but I could be little too hopeful there. I’ll be keeping it either way.

 

I had never seen one turn out to be sterling either. I’m almost tempted not to even check them but now I’ll continue to after seeing Nates find.

 

Lovely piece J Dagger...when I say I'm searching a lot...i mean i'm searching a lot...regarding the flask...I messaged someone about a flask too, I was hoping to see marks but the seller said there weren't any marks...you got the one I missed!!!!

 

You got one ahead of Mr. Nate! Does that make it even better? Definitely not one for the melter. The monogram looks 1930s, if not quite old enough for bathtub gin.

 

Is this literally the one or were you speaking in general terms? This seller also said there were no marks when I asked. It just looked to good not to take the chance on. I figured even if I was wrong I could probably still get close to $60 eventually just for a nice looking non-silver antique flask. When someone who is clearly not an experienced seller tells me there no marks I take it with a grain of salt as I’m sure you do sometimes. That only means there aren’t three inch neon bold letters/numbers usually.
Edit: haha, I didn’t notice your photos until after my post. That’s the one!

 

Ha! Well anytime you beat the hawks to a deal it feels good. I feel like most people aren’t willing to gamble without seeing proof. I am and obviously Nate is. As long as you bat for a good average it’s worth it. I’d say that sounds right for the monogram. I don’t even drink and I can’t see letting it go anytime soon.

 

Maybe it belonged to Harry Houdini?

 

I’ve cleaned enough!

 

Yup definitely the same one and great gamble and win. Your “batting average” is a really good analogy. Beyond the batting average idea is the notion of risk vs. reward. For example, if I only have to risk $50 and my reward is a complete sterling flatware set, I’m more likely to take a leap of faith. Your assessment of the ability to recover your losses from the misses at the plate are absolutely the right way to be thinking. I do get my assessment wrong, I have a long list of things that turned out to be duds... But to me, low risk plus high reward equals buy! And you scored a great one!