Found another interesting piece.... EG Webster

Found this one today. I think its EG Webster, but I can't figure out years they used the spiderweb. Its heavy and intricate in its design. I got it for $6 today at an estate sale. I wonder how it will look cleaned up!

 

E G Webster and Son to be exact. 1866 earliest date of existence. Silver plate and in desperate need of cleaning. You may find that the plating is gone.

 

If plating is gone, is the value of the piece gone too? And,if the plating is gone, how sacrilegious would it be to paint it a completely different color? Maybe create an art piece with it....

 

Doesn't have much value even if the plating were still there, I suspect. What do you have in it?

 

And how in the world would you paint it??

 

Very rare is the silverplate that is worth anything. There are some exceptions,but rare indeed. I dont think it'd hurt it one bit to paint it some funky color with metal paint.Just dont use it for food !

 

I don't have anything in it. I just bought it today but it does look rough inside it. I hope it's just gunk that will come out when i clean it.

 

Honestly, I have no idea....yet. I just think its a piece that needs to be showcased. I love the age of it and want that to be the lead in how i show it...just haven't figured out how that is going to work yet.

 

Sorry - "in it" as in how much did you pay for it?

 

Oh, I only paid $6.

 

Glad it wasn't more.

 

I've cleaned up one side with Simichrome. I can't seem to get it much more clean...and especially in the intricate design. Do you think this is as good as it gets or do i keep trying? Also, I didn't see a Quadruple Mark on it... Just the Spiderweb and W. Does it look like plate to you?

 

Yes it does. Not all US plated silver is marked as plated, much less as quad plate which designation was not used by all makers and the few that did used for a relatively short period of time. Polish up the other side!

 

Try a soft toothbrush and a baking soda paste made with a little water to make the paste.