Prelude International Sterling Silverware

Does anyone know the value of this Prelude International Sterling Silverware. Also a few Wallace pieces.

 

likely melt weight prices....

 

I'm guessing this is where it was purchased

 

Sad, but true. And even less for the pieces by Wallace because that pattern is silver plated, not sterling.

You can try looking at ebay listings, both sold and active, to see whether there seems to be much interest in the Prelude pattern and how sellers group the pieces to appeal to the "replacement piece" market.

 

Hi @Strgzr64

Next time, please select "all full size" for you images - they'll drop right into the thread, making them easier to scroll through

 

Thanks for the advice Bakersgma. I've looked around a little. I've seen a 4 piece dinner set, Fork ,Knife, 2 Spoons selling from $199- $240. And a full 66 piece set for $11,000 !! Kinda freaked me out.

 

Sorry scotshouse. Will do next time. Thanks for the tip .

 

Ah, but Strgzr, were those asking prices or SOLD prices?

Sadly, today's young adults want little to do with sterling silver. It has to be polished, and it shouldn't go in the dishwasher, both of which make it TOO MUCH TROUBLE!

I say "sadly" because so much sterling from the 20th century is going straight to the smelter these days. There was lots of it made after WWII for the young couples starting out in life together, and "wedding gift silver" was a big thing, particularly after the war. Much of that silver was purchased (piece by piece) at local jewelry stores, like the one whose name is shown on your anti-tarnish bag.

Your Prelude pattern was introduced before WWII (ca.1939, I believe) but it really became a big seller after the war. It's a rather simple, sort of modern pattern, which is exactly what many brides of the 1950's, for instance, wanted to have.

I know that among collectors, much of the mid-century stuff is maligned for its lack of originality and/or artistic design. If you compare a pattern like Prelude to one of the ornate, older (especially late 1800's) designs, you may even come to the same conclusion yourself.

I have always loved sterling silver and have collected it for years and years. The value of my collection these days is nowhere near what it once was, but I'm still holding on to it, because I like it and actually USE some of it.

I'll just add that if you can sell the silver you have shown at the prices you've quoted, DO IT! Unfortunately, i'm just not seeing those prices as realistic at all.

 

Thank you SBSVC. YEP. Selling prices. Didn't see anything "Sold". Ha. The anti-tarnish bag didn't work so well. Is it best to polish them or leave as is if I try selling them? I know some things lose value if you "clean then up"

 

Strgzr, the anti-tarnish bag has probably been washed - and even it it hasn't, the embedded anti-tarnish stuff is undoubtedly long gone!

Anyway, if you're going to try to sell your pieces for USE, definitely polish them! Use something like a silver cream (available at grocery stores, hardware stores, etc) and polish gently. (Please don't use a dip like Tarnex or any of those "at home" baking soda concoctions - you want them to look good, not stripped!)

Note that sterling silver will NOT lose value if it's polished - it is MEANT to be shiny!

Best of luck with your sales.

 

Thanks again !!