Featured Cleaning Silver Plate Figural Napkin Rings with Candle Holder

Hi,
I picked up 2 Meriden figural silver plater napkin rings with candle holder and not sure how to clean them. I have Simichrome polish - is that safe to use? I've not seen these napkin rings with candle holders before - is there a name for them?
thanks for looking

 

Can't help but . . . oh how I like them.

I "think" I am seeing ferns(?) and flowers on the napkin-holder part(s).

 

Personally, I wouldn't use Simichrome on silver plate ... it could possibly polish right down to the base metal.

 

Oh ... and you didn't ask, but candle holder / napkin ring combo just sounds like an accident waiting to happen. Could the little holders be for a small bloom ... or maybe for a small glass insert meant for a small bloom?

They are very cute ... what ever they're for!

 

I usually start off by cleaning all the candle wax out of that part. Then I use Hagerty's silver foam. It's a brown paste, non-abrasive. That should get several layers of tarnish off. Then for the really stubborn tarnish, I follow with Maas silver cream (in a tube). That usually does it, and if not, it's probably an area that lost its plating along the way.

 

That's a good idea, quirky. I once had some lucite napkin rings that were from the 50s and the little receptacle was for a small flower. It just has to last through the meal and then get tossed. Maybe a violet? Candles could be bad. I can see it catching your sleeve on fire. And ask yourself, why a candle? Doesn't make too much sense, regardless of what the former owner stuck in there.

 

Yes yourturn, flowers around the area for the napkins and no monogram. I like them too.
lol, I thought the same thing quirkygirl, a fire waiting to happen. I did see some that had a holder for a flower, so maybe this is missing the little glass part?
I'll have to see if I can find either of those cleaners you suggested Pam, might have to order them on-line. I can't buy simichrome here, has to come from the States.

 

Can you find Goddard's Silver Foam up there? It works wonders on highly detailed pieces and is also non-abrasive (like Hagerty's) ... sooooo easy to use - work up a lather with included sponge - rub it on - rinse it off ... that's it! May have to repeat if the tarnish is stubborn.

 

From 1886 Meriden catalog:



~Cheryl

 

I checked and Home Hardware sells it in Canada - this store is small though so I'm hoping they will have the Hagerty's.
Wow Cheryl, thank-you for finding it How wonderful a dinner table would look with those in front of the plates! I imagine there aren't many left with the original little vase.

 

Thanks to Cheryl @DragonflyWink for posting that photo above it has had me on the hunt to find some glass vases for the napkin rings.
I picked up this epergne, missing one glass horn/piece but I was hoping the small ones would work in these napkin rings and they do! Not the same as in the catalogue but they look wonderful Love them! Thanks again Cheryl!

 

Silver Foam is good, so is Maas. Can you guys get Silvo wadding? Used to be called Duraglit. Good stuff and non abrasive.

 

Do the cleaners mentioned have much of a smell? I'd love to get something to clean silver and silverplate, but have problems with most chemicals and have to be careful.

 

I was able to find Maas here, I've not heard of Silvo wadding though.
Pat, I find Simichrome smells and for whatever reason it seems that I can taste it - no I don't eat it. The Maas not much of a smell and works great.

 

Maas also works for Bakelite testing, which is handy.

 

Thanks, Cxgirl, for the info! Any smell I have a problem with I end up tasting, too, which make it doubly annoying.

 

Wright's Silver Cream is also great. The foaming polishes are wonderful for things like this since the polish washes away. I hate when I get a pice of silver that has dried chunks of polish stuck in the design