A Beginner’s Guide To Selling Silver Wine Coasters
Are you looking to find out what your silver wine coasters are worth, and how best to sell them? At Mark Littler Ltd we can help you understand what affects the value of your silver wine coasters, provide you with a valuation, and advise on how best to sell them.
Silver wine coasters have been made since the late 18th century, and normally come in multiples of two. Silver wine coasters were originally designed for the upper classes of society and whilst they are not often used for their original purpose, silver wine coasters are collected for their historical and decorative appeal. As with any antique or collectible item, the value of silver wine coasters can vary greatly depending on a number of factors.
The first factor that affects the value of silver wine coasters is their age. The older the coaster, the more valuable it may be. This is because rarity adds to the appeal and demand for an item. Silver wine coasters from the 18th and 19th century are highly sought after by collectors, as they hold a significant historical significance and often feature intricate designs and engravings.
What Is Your Silver Worth?
How To Sell: Auction or Private Sale?
Mark Littler Ltd. is one of the only independent advisers in the antique industry. We offer trusted, independent advice to help you sell your silver for the highest possible price.
Selling at an auction might provide your silver with greater exposure. However, with a combined average of 45% in gross buyers’ and sellers’ fees, this approach might prove to be a false economy.
Conversely, finding a private buyer for your silver through our services could net you 33% more than if you sold it via auction, as our fees are only 12%.
Important Note: this is a valuation service and not a hallmark identification service. Please see this page to learn how to read your hallmarks.
Silver Valuation Tips
To get the most accurate valuation of your silver simply ensure you provide the following information:
- What condition is your silver in? Let us know if there are and dents or heavy scratches in the silver.
- How heavy is your item? Please provide a measurement in grams if you can as this helps us determine the gauge of the silver. For instance a silver teapot can weigh as much as 1,000g or as little as 250g. Outwardly the design may look identical but the gauge of the silver is much heavier. This is important as items made from a better gauge of silver were often made by better makers for the upper classes, and as such will have a big impact on the value.
- PROVENANCE! Who owned your item before you did? Is there an interesting presentation inscription on your item that might shine light into it’s former life?
Free Expert Silver Valuations
If you would like your antique silver valued, we recommend contacting Jeffrey Lassaline at Tennants Auctioneers. Jeffrey is one of the UK’s leading silver specialists with decades of experience handling some of the most important collections and pieces to come to market.
Jeffrey Lassaline
Silver and Objects of Vertu Specialist
Tennants Auctioneers
Tel: +44 (0)1969 623780
Email: jeffrey.lassaline@tennants-ltd.co.uk
About Jeffrey
Jeffrey joined Tennants in 2019, bringing with him over 25 years’ experience in the Fine and Decorative Arts. He began his career in Canada before moving to London in 2000 to head Christie’s South Kensington Silver Department, later becoming Senior Silver Specialist and Director at Christie’s King Street. During nearly 20 years at Christie’s, Jeffrey was involved in landmark sales including the Peggy and David Rockefeller Collection and the record-breaking Fabergé Rothschild Egg. Passionate about silver, he has supported contemporary silversmiths through his work with the Silver Trust and is a Freeman of the Goldsmiths’ Company, a member of the Silver Society, and a founding member of the Silver Society of Canada.
What Affects The Value Of Your Silver Wine Coasters?
Size Of Set
Wine coasters are nearly always found in multiples of two, although it is rare to find sets larger than four.
The larger sets do command a premium although remember to check that both the design and hallmarks match across the set.
Single coasters are much less commercial and often achieve only 15-25% of the price of a pair.
Coat of Arms
Given that wine was once most commonly consumed by the upper tiers of society, it was common to have your coat of arms or crest engraved on your silver wine coasters.
If the engraving of the coat of arms is period with the item then this will often enhance the value. Coats of arms belonging to prominent families, or even royalty, will enhance the value of your silver wine coasters greatly.
Condition
Clearly the condition of your wine coasters will have an impact on the value.
Dents, bruises and splits are all obvious forms of damage that will impact the value.
Quite often on wine coasters you may find that the wooden base has been replaced. This doesn’t always reduce the value but the standard of the replacement must be considered.
Do not worry about cleaning your wine coasters. In some cases you can reduce the value of wine coasters by cleaning them.
What Our Customers Say
Age
We have been applying hallmarks to silver since the 14th century and as such they are the oldest form of consumer protection in the world.
Silver wine coasters have been made from around the 18th Century and the earlier pieces often command a higher price.
However, the older the wine coaster, the more likely that there will have been repairs over the years. As such it is a combination of both the age and the condition that will have a real impact on the value of your wine coaster.
Silver or Plate
To put it bluntly, sterling silver items were made for the middle and upper classes. Silver plate was an invention aimed at making ‘silver’ style items available to the masses.
If you see the letters EPNS or A1 on your wine coasters then they are silver plated. Your wine coasters will need to be hallmarked and carry very specific marks in order to be legally called silver.
As silver plate was made for the mass market many items of silver plate do not have any value.
Weight
The weight of your wine coasters will help us to understand the quality of your silver. But how?
Silversmiths like Paul Storr produced many items to the same design, but depending on the wealth of their client they would adjust the amount of silver that they would use for the commission.
As such wine coasters may be 500g or they might be 1,300g. Without being able to handle your items in person, providing the weight will give us a very good idea of the gauge of the silver used and thus we will be able to give you a very good idea of the value.
