A Beginner’s Guide To Selling Silver Inkstands
Are you looking to find out what your silver inkstand is worth, and how best to sell it? At Mark Littler Ltd we can help you understand what affects the value of your silver inkstand, provide you with a valuation, and advise on how best to sell it.
Silver inkstands have been made since the 17th century, although they don’t become common until the 18th century. Silver inkstands were originally designed for the upper classes of society and whilst they are not often used for their original purpose, silver inkstands are collected for their historical and decorative appeal.
When it comes to determining the value of your silver inkstand, there are several factors that need to be considered. The first is the maker or manufacturer. Pieces made by well-known and reputable silversmiths will often hold a higher value than those made by lesser known craftsmen. Additionally, the age and condition of the inkstand will greatly affect its worth. Older and well-preserved pieces will usually have a higher value compared to newer or damaged ones.
What Is Your Silver Worth?
How To Sell: Auction or Private Sale?
Mark Littler Ltd. are 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%.
What We Do For You
Simply fill in your contact details below and you will get an automatic referral to a leading silver auction expert who will give you an auction estimate and advise on how to sell with them. We will also see if we are able to get any offer from our private clients.
If we get any offers we will send these within 7 days. All offers are without obligation and there are no fees to pay us if you decide to sell at auction.
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?
Important Note: this is a valuation service and not a hallmark identification service. Please see this page to learn how to read your hallmarks.
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What Affects The Value Of Your Silver Inkstand?
Originality
Most inkstands will share their common pieces: the container for ink, a pounce pot, and a space for the quills. Whilst a few additions may be included, the composition of inkstands remains similar.
The value is, therefore, often held in the originality of the design. Globe inkstands, for example, are very different to the typical inkstand tray. Different chased designs and shapes of the inkstands can add value to the piece.
Coat of Arms
Given that writing was once a skill only afforded by the upper tiers of society, it was common to have your coat of arms or crest engraved on your silver inkstand.
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 inkstand greatly.
Condition
Clearly the condition of your inkstand 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 inkstands you may find that a coat of arms has been removed which can be hard to spot but will also have a big impact on the value.
Do not worry about cleaning your inkstand. In some cases you can reduce the value of an inkstand by cleaning it.
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.
Inkstands have been made from around the 17th Century and the earlier pieces often command a higher price.
However, the older the inkstand, 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 inkstand.
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 inkstand then it is silver plated. Your inkstand 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 inkstand 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 an inkstand may be 500g or it 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.
