Skip to content

The Ultimate Guide To Selling Antique Silver

Whether you have a silver tea service that you have inherited or a collection of silver that you have built up over the last 10 years, knowing how to sell your antique silver can be somewhat difficult.  Over the years, collecting habits have changed and what might have been in fashion 5 years ago may no longer be sought after. 

We are here to help put you in touch with a speicalist valuer who will be able to help you value and sell your antique silver.  

Antique silver is a popular collectible because of its beauty and the intricate craftsmanship that often goes into creating each piece. However, with changing trends in interior design and collecting, it can be challenging to find buyers for your collection. That’s where our specialist valuers come in – they have the knowledge and expertise to accurately assess the value of your antique silver and find potential buyers who will appreciate its unique qualities.

Battle Abbey silver

Find Me A Specialist Antique Silver Valuer

With over 150 auctioneers in the UK, choosing the right one can be daunting.

Our service connects you with the ideal specialist, ensuring accurate valuations and sales assistance.

Leveraging over fifteen years of industry experience, we match your items with the auctioneers most likely to achieve the highest prices, maximising your chances of a successful sale.

The valuers we work with have been carefully selected based on their reputation, specialty areas, and success rates. We work closely with them to market your items effectively and attract the right buyers.

If you would like a free, no obligation valuation from an expert silver valuer please use the contact form below.  It’s a simple as 1, 2, 3.

1. Send details about your item
Fill out the contact form below

2. We match your item to a specialist in their field
We will send the details about your silver to a specialist who will be able to provide you with an expert valuaiton.

3. They will contact you direct using the details you provide in the contact form below

Free Expert Silver Valuations

Use the form below or send images of your silver to be connected with a silver expert.

Get In Touch With A Silver Specialist

"*" indicates required fields

Drop files here or
Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, Max. file size: 10 MB.
    Untitled*

    What Affects The Value Of Your Antique Silver?

    Macallan Whisky Worth

    Type Of Item

    One of the main factors that affects the value of your antique silver is the type of object itself.  By its nature most silver is utilitarian, meaning that the form of the items has a distinct purpose.  Tea services, coffee pots, cutlery, candlesticks etc are all examples of items that were made for a specific purpose.  While still commercial, these types of items are seldom collected in large numbers.

    Smaller, collectable items such as vesta cases and card cases can be worth much more than larger items such as tea services simply because they can be collected in larger numbers with ease.

    antique-silver-valuations

    Designer

    As with works of art, all pieces of silver are signed.  Perhaps not by the craftsman that made them, but they all carry a maker’s mark as part of the hallmark.  The maker’s mark will let you know which workshop produced the item.

    Items by well know and sought after silversmiths and designers such as Paul Storr, Omar Ramsden, A.E. Jones, Charles Robert Ashbee etc will always command a premium.

    You can use this website to find out the maker of your silver.

    Sell Antique Silver Mark Littler

    Condition

    Clearly the condition of your antique silver 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 antique silver 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.  Likewise, a canteen of silver may have had its owners initials engraved onto each piece.  This can also have a negative impact on the value in some instances.

    What Our Customers Say

    Matt Tweats at Mark Littler has been super helpful and gone above and beyond to help me sell my whisky collection. Thank you very much
    Tom H.
    Tom H.
    1710417872
    It was a pleasure to deal with Mark and his team in the sale of my whisky cask. Excellent customer service, communication, professional, helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly.Overall, I would have no hesitation in endorsing Mark Littler Ltd in achieving the best price if you are looking to sell your cask.
    Charles L.
    Charles L.
    1710355243
    I wanted to sell a couple of whisky casks and used Mark Littler Ltd as my whisky broker. Apparently it is a slow process but Mark Littler managed to push the sale through quickly and at a good price. I have no hesitation in leaving this 5* review for the company.
    Geoffrey B.
    Geoffrey B.
    1709572510
    Mark and his team could not have been more helpful, both at the stage of valuing the contents of Dad's house for probate, and at the stage of selling some of it. A difficult task made easier with care and expertise. Thank you so much.
    Sue J.
    Sue J.
    1708358494
    Very easy to use service and super friendly staff - thank you for making this sale a breeze. Look forward to doing business with you again.
    Estelle H.
    Estelle H.
    1706888436
    I extend my sincere thanks to Mark Littler & colleague Hannah Thompson for the very speedy way they handled sale of my Lowry signed printed.I have owned the print for 50 years : it needed a small amount of restoration which was beautifully done & enabled Mark & Hannah to achieve a considerably higher sell priceA 5 star review warrants the way Mark & associates handled my sale.Thank you for taking a real interest in my print.
    Peter B.
    Peter B.
    1705055764
    Excellent, prompt and trustworthy service. Highly recommended company.
    jonathan E.
    jonathan E.
    1704461529
    I was very happy with the service Mark provided in selling my cask, he got the target price that was agreed at the outset.
    Garry T.
    Garry T.
    1704194229
    gave great advice and helped me through every step which was greatly appreciated for a first time seller.
    Gareth J.
    Gareth J.
    1702290701
    So professional,easy and relaxed attitude.Communication excellent.Wouldn't go anywhere else, and certainly do business with the company again.I'm not in the whisky business, just love drinking it ,but treated equally as any other company or trader. .Superb!!!!
    Mick J.
    Mick J.
    1701901479
    Great service from beginning to end when we wanted to sell our Ben Nevis cask.Buyer was found very quick and the transaction went smooth.We also got to keep six sample bottles which we finally got delivered, after some issues with swedish Customs (again great support from Hannah at ML).Thanks for everything!
    Thomas N.
    Thomas N.
    1701003500
    I had several casks of Scotch for many years and wanted to sell them. I'm in the US and was completely unaware as to how to do so. I cannot recommend Mark Littler LTD highly enough. Mark walked me through the steps of the process of selling from start to finish and it was flawless. Communication was excellent. My casks were sold quickly and for a very fair price.
    Rena Z.
    Rena Z.
    1700395543
    I must say the whole experience from start to finish was quite exceptional . Pricing , communication , simplicity , the whole process was faultless , well worth the 5 star review would not hesitate to recommend and or use again .
    Mark D.
    Mark D.
    1700140771
    Just exceptional people to deal with throughout.
    Iwan L.
    Iwan L.
    1699903151
    I’ve waited a while to write a review but after 9 months of buying a cask of whiskey through mark littler ltd must say very happy how everything was explained and discussed mainly with HannahOnce we decided to go with mark littlerEverything was done extremely professional and quite quick always informed what was going onNow, very excited to let our cask mature over many years and hopefully both parties can earn a little bit of profit in the future thanks
    Gary B.
    Gary B.
    1699129136
    Great group to work with, highest integrity. We had an issue with an item that was likely nicked by someone at the receiving department. This issue was covered immediately with no headache on the buyer's end. I have been collecting for over 15 years. Trust and integrity can be difficult to find online but this organization shows both. Both Mark and Katy are great to work with, I could not recommend them more.
    David V.
    David V.
    1698773697
    Helped with selling of my Bruichladdich whisky cask.Excellent services from first contact to payment.Good information and updates along the way.
    Fredrik O.
    Fredrik O.
    1698768408
    A brilliant company to do business with. Very detailed and informative valuation of my whiskey and made the whole process very smooth. Was kept informed throughout the process and payment was made quickly. Highly recommend and will use again!
    Jonathan C
    Jonathan C
    1697634379
    Best in the business what can I say...! Been watching following guidance but during a difficult period sorted a much needed sale.Back them 8 symbol of infinity folks.
    Doug W.
    Doug W.
    1697542410
    Excellent. Very helpful throughout, kept me informed during the process. Would not hesitate to recommend to anybody.
    Linda W.
    Linda W.
    1697449681
    Such an easy process, even sent the packaging to send bottle, smooth transaction , will use again
    bill P.
    bill P.
    1697103371
    Mark secured the best price for our Lowry Print. Thank you
    Chris T.
    Chris T.
    1696950287
    Great service from staff. very helpful and expert advice.
    Peter C.
    Peter C.
    1696627499
    Very pleased with the service. Hard to find among companies nowadays. Kept in touch with me at every step. I highly recommend them.
    Dave W.
    Dave W.
    1696593588
    In 1991 I purchased a number edition bottle of Midleton Very Rare whiskey in a box with the certification endorsed by the Master Distiller Barry Crockett whilst visiting Whiskey Corner in Dublin.It was stored in a cupboard until March 2013 when my wife suggested that we had it valued.Having searched on line for a whisky broker two options were presented by the internet one in Dublin and one in Congleton Cheshire. Mark Littler Independent Whisky Broker. From the first contact by phone with their staff members relating to my initial enquiry and the subsequent process of selling the bottle of whiskey they all dealt with the matter with very professionally and kept us fully informed at every stage of the process to achieve finding a buyer in their Online Shop.We personally delivered the Midleton Whiskey to their premises in Congleton in late March 2023 where Beth welcomed us to the very secure and tempreature controlled suite of offices where we met all the members of staff who would be dealing with our sale.My wife and I were handed a very detailed and simple contract of sale which Beth gave us time to read through and explained all the process of how the sale would be conducted by Mark Littler Ltd, and an initial offer price was agreed to commence the sale.In July Beth contacted us to suggest that we include our bottle in a video that was being produced to promote their whisky shop and items available for sale. The video was very professionally made and explained in detail each of the bottles on offer to prospective buyers.The sale of our bottle of Midleton Whiskey was completed in September at the price we had hoped to achieve when it was independently valued.During the whole [process of our dealings with Beth and Katy we kept up to date on the sale process, and the agreed sum of money achieved arrived in our bank account as promised.As valued customers we would fully endorse and recommend Mark Littler Ltd as a trustworthy company to sell your valuable times through either in their shop or at auction.Mr Lawrence and Mrs Par Burrell.Shepperton. Middlesex,
    Lawrence B.
    Lawrence B.
    1695826427
    I really enjoy all the content, however when I contacted the company in order to sell my bottles, no one responded despite my 3 attempts over several weeks (email, website, Whatsapp link wasn't working).After submitting 2 star review Mark reached out within an hour and provided the valuation for the bottles along with advice. He explained that my email ended in spam which was valid reason for the delay so I edited my review to 5 stars which they deserve.
    Adam D.
    Adam D.
    1694681021
    After 20 years I'm a bit maudlin at seeing my madeira butt go but the process was made easier by recruiting Mark Littler to assist.Communications with Mark and his team are quick and simple. What Mark says, he does, with openess and integrity which in these times of charlatanism is a relief to come across. His counsel and advice held water and helped me realise one of my ambitions.I contacted Mark after hearing him speak on the BBC's 'The Food Programme'. My thoughts were that if the BBC's production team had vetted him and found all wholesome then he would be good enough for me. As a result, I can reccomend Mark wholeheartedly. I will be going back to Mark in 5 years time when those casks I bought for our children will need to be sold to help them onto their respective property ladders.Many thanks Mark and team.
    Nick H.
    Nick H.
    1694427184
    From start to finish the team have been professional and easy to deal with. Don't hesitate to use them. Already recommended to friends and will be using again when the opportunity arises.
    runstar2212
    runstar2212
    1694192099
    Would highly recommend, very professional service from start to finish, fast and efficient, thank you Mark.
    Janet G.
    Janet G.
    1692982943
    Excellent app
    bill C.
    bill C.
    1692636867
    Recently used Mark Littler’s services and what a positive experience. Great communication and easy to deal with. Very professional and efficient process. Thank you!
    Simone A
    Simone A
    1692198456
    Five star service from all the team. I would highly recommend Mark Littler. The team were highly efficient and extremely helpful.
    bruce L.
    bruce L.
    1692181794
    We used Mark and his team to sell a Lowry print. A big thank-you to Hannah for all your help. The service provided was excellent from first contact to sale. Mark's site is brilliant and provided us with lots of really useful information. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Mark and his team. It really was a first class service.
    Sarah H.
    Sarah H.
    1691409922
    Andrew B.
    Andrew B.
    1691067542
    We heard about Mark on radio 4, his company provided a first class service getting us a price high above what other brokers could find, he did this through his extensive and exclusive global customer base. Excellent service, trusted and would recommend highly.
    Rory H.
    Rory H.
    1689929150
    Very friendly, professional and efficient service.
    Susan G.
    Susan G.
    1688824673
    Mark provided an excellent service when I wanted to sell a large portion of my whisky collection.He provided a professional service, gave me sound advice and communicated on a regular basis during the marketing and selling process.I would highly recommend him and would use Mark again as he is hugely knowledgeable and a pleasure to deal with.
    Robert H.
    Robert H.
    1688119935
    After my cask reached 10 years old I asked the distillery for a buy back price, which I thought was very low. Apparently they have no outlet for them. So deciding to sell privately I found Mark and contacted him based on previous reviews. I was not disappointed, he handled the sale from start to finish and sold my cask for 4x what the distillery had offered. When my next one comes of age Mark will be my first port of call.
    Philip M.
    Philip M.
    1686554351
    Mark Littler gave me sound advice regarding my rare bottle of Whiskey and we achieved the asking price within the time frame.Highly recommended
    Bill O.
    Bill O.
    1686129150
    I highly recommend Mark Littler . They sold my pocket watch for me and the transaction was so easy and superb customer service. I will definitely be a returning customer.
    David S.
    David S.
    1685696148
    Absolute pleasure to deal with. Highly knowledgeable of the whisky trade, great communicator and equally important worked hard to achieve a high sale price. Totally professional service.
    Ian W.
    Ian W.
    1685352372
    Mark Littler Ltd helped me to sell my bottles which achieved far higher prices than auctions! Well done and keep up the good work!! 🥳👌🏻
    Ryan
    Ryan
    1685004080
    Great service from Mark and team from start to finish. Everything explained up front on process and no hard sell. Highly recommended. Thanks Mark et al
    Neil K.
    Neil K.
    1684540637
    Excellent service, advice and communication. I would definitely recommend them and use this Mark Littler again myself.
    Keith P.
    Keith P.
    1684512367
    I bought and sold bottles with Mark multiple times.He always delivers outstanding service, deliveries are very prompt and the bottles are protected above the rest of the industry (auction houses/shops).I would highly recommend Mark Littler Ltd as a way of selling and buying rare and collectible whisky bottles!Also great content on YouTube educating people regaling the subject of whisky investment!
    Dan S.
    Dan S.
    1684333412
    Phil V.
    Phil V.
    1683272478
    I recently had the pleasure of working with Mark Littler, and I must say his services as a whisky broker have been nothing short of exceptional. As an overseas customer, I was initially unsure about how the process would go, but Mark quickly put my concerns to rest. The professionalism and dedication he displayed throughout our interactions made me feel confident and at ease.Mark was incredibly knowledgeable and transparent in his dealings, ensuring that I was well-informed along each step of the process. His communication was prompt, clear, and concise, always striving to keep me in the loop.As someone who resides outside of the UK, I highly recommend Mark Littler's services to anyone considering using a whisky broker. His outstanding professionalism, friendly attitude, and genuine commitment to his clients make him stand out in the industry.I wholeheartedly give Mark Littler a five out of five-star rating and encourage other overseas customers to trust him with their whisky investments. You won't be disappointed!
    Very professional service. Would highly recommend.
    George M.
    George M.
    1682678627
    Very professional and friendly service, got a very good price for my item a lot more than I expected highly recommended
    Gerry D.
    Gerry D.
    1682677239
    js_loader
    Sell-Antique-Silver

    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.  

    As silver has always been a good ‘store’ of wealth, there are many moments in history where large volumes of antique silver has been melted to fund wars.  As such very little silver remains from the pre-Restoration era (1660).  Most antique silver dates from the 18th and 19th century as this is when silver began to be made in much higher volumes.  

    In many cases, the older the item, the higher the value.

    What-Is-Antique-Silver-Worth

    Weight

    The weight of your item 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 a tea pot 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.  As ever, the more information you can provide the better.

    Sell-Antique-Silver-Plate

    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 item then it is silver plated.  Your item 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.

    As such you might be best hanging onto your silver plate for a while longer.