A Beginner’s Guide To Selling Silver Candelabras
Are you looking to find out what your silver candelabra is worth, and how best to sell it? At Mark Littler Ltd we can help you understand what affects the value of your silver candelabra, provide you with a valuation, and advise on how best to sell it.
Silver candelabrum have been made since at least the 17th century, although any surviving candelabrum usually exist from the 18th century. Silver candelabrum were originally designed for the upper classes of society and whilst they are sometimes used for their original purpose, silver candelabrum are collected for their historical and decorative appeal.
The first factor to consider when determining the value of a silver candelabra is its age. Older candelabrum, especially those from the 18th century, tend to be more valuable as they are considered antiques and have a longer history. However, the condition of the silver candelabra also plays a significant role in its value. A well-maintained candelabra with minimal damage or wear will generally be worth more than one that is heavily damaged or has been poorly restored.
The design and craftsmanship of a silver candelabra also affect its value. Candelabrum made by renowned silversmiths or featuring intricate designs and details will often fetch higher prices due to their rarity and level of skill involved in creating
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: [email protected]
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 Candelabra?
Height
Candelabrum are rarely taller than the standard contemporary tabletop candlestick, which tended to be between 6 and 8 inches tall, until the latter decades of the 18th century.
Over the course of the 19th century, candelabra designs grew more ambitious and as a result, the candelabra became taller. Silver candelabrum were commonly around 16 inches tall but some reached nearly 60 inches!
Number of Arms
The number of arms on your silver candelabra can affect the value.
The more arms on the candelabra, typically, the more value it will have. This reflects not only the higher quantity of sterling silver used in the piece, but also the craftsmanship of the piece.
The intricacies of the arms of the candelabra take time and skill, and this is often where the majority of the design of the candelabra is focused.
Condition
Clearly the condition of your candelabra 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 candelabras 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 candelabra. In some cases you can reduce the value of a candelabra 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.
Candelabrum have been made from around the 17th Century and the earlier pieces often command a higher price.
However, the older the candelabra, 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 candelabra.
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 candelabra then it is silver plated. Your candelabra 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 candelabra 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 candelabra 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.
