The Ultimate Guide To Selling Antique Silver Sauce Boats
Are you looking to find out what your silver sauce boat is worth, and how best to sell it? At Mark Littler Ltd we can help you understand what affects the value of your silver sauce boat, provide you with a valuation, and advise on how best to sell it.
Silver sauce boats have been made since the early 18th century, and despite common misconceptions, they were used for cold sauces, not hot. Silver sauce boats were originally designed for the upper classes of society and whilst they are not often used for their original purpose, silver sauce boats are collected for their historical and decorative appeal.
In order to determine the value of your silver sauce boat, there are a few key factors to consider. The first is the age and maker of the piece. Older silver sauce boats from renowned makers such as Paul Storr or Hester Bateman can command higher prices due to their rarity and craftsmanship. Additionally, any unique or intricate designs on the sauce boat can also increase its value.
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 Sauce Boat?
Maker
The maker of your silver sauce boat, indicated by the maker’s mark, can have a great impact on the value.
Silversmiths such as Paul Storr or Omar Ramsden command a premium due to their specialist knowledge and craftsmanship when making sauce boats.
Maker
Silver sauce boats will sometimes feature ‘cut card work’. This is where thin sheets of silver that have been cut into designs are soldered on to the object.
High quality cut card work requires excellent craftmanship and therefore commands a premium.
Intricately shaped sauce boat covers and finials also contribute to the overall design of silver sauce boats and can affect the value.
Condition
Clearly the condition of your sauce boat 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 sauce boats 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 sauce boat. In some cases you can reduce the value of a sauce boat 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.
Silver sauce boats have been made from around the 18th Century and the earlier pieces often command a higher price.
However, the older the sauce boat, 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 sauce boat.
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 sauce boat then it is silver plated. Your sauce boat 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
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 sauce boat 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.
