The Good Stuff

To add some polish to any gathering, take a shine to these vintage and antique silver collectibles.

- written by SARAH ZLOTNICK

At Your Service

Though silver hollowware has existed for centuries, it became more widely available after 1742 with the English invention of the Sheffield Plate technique, which fused silver with copper. The serving platter, introduced in the 1600s as a handleless “salver” used to present food that had been safely tested for poison to royalty, remains its most enduring form. (Handled trays appeared in the late 1700s.) Today, value largely depends on whether a piece is sterling (92.5% pure) or silverplate. Sterling pieces range from $150 for tiny trinket trays to over $1,000 for large platters, while silverplate typically runs from $200 to $800.

Toast of the Town