Silver
The heroine of decorative arts from 1600 to the 1950's
Its well known that silver has played a leading role, from ancient times, in decorative arts. Silversmiths always considered themselves artists, not simple artisans, and had certain related requirements. The regulations that ruled silver marks where not always adhered to, particularly in small villages. Only circa 20% of silver pieces from that period are marked. There are five different types of inscriptions:
• To identify the silversmith or company that made the piece
• To note the date and/or location of the manufacturer
• To note the tax or King’s fifth
• The inscription of the assayer
• The burin stroke (evidence of sampling by the essayer)
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. Colleccion Valzuela has spice boxes, carving plates, salt shakers in colonial silver from early XVII century to XIX century, Spanish incense burners from XVI to XIX century, scepters (XVIII), perfume burners (Peter Bunsen), oil lamps ((George Falkenberg), soup tureen (Philipe Berthier), Viniegra cruet (V. González Cueva), Puiforcat, swedish cups Decó and 40/50’s…
Silver and Crystal Catalogue Download (3.64mb)
