Sterling Silver
Inherited silver.
Worth more than you think.
Sterling silver pieces (flatware, serving sets, candlesticks, frames) are among the most consistently undervalued items sitting in people's homes. Charles has a dedicated channel for silver that achieves materially stronger results than general second-hand marketplaces.
Most people who inherit sterling silver face the same situation: a set of cutlery, a serving dish, a pair of candlesticks - beautiful objects, well made, but not things they use. They sit in a drawer or a cabinet, occasionally polished, rarely touched.
The reason silver often goes unsold is simple: most people do not know where to sell it, and a general search turns up unhelpful results - scrap dealers offering melt value, or listings with no buyers. Charles's dedicated silver channel reaches the collectors and buyers who know exactly what they are looking at and pay accordingly.
This is also true of pieces that feel dated or out of fashion. A full Victorian cutlery service for twelve, a silver tea set in a style nobody uses any more - these are not unsellable. They are simply in the wrong place. In the right channel, with the right description and buyer base, they find homes.
Asprey sterling silver goblets - sold via Charles's dedicated silver channel.
What Charles handles
Flatware and cutlery sets (full or partial). Serving dishes, tureens and salvers. Tea and coffee services. Candlesticks and candelabra. Silver-framed photograph frames and mirrors. Dressing table sets. Goblets, jugs and decanters. Pieces by named makers (Mappin & Webb, Asprey, Walker & Hall, Garrard and others) are particularly sought after.
Condition matters less than people expect. Tarnish is not damage - it is the nature of silver. Pieces that have been well used, polished over the years, and show some age are entirely saleable. What matters is that the silver is genuine, the hallmarks are present and the pieces are structurally sound.
Not sure what you have?
If you are not sure whether your silver is sterling (as opposed to silver plate), look for hallmarks stamped on the underside of each piece. Sterling silver in the UK is marked with a lion passant (a walking lion). Silver plate typically carries different markings - EPNS (electroplated nickel silver) is the most common.
If you are uncertain, get in touch anyway. Charles can advise once he has seen the pieces.
The process
Same as everything else. Simpler than you expect.
Get in touch with a description of what you have - the more detail the better, but a rough description is fine to start. Charles will advise on likely values and whether the pieces are right for his silver channel.
If you decide to proceed, Charles comes to you, inspects everything in person, agrees minimum prices and takes the pieces away. He provides a written record of everything collected. From that point, it is his to handle.
Fee: 15% of the net sale price. Nothing upfront, nothing if unsold. Full details in the Consignment Terms.