Silver marked as 800 contains eight hundred parts of pure silver per thousand by weight, with the remainder being copper or other metals. This standard was widely used across continental Europe for hollowware and decorative objects. Items bearing this standard offer durability suited for larger table ornaments, desk boxes and walking stick handles while maintaining a substantial silver content.

How do I identify Hanau silver?

Hanau pieces often replicate seventeenth and eighteenth-century styles, featuring detailed animal figures, miniature models and ornate table boxes. They frequently carry pseudo-marks that mimic older hallmarks rather than official town marks. Examining the weight, casting quality and stylistic exuberance helps distinguish these decorative European silver items from standard British domestic wares.

Are walking canes marked with silver?

Many nineteenth-century walking sticks feature solid silver or 800 silver handles mounted onto wooden or ebonised shafts. These handles often display repoussé work, niello decoration or figural designs. Makers frequently stamped the metal near the lower edge of the handle or along the collar to indicate the silver content.

How should I clean antique silver?

Antique silver benefits from gentle cleaning using a soft cloth and specialist silver polish to remove tarnish without stripping surface detail. Avoid abrasive pads that can wear down delicate repoussé relief and fine chasing. Pieces incorporating enamel, glass or wooden handles require particular care to ensure cleaning agents do not seep into joints or damage non-metal components.

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Antique Continental Silver

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Antique continental silver brings together intricate table ornaments, snuff boxes and walking sticks shaped across European workshops from the eighteenth century onward.