Antique Silver Pair
An antique silver pair brings balanced symmetry to a room, offering matched domestic or decorative objects forged from sterling silver or plate.
Antique Silver Pair
An antique silver pair consists of two matching objects designed for utility or display, gathered under the search phrase antique silver pair. These matched items span domestic dining, lighting, and desktop accessories created across several centuries.
The most common examples encountered on this page include candlesticks, candelabras, napkin rings, salt cellars with glass liners, and serving spoons. These forms reflect formal dining and interior lighting traditions from the Georgian era through to the mid-twentieth century.
The materials range from solid sterling silver to silver plate, old Sheffield plate, copper, and pewter, often complemented by glass or wooden elements. Pieces emerge from periods including Victorian, Edwardian, and the eighteenth century.
How they were made
Silversmiths shaped solid sterling silver through hammering, casting, and repoussé work, applying hallmarks to record the assay office, year, and maker. Old Sheffield plate and later silver plating techniques fused silver layers onto base metals like copper or nickel.
Casting created heavier structural components such as candlestick bases and candelabra arms, while subsidiary elements like glass liners and wooden inserts added functional contrast. Artisans also utilised pewter and copper for specific regional designs and arts and crafts styles.
Antique Silver Pair Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for silver pair among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings feature items from the 18th century, Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian periods, utilising sterling silver, silver plate, copper, and pewter.
What varies in quality
The standard of an antique silver pair rests on the crispness of cast detail, the weight of the metal, and the integrity of the original matched components. Items that retain clear hallmarks, undamaged blue glass liners, and intact removable sconces demonstrate superior manufacturing origins.
Makers known for exceptional production standards, such as Elkington and Co or Martin Hall and Co, impart greater distinction to a matched set. The preservation of original plating without undue thinning or base metal exposure distinguishes finer examples from heavily worn counterparts.
Martin Hall and Co·Mitchell Bosley and Co·John Lambe·Beare Falcke·Elkington and Co·Archibald Knox for Liberty and Co·Henry Wilkinson·Mappin and Webb
The Antique Silver Pair Glossary
- Sterling silver
- An alloy containing 925 parts of pure silver per thousand, standard for quality British tableware.
- Old Sheffield plate
- A composite material made by fusing a thin sheet of silver to a thicker copper base before shaping.
- Hallmark
- A stamp impressed into precious metals indicating the standard of purity, assay office, and date letter.
- Sconce
- A detachable nozzle or pan fitted to the top of a candlestick to catch dripping wax.
- Repoussé
- A metalworking technique where the design is hammered into relief from the reverse side.
Antique Silver Pair: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an antique silver pair?
An antique silver pair comprises two matching items created by silversmiths or metalworkers for domestic utility or adornment.
These pieces include candlesticks, napkin rings, serving spoons, and salts produced during the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian periods.
How do I care for antique silver?
Cleaning requires a soft cloth and a gentle silver polish formulated to preserve the underlying metal and surface detail.
Avoid abrasive cloths and harsh chemical dips that strip away thin plating or soften crisp hallmarks.
How do I identify hallmarks?
Hallmarks are small stamped symbols indicating the assay office, the purity standard of the metal, and the year of manufacture.
Reference guides help match these marks to specific towns like London or Sheffield and decode the date letters.
What is the difference between sterling and plate?
Sterling silver consists of solid silver alloyed to a regulated standard throughout the entire object.
Silver plate and old Sheffield plate feature a thin layer of silver applied over a base metal such as copper or nickel.