Antique Tiffany Silver
Antique tiffany silver brings sterling weight and precise American design to the table, spanning decanter labels, cocktail goblets, flatware sets and heavy serving bowls.
Antique Tiffany Silver
Forms include large water jugs, lidded dishes, stamp moisteners, decanter labels and complete flatware services such as the Faneuil pattern. Makers and designers utilised distinct styles including Colonial Revival, Victorian Neoclassical and bold Art Deco geometry.
The objects reflect the output of a major American silver house, moving from mid nineteenth century forms through the Edwardian era into the middle of the twentieth century. Buyers select these items for daily utility, table service or collection display.
How antique tiffany silver was made
Silversmiths formed the bulk of these items from sterling silver, shaping heavy gauges for water jugs, bowls and sauce boats while employing silver gilt for pastry and sandwich servers. Manufacturing combined hand hammering, casting and precise chasing, as seen on patterned condiment ladles and soup ladles.
Glass and crystal integration required secure silver mounts, visible in lidded inkwells and crystal bowls. Components like stainless steel blades appear alongside sterling handles in functional cutlery sets.
Antique Tiffany Silver Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for tiffany silver 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 sterling silver, silver gilt, crystal, glass and stainless steel across Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco periods.
What varies in quality
Quality rests in the weight of the silver, the crispness of pattern relief in named designs like Colonial or Faneuil, and the integrity of secondary materials such as cut crystal or glass inserts. Pieces produced for major exhibitions or specific historical patterns display heavier gauge metal and finer hand finishing.
Condition involves the preservation of original gilding, clear maker marks and the absence of distortion in holloware forms like water jugs and sauce boats. Complete sets and boxed presentation groups maintain higher integrity than dispersed items.
Tiffany and Company·JC Moore
The Antique Tiffany Silver Glossary
- Sterling silver
- An alloy containing 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent other metals, primarily copper. This standard defines the vast majority of holloware and flatware on this page.
- Silver gilt
- Sterling silver that has been coated with a thin layer of gold on the surface. This technique appears on pastry and sandwich servers.
- Holloware
- Tableware items such as bowls, jugs, sauce boats and goblets that possess volume. These pieces contrast with flatware.
- Flatware
- Dining utensils including spoons, forks and serving implements. Sets often follow specific named decorative patterns.
- Decanter label
- A small tag hung by a chain around the neck of a decanter to identify the contents. These small silver pieces often feature decorative edging.
Antique Tiffany Silver: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean antique tiffany silver?
Use a soft cloth and a gentle, specialist silver polish to remove tarnish without abrading the surface details or hallmarks.
Avoid harsh dips or abrasive brushes, especially on pieces with silver gilt or integrated glass and crystal components.
Are these pieces marked with dates?
Many items carry maker marks, standard sterling stamps and specific codes that indicate the period of production.
Design styles like Art Deco and Colonial Revival also help assign pieces to broad decades from the nineteenth through the mid twentieth century.
Can I use these items daily?
Most sterling silver tableware, flatware and holloware are robust enough for regular use if handled with appropriate care.
Hand washing is essential to preserve the finish, keeping pieces away from modern automatic dishwashers.
What is silver gilt?
Silver gilt is sterling silver covered with a fine layer of gold, adding a rich two tone appearance to serving utensils.
This finish appears on specialised pieces intended for serving pastry or sandwiches.