How do I clean cut glass safely?

Wash glass vessels by hand in warm, soapy water using a soft brush to clear dust from deep facet cuts. Avoid extreme temperature changes to prevent cracking the heavy crystal. Dry the pieces thoroughly with a lint-free cloth and polish the metal mounts separately with a suitable silver cloth, keeping polish away from the glass.

Are original stoppers important?

Original stoppers matching the cut pattern and number of the glass body significantly complete the piece. Finding replacements that fit the hand-ground necks perfectly proves difficult. Decanters and perfume bottles retain higher appeal and utility when they retain their original matching glass stoppers.

How do I distinguish sterling from silver plate?

Examine the metal mounts for official hallmarks indicating standard sterling purity, such as a lion passant for British manufacture. Stamped maker marks and date letters often accompany these punches. Silver plate displays underlying base metal where heavy wear occurs over generations of handling, lacking the formal assay office hallmarks found on solid silver.

Were these items used daily?

Households during the Edwardian era utilised these glass and silver pieces constantly for dining, entertaining, and bedroom grooming. Decanters held spirits for guests, while cruet sets seasoned meals at the table. Vanity jars and scent bottles sat on dressing tables for daily perfumes, powders, and lotions, explaining why many survive with minor signs of honest period use.