subject: An Introduction To Choosing Sterling Silver Funnels [print this page] An Introduction To Choosing Sterling Silver Funnels
Wine funnels made from sterling silver were the norm in high society homes in the 18th to 19th centuries. The silver funnel was used to decant to bottles and from there to the decanter. A pierced bowl accompanied the sterling silver funnel and was used to trap sediments in the wine.
Occasionally a hook was present that attached the funnel to the bottle. The end of the silver funnel was curved to enable the liquid to flow down the side of the bottle. Antique sterling silver funnels are now a collectors' item and highly sough after.
Antiquing Sterling Silver
In the silver industry, items are antiqued by applying a specialized finishing process to sterling silver in order to age the product. By giving the item an appearance of age, it is possible to provide contrasts to the object which highlight intricate designs.
Antique sterling silver collections are snapped up at estate auctions where buyers place bids for a vast array of silver items ranging from bowls and candelabras to funnels and trays. Antique silver adds a touch of beauty and grace to any table setting or home.
Popularity of Silver
Silver has been crafted by expert jewelers into stunning pieces of jewelry for hundreds of years. The inherent properties of silver allow the alloy to reflect light to a great degree. This makes the precious metal shine lustrously when polished to a high sheen.
As silver is malleable, sterling silver is easily manipulated into exquisite designs. The workmanship of sterling silver items that were of exceptional quality have been the pride of silversmiths over the centuries.
Often laboring under the patronage of royalty, silversmiths have produced a spectacular variety of ornaments made from sterling silver, such as funnels, which survive as antique pieces to this day. Distinctive hallmarks and monograms reveal the authenticity of antique sterling silver.
Your search for antique sterling silver funnels may well take you to estate auctions of silverware that have been in an esteemed family's collection for generations. Antique sterling silver items are the epitome of elegance and grace. The popularity of sterling silver ensures that your silver purchase increases in value over time.
