Silver Glossary Terms and Definitions

Acanthus - a form of ornamentation taken from the acanthus leaf, originally used extensively on the Corinthian capital throughout the Renaissance period, 16th and 17th centuries.  The plant is native to the Mediterranean region.

Art Nouveau – A style also known as "Victorian" or "Edwardian" consisting of fluid lines, floral and nature themes and natural colors. Also known for its flowing style with sinuous curves and naturalistic motifs that was popular from about 1895 to 1905.

Beaded – Decorated with a narrow band of adjacent bead-like balls.

Britannia or Britannia Metal – A composition of tin, copper and antimony.

Butler’s Finish – A satin finish produced by a revolving wheel of wire which makes many tiny scratches, giving the article a mellow surface luster.  Originally, it was the result of years of hand rubbing by English butlers. Patented by James H. Reilly of the Brooklyn Silver Co.

Cartouche – An area surrounded by ornamentation and reserved for engraving, usually an area left "blank" in order to engrave a monogram.

Chase Work or Chasing – Decoration created by hammering the surfaces of an object with small punches.

Chocolate Pot – Similar to a coffee pot, but with a little lid in the cover through which a swizzle stick can be inserted for stirring the chocolate. Also relates to a coffee pot with the spout located lower and the design lower and thinner than a traditional teapot or coffee pot.

Domed – A spheroid cover first used in 1715 on tankards, teapots and coffee pots. Used extensively on covered butter dishes.

E.P.C. and EPC – Electroplated silver on copper.

E.P.B.M. and EPBM – Electroplated silver on Britannia metal.

E.P.N.S. and EPNS – Electroplated silver on nickel silver.

E.P.W.M. and EPWM – Electroplated silver on white metal.

Electroplate, Electroplated & Electroplating – In the silver industry, the use of electricity to deposit a thin layer of precious metal on the base of a hollowware item.

Emboss, Embossed & Embossing – Making raised designs on the surface of metal from the reverse side, strictly applicable to hammered work. Also see Repousse.

Engrave, Engraved & Engraving – To decorate metal by gouging a design with graver’s tools; embellishing metal and other material with patterns using a stamping tool or drill. This was a popular technique used in the mid-Victorian era.

Finial – The top-most portion of an object, often on the lid, and usually quite decorative.

Flat Chasing – Decoration on the flat surfaces created by small punches and a hammer.

Fluted – Decorated with parallel vertical grooves.

Foot or Feet – The supporting member or base of an object. Most footed items have 3-4 feet.

Gadroon or Gadrooning – Ornamentation consisting of narrow, parallel, vertical panels, usually tapering in width. The panels may be convex, concave, or alternating convex and concave.

German Silver – Another name for nickel silver. A composition of 10% nickel, 50% copper and 40% zinc. It was first made in Germany during the early 19^th century in imitation of the much older Chinese alloy known as paktong. German silver contains NO silver.

Gild, Gilded, Gilding and Gilt – The coating of a surface with a thin layer of gold. Electroplating is the modern form of gilding.

Hallmark – An official mark stamped on gold and silver articles to attest to their purity. Marks placed on English and European objects made of silver or gold. Hallmarks were required by law, and indicate the maker, date and place of manufacture. There is usually a fourth mark that certifies that the object meets a minimum standard of purity.

Hammered Finish – A hammered finish is done with small, flat-headed or pointed hammers, giving an uneven surface or a faceted surface to the silver.

Maker’s Mark – The distinguishing mark of the individual silversmith.

Nickel Silver – A composition of 10% nickel, 50% copper and 40% zinc. It contains no silver. Also known as German Silver.

Non-Tarnish Silver – Produced by alloying silver with cadmium or by the application of a thin plating of thodium or palladium on the surface.

Ogee - A molding with an "S" shaped profile.

Old Sheffield Plate – Crafted by fusing silver to both sides of a base metal to create a silver "sandwich". A widely used method from 1765-1840.

Oxidized or Oxidizing – Accented beauty of ornamentation by the application of an oxide which darkens metal wherever applied. Shadows and highlights are created which give depth and character.

Patina – As a general term, patina refers to the change in an object's surface resulting from natural aging. It does not mean tarnish or dirt. It’s a soft luster caused by tiny scratches that come with daily use.

Pedestal – A circular, square or rectangle support between the body of an object and the base. Usually flared and molded.

Pewter – A somewhat dull silver-colored alloy of tin, antimony and copper. Pewter items are described and marked as such if they contain at least 90% tin.

Quadruple Silverplate, Quadruple Silver Plate & Quadruple Plate – Silver items of some of the highest quality made during the latter part of the 19^th century. Within the silversmith and silver manufacturing industry, items marked "Standard" silver plate indicate that 2 troy ounces of pure silver were used to silver electroplate 144 teaspoons, but "Quadruple" silverplate used 4 troy ounces of silver to plate the same 144 teaspoons.

Repousse – Ornamentation with decorative elements that have been pushed up above the surface of an object.

Ribbed – ornamentation with a series of parallel or radiating lines.

Satin Finish – A means of producing a matte or frosted finish on silver and other metals. Also called a "frosted" finish or butler’s finish.

Scroll – An ornamental line resembling a loosely rolled piece of paper. A line that curves in on itself.

Sheffield Plate – Originally made by bonding sheet silver to copper, rolling and manufacturing the bonded metals into hollowware. Imitations are made by electroplating silver on copper and are sometimes erroneously advertised as Sheffield Plate.

Silver Plated Ware or Silverplate – Made by electroplating fine silver on a base metal alloy-usually nickel silver or Britannia metal, sometimes brass or copper.

Spur – A short, curved and pointed projection on a handle, used to aid in holding an object or keeping an object (a knob or finial) from damaging the handle.

Sterling Silver – Must be 925/1000 (92.5%) fine silver and 75/1000 (7.5%) copper. This proportion is fixed by law.

Touchmark – The name, initials or symbol stamped on an object by its maker.

Triple Silverplate – Items used three times as much purse silver as "Standard" and ¼ less than "Quadruple" silverplate items. Silverplate hollowware items which have been re-silvered over the years may have more or less silver than originally plated.

Victorian Plate – Plated silver items made during the period c. 1840-1900 by the process of electroplating silver to objects.

Victorian Silver – The designation given to the period from approximately 1837 when Victoria became Queen of England until 1901 when she died. This long period is divided into early (approx. 1840-1860), mid (approx. 1860-1880) and late (approx. 1880-1900) since it covers a wide span of time, and a number of distinctive design trends. This period was preceded by the Georgian period, and succeeded by the Edwardian period after Victoria died in 1901, and her son Edward became king.

White Metal and White Metal Alloy – an alloy, usually containing two or more of the following elements: tin, copper, antimony, lead and bismuth. The resulting end color depends on whether the tin or the lead predominates. The more tin the whiter the color.

Wrought – Hammered into shape on one or more anvils.