Polishing Sterling Silver
The following images are examples of polished sterling silver with before and after images.
sterling silver asparagus server dish and floating pierced and engraved tray
This is a sterling silver Tiffany Chrysanthemum Asparagus Server most likely from the 19th century (circa 1880.) The smaller pierced and engraved tray (right) sits inside the larger dish to keep the asparagus above the water. Dents were removed in the smaller tray and both were polished best possible. I have to be very careful to polish the engraved and pierced insert around the details.
Scratches in silver close up and showing the polishing in progress
(In the above left photo) you can see the dent and scratched surface of the asparagus server insert. In the second photo (above right) lLook at difference is how my phone is reflected in the tray. You can see the polishing in progress. The lower section is closer to finished. The upper half is cloudy with scratches.
Sterling silver vegetable dishes before and after polishing
In these two photos, you can see this set of vegetable dishes before polishing (left photo) and after polishing (right photo.) The small vegetable dish also functions as a lid for the larger dish. The pits and corrosion in the bottom of the larger dish is much improved after polishing, but there are still slight blemishes. The silver is too thin to polish to perfection. The customer did not want the dents removed from the larger dish.
Polishing Sterling silver with Glass
Glass plate with sterling silver rim and handle (before and after polishing)
This beautiful blue glass plate has a sterling silver edge with handle. The sterling silver rim and handle is permanently mounted to the glass, thus presenting a polishing challenge. I have never broken anything but can not take responsibility when polishing a silver rim on a glass or porcelain plate.
Polishing Pierced Hollowware
20th century sterling silver candy dish
A pierced dish like this must be polished carefully with small polishing wheels because of the open work pattern.
20th century sterling silver sugar bowl
Antique Napkin ring restored with careful polishing
Even the smallest precious object like this antique napkin ring can benefit by a careful polishing. The gold plating on the inside was preserved. The hand engraved pattern in the napkin ring was filled with niello providing high contrast with the polished silver. Niello is an ancient alloy of sulfur, copper, silver and lead inlayed into an engraved design. It is permanent and more common in East European silver from the 19th century and earlier.
Sterling silver candlesticks tarnished and after polishing
When sterling is black with tarnish is is very difficult to impossible to remove with hand polishing. Supposedly these candlesticks also survived a fire 40 years ago. They were in really bad shape beyond what normally happens in storage. Send me a photo of your silver and I will get back to you with an estimate for polishing.
Polishing Sterling Silver Platters
Sterling silver tray polished to remove marks from Saran Wrap
Never wrap your sterling silver or silverplate in Saran Wrap or thin plastic bags. Saran Wrap will leave marks on sterling silver and cause irreparable damage to silver plating. Purchase Silvercloth Bags to prevent tarnish when storing your sterling silver and silverplate.
Polishing Sterling Flatware
Entire set of sterling silver flatware polished
Polishing Family Heirlooms
Sterling Silver Firefigher’s Horn
An extraordinary family heirloom, this was a sterling silver firefighter’s horn with chased, repoussé, and engraved detail. It was polished extremely carefully to shine every detail without being overly aggressive.
Sterling silver Christening cup with tarnish on engraving
Engraving should not be polished aggressively. Machine engravings, like the one on this baby cup, are especially shallow. When corrosive spots appear on top of engravings it can be a concern requiring extra care. I use small, polishing tools to polish the surface around and in between the engraved lines. Then I pass over the engraving only once with a polishing buff.