Silverware sold by weight

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silverly
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Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Silverware sold by weight

Postby silverly » Wed Aug 25, 2010 5:02 pm

A footline in Waite's 1888 Newburgh City Directory: Image

I thought it was interesting the way silverware was being sold then.

dognose
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Location: England

Re: Silverware sold by weight

Postby dognose » Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:49 am

Hi Pat,

It would appear that the practise of selling by weight alone continued until at least the end of the century.

Image
Tiffany & Co. - New York - 1899

Trev.

buckler
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Re: Silverware sold by weight

Postby buckler » Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:11 am

The selling of silver by weight in Auction Houses continued into the post WWII period. The writer can just (only just ! ) remember the practise at Christies. All lots had a weight given, and you bid at so much an ounce. So a bid of £2.00 on a 42 ounce coffee pot was actually for £84. Also the serious bidding was in guineas (£1.05) until decimalisation I think.
Makes trying to remember you are going to have a premium, plus VAT on the premium a simple matter !

Even now some of the older dealers still estimate value by weight X condition X rarity X beauty.


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