It can be a knee jerk response with many of us who purchase or inherit a treasured piece of antique silver, the impulse to buffer, polish, and clean it from it's tarnished state. I have seen many an antique or vintage sterling pendant, stamp box, repousse match box safe in that alleged sorry state of bland, darkened, grimness. Years back a relative of mine almost tossed away 3 exquisite family heirloom sterling bowls which hadn't been touched in fifty years! The irony is he is an avid silver lover but failed to see that these were not only valuable, but solid sterling silver. I was fortunate enough to inherit these exquisite pieces which upon a gentle polishing, revealed their true, gleaming beauty.
What is tarnish exactly? As my sister and Decorative Arts Ph.d candidate Karen Tobin explains " Tarnish is caused by sulfides as a result of food, smoke and gas in the air, or with rubber. Sterling silver can also be corroded when in contact with salt." Karen is very emphatic when she states however that " the cleaning of silver inevitably involves removing silver from the object. Often people do more harm than good by using highly damaging silver cleaning products such as dips which strip away silver, not just cleaning it." I have learned this tough lesson as I unfortunately purchased a horrific smelling liquid silver dip cleaner at a jewelry store chain a month ago. I had won at auction a beautiful antique perfume bottle circa 1900 with cut glass and a sterling silver top. It had quite a bit of dark, mucky tarnish on it so I dipped it in this foul liquid for a mere ten seconds. Not smart. Not only was the silver stripped of a good layer or two, but the intricate intentionally darkened decorative flourishes were permanently changed a displeasing light rust color. Had I been more patient and asked before I stripped it, I would have avoided this costly error. " It is important to realize that sterling silver changes over time, and that not all tarnish is a negative thing," Karen says. " In fact museums around the world have changed their approach to the maintaining of prized sterling silver collections. Whereas for awhile some pieces were actually coated to "protect" them, thus making the silver look almost unnaturally shiny, now careful attention is given to cleaning and polishing a piece as sparingly as possible." Indeed as you will find, there are a plethora of silver cleaners out there, some noxiously odored strippers that can kill your sterling silver in ten seconds. Others may be less offensive, but can still be far too abrasive for delicate antique pieces. Care must be taken to properly maintain your silver, including proper storage in a silver cabinet away from the elements. In addition, sterling silver when not in use, is best covered in soft cloth meant specifically for silver. Housing it in plastic can be detrimental given the chemical reactions that can occur. Often a gentle polishing with a silver cloth is enough to bring a tarnished object back to a lovely shine. It is also crucial to note that if in doubt, consulting an antique sterling silver specialist is a very good idea. These people have trained for years and know how to best ensure the longevity and beauty of your prized silver possessions. For many collectors, the character of a sterling silver piece can be found in its tarnish, in its imperfections. " It shows that it has been loved and has lived," Karen tells me as she presents me with a gorgeous 19th century sugar bowl. As far as some companies that sell more gentle cleaning products for your sterling silver, Karen suggests the brand, "Cape Cod." In addition, antique dealers I have asked recommend " Hagerty Silver Foam" which can safely be used to polish sterling silver, silver plate, and gold. So, dear readers,go gently with your sterling silver antiques! Better to have a bit of tarnish than to rob something of its intrinsic beauty and character.
