Hi there all, Long time lurker, first time poster. A large silver ewer came up for sale on a Facebook marketplace garage sale. I bought it under the agreement that I could return for a refund if it turns out to not be silver. Its almost 1kg and is stamped as 0.900 silver, and had been in storage for 20 or so years. Is there anyway i can verify if it is indeed solid silver? pics in the below link: https://www.reddit.com/r/Antiques/s/WJWOnnGs0u None of the jewellers I’ve spoken to in Sydney have an XRF gun to test it. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
Rub it and make a wish. A wonderful piece indeed. , It looks like a cast. XRF gun are normally use in Bullion shop. Bullion Now , Goldstackers etc.... There are members like @sammysilver who run Sydney SS meeting, just ask him.
It looks like you got it for half price if it is .900, I’d therefore think that the risk of it not being genuine is shared 50/50. Assume that you are on a winner and sell it for $1,000 “as is” and pocket the difference.
It's Plated, I would easy put money on it, 99% it's Plated 1% it not. 1. It's a heavy piece, solid silver pieces are genuinely light weight, only would be solid silver if it's of exceptional workmanship (which this is not) 2. It should have a clear Turkish Hallmark, such as these; https://www.925-1000.com/foreign_marks7.html Instead it 100% looks like a former hallmark has be completely scratched off and a new stamp put on which doesn't match the correct location, time period or purity 3. The hinge is a chunky cast hinge, usually cast from a copper based casting, not the finer more symmetrical hinges made of high purity silver 4. The inside lip is quite thick and rough, again synonymous with a copper based casting 5. It was on Facebook Marketplace under spot, I hate to say it but well over 95% of listing's on Facebook Marketplace under spot are fakes these days Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it completely looks fake as hell This would be more what I would look for genuine Silver; but also hard with just photos; https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/vintage-turkish-900-silver-ewer-17-c-8bd4fd4ab9
