Sell with usSell antique silver objects, objets de vertu and small works of art
Sell antique silver objects and objets de vertu, from a single vinaigrette to a cabinet of smallwork, to a dealer who reads the hallmarks and identifies the maker. Send photographs for a free valuation, answered within one working day. Collection is free by insured FedEx from anywhere in the UK, or post by Royal Mail Special Delivery with the postage refunded.
Rated 5/5 on Google · Insured to £10,000 · Paid the same day after inspection
Objets and silver smallwork we buy
We buy small antique objects in silver, gold and enamel: snuff boxes, vinaigrettes, card cases, vesta cases, cigarette cases, scent bottles, pill boxes, nutmeg graters, propelling pencils and desk seals. We also buy guilloché enamel and Fabergé-style pieces, gold seals and fobs, and bronzes and small sculpture. Makers we see include Nathaniel Mills, Sampson Mordan and Asprey. Single pieces and whole cabinets are both considered, from the Georgian period to the early twentieth century.
Hallmarks and makers' marks
British silver and gold carry hallmarks that give the maker, the standard of the metal, the assay office and the year. On a box they are struck inside the lid and the base, and the two sets should match. Nathaniel Mills of Birmingham marked his castle-top vinaigrettes and card cases N.M. Sampson Mordan marked pencils, vesta cases and scent bottles S.M or S.M & Co. Continental and Russian pieces carry their own marks. Bronzes are often signed in the cast, and some carry a foundry stamp.
Maker, subject and condition
An object is assessed on its maker, its date, its subject and its condition. On boxes we check that the hinge is sound and the lid closes flush, that the gilding inside survives, and that engraving and engine turning are crisp and not polished away. Vinaigrettes should keep their pierced grilles. Enamel is examined for chips, cracks and restoration. Later initials, erased crests, dents and repairs are noted. Do not polish a piece before photographing it. Every offer is subject to inspection.
What we buy
- Silver and gold snuff boxes
- Vinaigrettes and scent bottles
- Card cases and castle-top boxes
- Vesta cases and cigarette cases
- Guilloché enamel and Fabergé-style pieces
- Gold seals and fobs
- Sampson Mordan pencils and novelties
- Bronzes and small sculpture
Photographs that help
- The object from the front and from above, in daylight, on a plain background.
- The hallmarks and maker's mark, close up and in focus.
- The piece open, showing the interior, the hinge and any grille.
- Any damage or repair, and the signature or foundry mark on a bronze.
Related
- 4,000+customers
- 5/5on Google reviews
- £10,000insured per parcel
- Same daypayment after inspection
- 10+ yearsin business
Three steps, all from home
Get your offer
An instant offer for gold and silver, or a free valuation from photos within one working day.
Send it free and insured
A FedEx courier collects from your door, or post it by Royal Mail Special Delivery. Insured to £10,000.
Paid the same day
We inspect it on arrival, confirm your offer and pay by bank transfer the same day. Change your mind and it comes back free.
Questions about selling objets and silver smallwork
Where are the hallmarks on a small silver box?
Inside the lid and inside the base on most boxes, and on the rim or the grille of a vinaigrette. Card cases are marked on the inner edge of the lid and body. The marks are small, so photograph them close up in good light and we will read them for you.
Do you buy pieces by Nathaniel Mills and Sampson Mordan?
Yes. We buy Nathaniel Mills vinaigrettes, snuff boxes and castle-top card cases, and Sampson Mordan pencils, vesta cases, scent bottles and novelties. Pieces by other Birmingham and London makers are bought too. Send photographs of the piece and its marks and we reply within one working day.
Do you buy enamel pieces with damage?
Yes. Chips, cracks and old restoration to enamel are common and are taken into account at inspection. Photograph the damage clearly and mention any repair you know about. Please do not attempt to fill or touch in enamel yourself.
Should I polish silver before sending photographs?
No. Leave the surface as it is. Repeated polishing wears away engraving and hallmarks, and tarnish does no harm to a piece. A photograph of the object as found tells us more than one taken after cleaning.
How does selling antique silver objects to Mozeris work?
Once you have the valuation, wrap each object separately so that silver and enamel cannot rub together. A FedEx courier collects the parcel free from your door, insured, or you post it by Royal Mail Special Delivery and we refund the postage. A cabinet of pieces can instead be brought to an appointment in Mayfair, London or Braintree, Essex. The offer is confirmed after inspection and paid by bank transfer the same day once you accept, and anything declined is returned free and insured.
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