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[Hellodemocrat]

My grandmother had beautiful silver.

My aunt took a couple spoons and had keychains made out of them. I love mine and can hold it every day.

[stevieb]

Honestly, if I didn't use it and if storing it is such a trial, I think I might see what I could get for it... Think about it, it's not likely anyone's going to be thrilled to inherit it... If you want, for sentimental reasons, keep a piece or two of it, but why keep it just to take it out occasionally to look at and have to clean!?

[athenian]

I know it is heretical, but we used my grandmother's silver every day and washed it in the dishwasher (except for the hollow-handled knives). Always rinsed it first, used little amount of powder, and let it air dry. It looked fine. Now I'm pleasantly surprised that a cousin's daughter wanted it. Maybe the pendulum has swung and nice crystal, china, and flatware is coming in again?

[Kalli]

happyhousewife, I know it's a bother so I'll take them off your hands!! Kidding!

Your silver sounds beautiful. I'm glad you posted about this. I have a sterling silver baby cup handed down to my son when he was born (he's now 34). It was given to him by an elderly friend and it's dated 1905. It's heavy and even has a few dents from when that gentleman was a baby and tossed it around.

The hallmark is Towle. The outside is quite tarnished. Maybe I'll take it out, polish it and store it in the silver saver material.

[151949]

On 2/3/2015 stevieb said:

Honestly, if I didn't use it and if storing it is such a trial, I think I might see what I could get for it... Think about it, it's not likely anyone's going to be thrilled to inherit it... If you want, for sentimental reasons, keep a piece or two of it, but why keep it just to take it out occasionally to look at and have to clean!?

Who said I don't use it? I took it out to set the table and it was all tarnished. Geeze - people do jump to conclusions on these boards. it really isn't mine to sell even if I wanted to - it belongs to my husband - it was his mothers and his grandmother's before that. And I happen to enjoy having beautiful things like crystal and china and silver. To set a special table for my friends and family when they visit is a joy to me.

I am always amazed at how the people here do not understand about sentimental value of items that have been owned by ancestors.

[151949]

On 2/3/2015 Kalli said:

happyhousewife, I know it's a bother so I'll take them off your hands!! Kidding!

Your silver sounds beautiful. I'm glad you posted about this. I have a sterling silver baby cup handed down to my son when he was born (he's now 34). It was given to him by an elderly friend and it's dated 1905. It's heavy and even has a few dents from when that gentleman was a baby and tossed it around.

The hallmark is Towle. The outside is quite tarnished. Maybe I'll take it out, polish it and store it in the silver saver material.

I have a little silver sippy cup my Mom used for all of us - mine is very very beat up - you can imagine after 6 kids!!

[Lacey1]

On 2/3/2015 stevieb said:

Honestly, if I didn't use it and if storing it is such a trial, I think I might see what I could get for it... Think about it, it's not likely anyone's going to be thrilled to inherit it... If you want, for sentimental reasons, keep a piece or two of it, but why keep it just to take it out occasionally to look at and have to clean!?

I agree. When my mother died, she had a beautiful set of silver and coffee service. No one really wanted it but we all felt bad about selling it. Well, guess where it's been for 26 years? Stored away in my house. I've never looked at or had any use for it. It's probably terribly tarnished. When I die, it'll be the same thing all over again. I think I will sell it when silver is high. My mom was all for common sense. Times have changed. Stainless flatware is very beautiful.

[ECBG]

I'd buy anti tarnish fabric on line. Chests with anti tarnish fabrics are also available.

[Lipstickdiva]

On 2/3/2015 stevieb said:

Honestly, if I didn't use it and if storing it is such a trial, I think I might see what I could get for it... Think about it, it's not likely anyone's going to be thrilled to inherit it... If you want, for sentimental reasons, keep a piece or two of it, but why keep it just to take it out occasionally to look at and have to clean!?

I agree and I was in the exact same boat. I inherited sterling silver flatware from my mom that was either her mom's or my dad's mom's. I don't really know because she never used it. It has been in a flatware storage chest for years upon years. I came across it last summer while cleaning out drawers. I looked at it, closed the drawer back up and thought "meh." I didn't want to deal with it.

I asked my sister if she wanted it and she didn't so it sat in that chest another year. Then I decided I should either polish it and use it or see if I can get money for it and split it with my sister. What was the point of keeping it and not using it?

I polished it and we use it. There is only myself and DH so it's not a big deal to clean those few pieces by hand every night rather than throwing them in the dishwasher.

[pattypeep]

Two years ago I sold several pieces of gold and a solid sterling silver goblet at one of those house parties people had occasionally. The buyer would come to the house, etc. Anyway, I made almost $700 and the high ticket item was the goblet. My ex dh got the second matching goblet and I returned his mother's sterling silverware when we divorced. He never took care of anything, so it's heaven knows where. I told our son about checking with his dad and seeing if he still had it because it was worth a lot of money. We had purchased the silver goblets and had them engraved when we married in 1977 and barely paid anything for them.