Look for marks such as “EP” or “A1” on the back of the stem. These marks indicate silver plate. This process of applying a thin layer of silver to a base metal body was first widely employed in the 1820s, so a silver-plated spoon will be no earlier than this date.

How can you tell if silver spoons are old?

Look for a mark on the silverware of 925, STERLING or 925/1000. The mark is usually found on the underside of the piece of flatware. One of these marks is a surefire way to tell if your flatware is made of sterling silver. Put a magnet on the silverware to see if it is attracted to it.

How old is a spoon?

The spoons are believed to be about 21,000 years old. As early as the 1st century, Romans were fashioning spoons with handles from silver – you can see a set of silver spoons that are about 2,000 years old the next time you visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

What can I do with an old spoon collection?

You can hang the souvenir spoons on the wall as a decoration, place them in frames around the house, create a spoon collection by hanging them from a tree or a string, or you could even make an art project by painting the spoons with acrylic paint. You could use these spoons to create jewelry too.

What can you do with old forks?

Instead, try these clever reuse ideas for your orphaned utensils.Smooth Grout. Photo by David Carmack. Hold Finishing Nails Straight. Photo by Kolin Smith. Turn Spoons Into Hooks. Photo by Wendell T. Clean a Paintbrush. Transplant Seedlings. Use As Cabinet Pulls. Untangle Rug Tassels. Fix Splitting Upholstery.More items

What does G mean on silver?

Finally, dont let a flea market seller tell you that a piece marked G. Silver is the same as sterling (its happened more than once). G. Silver or German Silver, has no silver content, although the piece can be highly collectable anyway.