TRENDSPOTTER: Why now is not the time to sell the family silver

On Sunday 5^th April, The Sunday Times reported on the flight to gold and silver sales in recent months. At Cheffins, we have seen a huge increase in the amount of silver coming to auction. As silver prices have more than doubled in the last year, many sellers have been turning to the scales, looking to cash in on bullion prices without considering the aesthetic or artistic value of antique pieces.

Silverware from the house of the Ladies of Llangollen sold at Cheffins in August 2025 

We sold 42 per cent more lots of silver in 2025 than we did in 2024, simply as people looked to cash in fast. However, as I told the writer at The Sunday Times, this is something which would never traditionally have happened in the auction world. The scrap price has gone through the roof and it is criminally sad to see so many wonderful pieces being thrown into the melting pot. Approximately a third of the people who we meet at our regular valuation days bring in silver and have already had quotes for scrap prices. Often, they will have weighed the items on the scales and worked out the price per gram through bullion companies. This is leading to a whole generation melting down the handiwork of silversmiths from previous generations, which is similar to behaviour in the Victorian/Edwardian eras, where silver pieces were melted and reformed, leading to a shortage of Georgian items, which now see huge premiums at auction.

It is important for owners of silver to look at its artistic and antique merit. It should be remembered that silver can be worth a huge amount more at auction than it is just in cash converting type websites, and sellers should be particularly wary as the prices of silver continues to fluctuate. We have seen some incredible results for silver in recent months, including a silver and glass wine decanter by Charles Robert Ashbee which achieved £17,000 and £8,000 for an 1834 set of four William IV silver entrée dishes – to name just a couple. While it can’t be denied that some of what is sold at auction does end up going for scrap, there are items by some of the best makers which have the ability to achieve far more. The most prestigious names out there in the auction world right now include Charles Robert Ashbee, Hester Bateman (renowned female silversmith), Matthew Boulton, Stuart Devlin, Malcolm Appelby and Tiffany, or items from the Art Deco, Art Nouveau and Georgian eras. These makers and eras all have very readable hallmarks, or easily identifiable elements which help to pinpoint their popularity within the market.

My advice to those who perhaps have the family silver gathering dust in the drawers or in a bank vault, is to keep a keen eye on the value of bullion, but prices have fallen sharply in recent weeks since the start of the bombing of Iran. The more values fall, arguably, the more it would be sensible to sell at auction. In addition, take your silver for a valuation, here experts will be able to tell you if it is from a high value maker or era and give you a ballpark valuation for silver at auction.

Or alternatively, keep it and enjoy it! As I said to the Sunday Times, I think your wine tastes better out of a silver goblet and your tea tastes better from a silver teapot.

To view the silver available at the next Jewellery, Silver & Watches Sale on 30^th April, please click here