Table silver In all times it symbolized the material well-being of the family. The dishes were handed down by inheritance, bought for the dowry of a girl in marriage. In troubled times, silverware was sold, thereby providing the family with some sort of wealth. Silverware also took its place in folklore. Some nations have an interesting tradition of giving a silver spoon to a newborn baby. In this article we will look at what this tradition is connected to and how much silver spoons usually weigh.
Cutlery silver: composition, grade, properties
Composition of silverware is what distinguishes it from jewelry silver. Pure precious metal plus a minimum of impurities - this is the alloy used to produce high-grade silverware: 760, 800, 925 samples. The alloying metals are copper or nickel. In contrast to sterling silverIn the table nickel is used extensively.
Like gold, pure silver is just as soft, just as malleable, so impurities are needed to make the alloy hard and strong.
Of course, of particular value are the services made in pre-revolutionary times and under the Soviet Union. The marking system was somewhat different from today's: you won't see the standard four-digit stamps.
Even old silver cutlery is rarely melted down. On the contrary, as it ages, it passes into the category of antique, thereby becoming even more expensive.
Also services from a noble metal are valued because of the special appearance: they look exquisite and sophisticated. Silver tableware is an elegant accent when serving. This noble metal is malleable, that is why it is easy to be processed and inlaid with precious stones. Silver has been used since antiquity to make silverware: luxurious cutlery now adorns museums throughout the world.
Another unique property of the precious metal is its bactericidal properties. Silver is a natural antiseptic, killing all germs and bacteria. Water, drunk from a silver glass, is considered purified and healthy. By the way, medicine Water ionized by silver particles is successfully used to treat internal diseases.
It is also worth remembering how ordinary water, consecrated in church, becomes healing. Many scholars attribute this to the fact that the silver cross the priest dips into the water purifies and disinfects it.
Where to Buy Silverware
What can I buy in silverware? Cutlery and teaspoons, forks, knives, goblets, plates, vases, candy holders - the choice of precious tableware is great. First of all, you can buy them all in jewelry salons. Large tableware stores may have a silverware department. If you are interested in pre-revolutionary and Soviet silverware, then you should pay attention to antique stores, flea markets. You can buy rarity sets by hand over the Internet.
A large selection of specialty silverware stores offer Asian and Oriental countries, whose inhabitants are connoisseurs of beauty.
The roots of the tradition of giving a spoon to a newborn baby
As mentioned, the tradition of giving a newborn baby a spoon is ancient. For example, when an Orthodox Christian baby was baptized, the newly baptized parents gave a silver spoon. It had to be done before the baby's teeth would start to grow, so to speak, "for the teeth". The precious metal was considered a symbol of wealth, and with this gift they wished their child financial well-being.
A similar meaning is conveyed by the English proverb "to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth.
Today you can buy special spoons for a gift, beautifully decorated. There can be engraving on the precious metal itself. Sometimes it is a souvenir that is not used in everyday life. But most often the spoon is bought for food, so you need to be careful in its selection.
How to choose the right spoon as a gift
When buying a teaspoon as a gift for a small child, keep in mind a few recommendations:
- Pay attention to the weight of the silver teaspoon. It should be the right size - not too big, but not too small. The baby should be free to eat from it, the process of eating should not become uncomfortable. It should be comfortable for parents to hold the spoon while feeding, so it is worth avoiding ornate shapes and large knobs on the handle.
- An indispensable indicator of the quality of the spoon is. precious metal sample.
- Buy the product only from official stores of verified manufacturers. The seller must provide a certificate of conformity of quality.
Simple steps will help you choose a great gift for your godson or goddaughter.
The weight of a piece of silverware for a baby
It can be very difficult to determine the weight of a silver spoon "by eye. You can ask to put the item on a scale: jewelry stores necessarily have them. Approximately the spoon can weigh from 5 to 90 grams. The item intended as a gift for a child will have a mass of 12-20 grams. If the gift is symbolic, you can choose a device with a smaller weight. They sell pendant spoons, pendant spoons, pendant spoons.
Question and answer section
How much does a silver teaspoon weigh?
How much does a silver tablespoon weigh?
The price range for a silver gift for a newborn baby?
The cost of 1 gram of silver in Russia today?
Official cost 1 gram of sterling silver is set by the Central Bank of Russia on the basis of fixing the prices of precious metals on the London Stock Exchange. The price of the precious metal today is 66 rubles.
To find cost per gram silver popular samples a simple formula applies:
price of 999 proof * 925 / 1000
= price of 1 gram of 925 proof
| 999 proof, rubles per 1 gr. | 925 proof, rubles per 1 gr. | 916 proof, rubles per 1 g | 875 proof, rubles per 1 g |
| 66 | 61 | 60 | 57 |
How can I tell the difference between real silver?
Several useful tips will help you to buy natural silverware and not a fake:
- rub the product with your fingers: a fake will give itself away with dark traces left on the skin, this is a trace from an overabundance of zinc;
- Drop the spoon on the surface of the table, it should jingle;
- Hold the silver object in your clenched hand: if it is real, it will heat up quickly;
- check with a magnet: if the spoon is attracted to it, then it contains a lot of extra metals.
Nitric acid, sulfuric ointment, iodine, chalk - all these substances can also help determine the authenticity of the precious metal. But it is unlikely that a jewelry store clerk will allow you to use such methods.
Causes of loss of color and luster of a silver spoon
Over time, silverware tarnishes, for obvious reasons:
- contact with a wet environment - dishes should not be washed often, wiped dry immediately after washing;
- reaction with chemical substances - detergents, creams;
- interaction with human sweat, which contains many salts and acids.
As you can see, silver items are quite sensitive. It is for this reason that our ancestors used precious tableware only on special occasions. On the other hand, from sitting idle for a long time, precious metal can also get darker.
How to take care of silverware
Hygiene is one of the conditions for storing silverware. It is necessary to store it in a clean and dry place, without access to direct sunlight. Cutlery should be washed immediately after use. Washing should be done only with warm water with the addition of detergent. A soft sponge may be used. Never rub, scrape, use abrasive cleaners or metal brushes.
It is not recommended to use the dishwasher for washing.
You can remove the dark spots and bring back the shine by home remedies:
- Dilute half a liter of warm water with a teaspoon of baking soda, soak the dish in the solution for a while;
- a sponge soaked in 9% vinegar to wipe the dishes;
- soak the device in a solution of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide.
Remember that silver is a delicate metal. It only takes 15 minutes to treat the instruments.
Pros and cons of silverware
If you do not use silver devices on a daily basis, you may not even experience these negative properties.
Video: silver spoon as a gift
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