Hilary asks:

Hi there!
 
Just paid for an appraisal of my Mother’s sterling tea service.  It includes the tea pot, coffee pot, sugar bowl with lid, cream pitcher, and waste basket. It is the “Kenilworth” pattern by International Sterling.  The under plate is Gorham, but it is silver plate and I won’t be selling it with the sterling.
 
My Mother wants me to sell it for her but my research regarding value is very slim.  I had a “silver guy” look at it, but he only provided me with the melt down value which was around $1,100.00.  Mother is 92 and her memory isn’t so good, and she gave me about 3 different dates she bought this :-), so I have no clue when it was made.
 
Please excuse my pictures as they aren’t too good, but just wanted to get this off to you so I can move forward with it.  I am looking for an approximate retail value of this set as the thought of melting it YIKES!  I understand whoever purchases it may just do that, but I don’t want to know :-).
 
Thanks!
 
Hilary

AW says: This Colonial style set, is circa turn of the 20th century. This is a beautiful set, and appears to be in excellent condition. It will be a shame if it has to be melted down.

One aside, after spot silver and gold melt periods, antique pieces that survive become even more scarce as muich of their cousins were sent to be melted down, thus, becoming even more valuable in many cases.

Retail value on this set is $1,800

There’s no sense in posting a wholesale or quick sale value on this, as the spot silver market would dictate those prices.

Keywords: Colonial style, sterling silver, waste bowl, tea services, coffee pot, Kenilworth,