Sterling Silver salt & pepper shakers by Dunkirk Silversmiths. 121 gms. Stunning

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Sterling Silver salt & pepper shakers by Dunkirk Silversmiths. 121 gms. Stunning:
$250.00

This is a rare pair of sterling silver salt and pepper shakers made by Dunkirk Silversmiths of Meriden, Connecticut. Dunkirk was only in existence from about 1945-1950. They weigh 121 grams and are 4.5\" tall. These have been cleaned and polished by a silver restoration specialist to look like near new. They have a beautiful mirror finish. There are no significant dents or scratches. However, they do show signs of use with minor surface scratches. See photos. They are marked \"Sterling \" and \"113\" and have the Dunkirk makers mark . These are ready for display, use or storage.When evaluating sterling silver items, look carefully at the pictures and note the weight and size. Sterling silver is 92.5 percent solid silver. Silver is expensive. Silver manufacturers can save money by using less sterling silver in each item. One of the ways they saved money was to use thinner gauge silver sheeting to make the item. This resulted in products that were easily dented and damaged. They then started using a thin foil of sterling silver over concrete or wood and reinforcing the objects with steel rods. These techniques all served to allow less silver to be used and generally resulted in products that have not stood the test of time. Look deeply into the photos to evaluate the finish. A deep mirror finish will clearly reflect the surroundings.
Do not be fooled by sellers referring to dirt and tarnish as patina. A proper patina is created by polishing to a mirror finish. This is a time consuming and labor intensive process using time honored techniques. The patina is maintained and improved over time with regular cleaning and polishing. Tarnish that is allowed to remain too long damages the patina and causes pitting. Scratched and pitted surfaces attract more tarnish and are more difficult to clean. These have a beautiful patina that feels clean and smooth to the touch. They look as if they belongs in a jewelry store window or adorning a Holiday table.