silver-plated metal

Silver-plated metal cutlery, coffee and tea sets, and table accessories were very common along with silver on the elegant tables of the 19th and 20th centuries until the appearance and standardization of stainless steel.

The most used metals are nickel silver and brass, to which a silver plating is applied to achieve a similar color and shine. The purity of the silver with which the plating is given increases or decreases the value of the piece. Some manufacturers, such as the French house Christofle, apply very high-quality silver plating to their pieces, which makes them very valuable in the antiques market.

Nickel silver is a metal alloy composed of copper, zinc and nickel. It is also called white metal, German silver, "maillechort" or "métal argenté". When the silver plating layer is removed, the nickel silver is white, however, the brass is yellow.

The alpaca was born in Europe at the beginning of the 19th century, invented by the French metallurgists Maillot and Chorier, from whom its name in French maillechort comes.
At that time, nickel silver already existed in China, and in Germany they had tried to imitate it under the name neu-silber, whose literal meaning is new silver, which is why it is also known as "German silver."




At Villa Las Perelli, we are committed to recovering silver metal pieces to give them a new life and a new use on current tables, providing that sophisticated and elegant touch that is reminiscent of the past.

The silver metal products that you will find among the antiques in our store are imperfect and therefore special. Although they are sometimes similar, each piece is unique and it is its details and its patina that have led us to include them in our selection.


CARE

All silver-plated pieces naturally develop a darker patina over time due to oxidation. To slow down the process, it is advisable to avoid humidity as it accelerates the oxidation process.

Silver metals, whether alpaca or brass, require similar care as silver.
As they are metals that rust, they require special care and cleaning.
We recommend cleaning the rust with a soft cotton cloth and a specific product that is not aggressive, such as "Aladin".

After the cleaning process, store them in a dry place. Try to keep the pieces separate, we advise you to store them in their boxes or wrap them in cloth, to protect them from scratches and impact damage.