"Patina" on AH silverplate tray

[BrianK]

A few years back I acquired a large oval Adolf Hitler silverplate tray. Those familiar with TR personality items or the "German War Booty" book will know about these. When I got it I cleaned the streaky tarnish/patina with silver polish. After a few months the "patina" came back. I have left it alone since then. It looked like the book pictures for a couple of months though - nice & shiny. I just took a look & was thinking - should I try polishing it again - or leave well enough alone?

[GELIS44]

This is the one item I would "enhance"! Go ahead and clean it. Silver will always tarnish again if you don't like the bright and shiny look!!

[Stahlhelm]

This is all a matter of personal preference. First of all, you have already cleaned it once anyway. So, beyond that I guess it really doesn't matter so much anymore, for the reasons of leaving it potentially "untouched" or "unmessed with".

I would personally have likely left it alone from the beginning. But again, that's only my preference. As NEllis said, the tarnish will return soon enough anyway.

However, during the periods where it is all nice and shiny, everyone surely knows that it's been cleaned recently, for sure. Personally, my mind is always unpleasantly distracted thinking about that. But again, that's just the way my mind works.

Chris

[vonStubben]

I for one have always been in favor of cleaning silver as the black oxidation is actually bad for the item in the long run and in some instances can actually pit silver (I have seen this with Iron Crosses). After all what do you think major museums do and they do it to help preserve whatever the item in question is.

I would say to clean it. BUT, remember this about silver plate. You will eventually rub the silver from the base metal and the base metal will show through. It's just the nature of silver plate.

Ultimately, it's up to you.

Chuck

[Paul R.]

Thanks Chris, Chuck.
That’s your choice to do whatever you see fit to do with it. Just a professional comment on polishing anything. If you are using a paste or liquid cleaner almost all of these products have very tiny abrasive materials in them. Over time you are adding more tiny surface scratches to the silver. That’s why most dagger collectors shy away from polishing the blades of their prize pieces.
You are also over time slowly removing the silver (silver being soft). If you do polish your item. You may want to consider rinsing the item off in medium warm water to remove left over residue chemicals. When you item is bone dry apply a thin coating of Ren Wax. That will slow down the tarnishing.

[DouglasDwight]

Brian, I have several pieces of AH silverware. I would never clean the tarnish. I can't think of anything more gorgoeus than 60 or 70 years of tarnish, un-meesed with by collectors or dealers that like to trick things up.

[wh014d4394]

hi there.i can tell you how to keep it sparkling new. with real silver .you only after apply with a cloth.it ads real silver to your peace every time you use it

[Bob Hritz]

Patina is silver oxide which is the result of the deterioration of the silver. As the pating grows, the silver finish deteriorates. If the item is 800 or better silver, you may be faced with pitting to the finish. If the item is silverplate, eventually the silver will deteriorate down to the base metal.

There are products that contain micro-powdered silver and sodium cyanide which clean off the patina and replace it with silver. You must have a HAZMAT permit to receive these type products due to the deadly nature of sodium cyanide.

Bob Hritz

[hi-revr]

ejtejej

Just to reinforce some comments already stated. Leaving silver alone is not good. Once I get something cleaned and polished I use a Jewelers cloth to gently keep it polished. Hopefully there is now reliable info out there. Has anyone checked the Smithsonian site?