These are 3 pieces I bot one day - I really like these large trays and use them all the time for serving and vignettes. I have 5, the most expensive was $5, some as little as $2. I always pay asking price as these are very undervalued as many people don't like to polish silver.

This is a silver pedestal cake plate. Not a great quality silver piece (not very heavy) but useful. The tealights are in tin cookie molds I bot for 25¢ for all 12! Still sealed in cello.

This silver tray was only $2. When I picked it up at a yard sale DH was incredulous I was going to pay asking price as it was very tarnished and the copper was showing thru in places. He thot it looked like a piece of junk. I did pay asking price and it polished up very well and I don't mind that it's been well used and the silver worn off. The smaller pieces in this pic were between 25¢ and 75¢ each. I use them for all sorts of things.

All this silver (not the cat!!!) was in a cardboard box on the floor at a yard sale, very tarnished, and unloved. I paid $4 for all which averages 25¢ each. Not all good silver but some is old.

I'm now being very selective in what I buy but couldn't resist this 51 piece set of silver plated flatware last year for $5. It's 1847 Rogers Bros, only gently used, of course it was very tarnished but polished up well.

I also have a 16 piece set of vintage silver flatware we use for camping (it's out in the RV and I haven't a pic), as well as my wedding set. Also two silver tea services, a couple of Victorian bride's baskets, silver candlesticks and holders, and lots of plates and dishes. Good thing I don't mind polishing!

I have several silver trays ("trophies" from golf tournaments. lol!) but I never think to use them. Most are still in the original box.

hugs, Karen

jane

Thanks for sharing your gorgeous pieces with us, and congrats on the great prices.

Luvs

Karen, yes I *definitely* did make you buy that silver vase! ;-) LOL I think everyone needs a little silver in their life! Hope you show us your vase.

Milosmom, I hope you find a big tray soon. I think there is a lot of silver around as it's not very trendy altho in one of my recent home decor magazines they showed several silver trays hung on the wall - exactly what I did a few years ago, so it may be fashionable again.

Lynn, I've been gradually buying silver for about 8 years now and my collection has grown - I find at least a few pieces every year. I hope you show us all yours sometime - I really like your flower holder, that's a really nice piece.

Jane, it's quite cheap here altho I just pass by if it's not. I've never paid more than $5 for any piece, even large trays. I have a 4 piece tea set that I paid $25 for at slow winter auction.

Luvs, I'd like to see your painted pieces, I'm sure they are lovely as you have such talent. I only have the one piece that I had DH spray paint and I do like that, altho it's not the same as your painting I know.

Thanks very much everyone for your kind comments. This is only a fraction of what I have and I have occasionally sold pieces but they are not in high demand at yard sales. I'm kinda kicking myself because I sold a gravy boat, some wine glasses, and a large urn shaped wine cooler in my store that I could have used in tablescapes now. Hoping to maybe find more.

Around here it's often difficult to take a pic without a cat in it. They take turns "claiming" new things. We have 3, all different colors, so there's always one who "coordinates". LOL This sweet orange tabby was an abused rescue kitten so she gets away with things around here. We've had her almost 5 years and I doubt she'll ever get over her nightmare early life. I never speak loudly to her or make sudden movements. She's a darling and I don't like them on tables, etc. but occasionally let her get away with it and wash tablecloths a lot.

hugs, Karen

Kathleen, I use Twinkle as it's gentle, fast, and less messy than other brands I've tried. I have occasionally used Tarn-X altho really caution it's use. I would never use it on sterling and will only use it once on good silver plate pieces if they are black, black, black with tarnish. It's crucial to rinse quickly and thoroughly as soon as most of the tarnish has gone. Then I use Twinkle to polish. The Tarn-X removes the tarnish even in the carved places which I don't like. I prefer how the Twinkle leaves that patina in place for definition of the pattern.

Jeanne, I do use silver trays every day and always have some silver items on display somewhere in my house. I love using it.

Karen, your new vase is a real treasure, has a very pretty pattern and is decorative all on it's own even without flowers. The little tray will be very useful - it's a good size for small tables or on the back of the potty. Hope you show us how you display your silver treasures.

hugs, Karen

I am in love with the idea of a silver tray to hold items back of the potty. You can bet I'll be on the look-out for one at every Yard Sale.

luckygal, only my BF's trays from City tournaments were engraved. I also have some trays without engraving... one is fairly large and with handles. :) I also have silver bowls of various sizes (with liners) in storage somewhere... We live not far from Oneida Silversmiths and we won a "4-man" charity tournament at their course once. We were each supposed to receive a full tea/coffee silver set, but they didn't have enough to go around so they had us each choose 4 pieces from their table of prizes. Not everything we chose was silver, and many became gifts (like the knife block and full knife set!). That was the only year we played the event and they stopped having them after that. :(

I also wanted to mention the tip I learned about cleaning silver... "in a pinch" you can use ordinary (non-gel) toothpaste! like the white Crest or Colgate. It doesn't smell bad like silver polish does. :)

(I love cats too, and have FOUR spoiled rescues that help me 'decorate'. lol!)

Thanks OA - good luck on your hunt. I think there is lots of unloved silver around to choose from as the younger gen doesn't value their DM or DGM's silver.

Party Music, that would be fun to choose from such nice prizes. I've heard about using toothpaste to clean silver but wondered how abrasive it is. I forgot to say I also have a silver cleaning cloth for a quick buff-up but it isn't good for a real polishing. Better for silver jewelry. One other tip is to use and wash silver pieces regularly and they won't tarnish as quickly. Aren't we lucky to have those "cat redecorators" to help! Gotta love 'em.

hugs, Karen

I use Never Dull sometimes...I will look for Twinkle..

LG, do you know that there is a blog that sponsors an event called Silver Sunday? This is the last week, but you might see some interesting pieces... People show their silver things......

Karen, great jar you found and polished up. Thanks for sharing.

Punk

Karen, I posted about your tray on the other thread but if you want an opinion on the beads please take a pic showing another tray scape. Ya know how we love pics! :-)

Kathleen, this is such a coincidence - the blog you posted is one I recently discovered thru another blog. For anyone who loves blogs this is one I recently discovered: http://thepassionatehome.blogspot.com/ Then found this one from there: http://janisgurney.blogspot.com/ Then to the one you posted. These 2 are both Canadian blogs and the first has a shop in a city we occasionally visit so I'll check it out this spring when we travel again. The other blogger makes things from silver objects and sells them in the other blogger's store. Also the lady with the store posted one of my pics I put out on the 'net on her blog!!! Link below. Small world.

Thanks Punk! I have lots of other silver things that I'm thinking about using in vignettes and I'll post when I do. I've only recently had my DH paint a silver thing and I like the result but I'll only have him do the ones that are not very good silver.

Thanks.