@Bluegreen We are at a significant disadvantage in not being able to see and handle the silver. This is the key to dating. Techniques and the nature of silver itself are what change over decades, far more so than design: in a conservative culture, styles can linger for a hundred years. In hand, silver from 1910 is very, very different from silver of 1990. And early material (pre-let’s say 1925) is extremely scarce and the mid-to later 20th century work is extremely available. So that’s a math fact to bear in mind. Connoisseurship, a ton of experience, is crucial for accurate dating.
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Thanks again for your help chicfarmer! I appreciate it a lot and find it all truly interesting.
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