Observe · Regulate · Protect — since 2007. 19th OIMAP General Assembly: Singapore, 10–12 June 2026. Programme
OIMAP
OIMAP
International Organisation
for the Art Market and Heritage
24 October 2026 · Updated at 07:47 GMT FR EN ES Member area Log in
Market

Silverware

The market for silverware and precious objects: hallmarks, metals, silversmiths, authenticity and conservation.

Updated : October 28, 2026· 3 min read

The segment read in hallmarks

Plate, Ferrat Factory (c. 1775)
Plate, Ferrat Factory (c. 1775)

Silverware accounts for €2.6 billion in 2024, with a median price of €1,900 and a rise of 4.2%. Hallmarks play a central role here: they identify the workshop, the metal and often the year.

Pieces of silver, gold, silver-gilt and precious metals are among the best documented in the art market. The registers of master silversmiths and assay offices make it possible to link an object to a specific workshop.

This page explains how to read hallmarks, what makes a piece valuable and what pitfalls to avoid.

  • Silverware
  • Hallmarks
  • Precious metals

Silverware in figures

€2.6bnVolume
€1,900Median price
+4.2%Index change
92%Hallmarked pieces

Source: OIMAP Observatory.

Breakdown

Table silver41%
Religious silverware16%
Antique jewellery23%
Display objects20%

Share of the segment's volume.

Reading hallmarks

A piece of silverware bears several hallmarks: the master silversmith's, the assay office's that certifies the fineness of the metal, and sometimes that of the town or the date. Each country has its own system, which has evolved over time.

OIMAP's directory brings together more than 38,000 hallmarks classified by country and period. It allows an expert to date a piece in a few minutes. It also serves to spot counterfeit or transferred hallmarks.

The Triumph of Eternity (from Chateau de Chaumont set) (1512–15)
The Triumph of Eternity (from Chateau de Chaumont set) (1512–15)
Woman's Costume (1800s)
Woman's Costume (1800s)
Embroidered Back and Seat for Chair (late 1600s)
Embroidered Back and Seat for Chair (late 1600s)

Cast pieces and transferred hallmarks

Some forgers lift a hallmark from a modest piece and transfer it to a more precious object, by invisible soldering. Others make hallmarks from scratch using moulds.

The conservation report and scientific examination (X-ray fluorescence, analysis of the metal) make it possible to detect these frauds. An object whose hallmark shows traces of soldering should be viewed with suspicion.

Silverware and religious heritage

Religious silverware (chalices, monstrances, reliquaries) is a special case: many of these objects belong to churches or communities and are inalienable. Their sale is prohibited or tightly regulated in many Member States.

Thefts of religious silverware are frequent. Any piece of this kind must be checked in the BIOP database before purchase, and its provenance justified by ecclesiastical or notarial documents.

Metals and hallmarks

Precious metals
MetalUsual finenessGuarantee hallmarkMaterial value
Silver800 to 950 ‰Head or animalVariable
Gold750 ‰Eagle or headHigh
Silver-giltGilded silverSilver hallmarkMedium
PlatedSilvered base metalNo official hallmarkWeak

Landmarks

  1. First hallmarks

    Creation of the goldsmiths' wardens.

  2. Assay offices

    Standardisation of hallmarks.

  3. Directories

    Publication of the major directories.

  4. 38,000 hallmarks

    OIMAP's digital database.

Material value and art value

Antique silver or modern silver

Millefiori Bowl (1–100 CE)

Antique

Before 1850
  • Art value
  • Old hallmarks
  • Frequent restorations

Collector's pieces.

Clock, Henrik Wigström (c. 1905–15)

Modern

After 1850
  • Value closer to the metal
  • Mass production
  • Standardised hallmarks

Pieces for use.

Jacket with Octopus (c. 1800–1868)
Jacket with Octopus (c. 1800–1868)
Kremlin Tower Clock, House of Fabergé (c. 1913)
Kremlin Tower Clock, House of Fabergé (c. 1913)
Bowl from Nesting Bowls with Daoist Immortals, Seifū Yohei III (1893–1914)
Bowl from Nesting Bowls with Daoist Immortals, Seifū Yohei III (1893–1914)

Buying a piece of silverware

  1. Read

    Note all the hallmarks.

  2. Weigh

    Check weight and density.

  3. Examine

    Look for soldering and repairs.

  4. Document

    Obtain invoice and certificate.

  5. Insure

    Have material and art value assessed.

To check before buying

A silversmith

Magnolia Ginger Jar, Tiffany Studios (c. 1904–14)
« A well-struck hallmark is the object's identity card. When it is blurred or transferred, questions arise. »
Marc Étienne, master silversmith

Vocabulary of silverware

Maker's mark
The silversmith's mark.
Fineness
Proportion of precious metal.
Silver-gilt
Silver covered with gold.
Assay office
Administration checking the fineness.

Frequently asked questions

Is an unhallmarked piece a fake?

Not necessarily, but it is suspect.

Can an old piece be melted down?

Yes, but it destroys its art value.

Does plated silverware have value?

Mostly decorative.

Where can I report a suspect hallmark?

Useful documents

Contacts

A Palace with an Arched Bridge (A Roman Villa), Hubert Robert (1760)
A Palace with an Arched Bridge (A Roman Villa), Hubert Robert (1760)
OIMAP ObservatoryParis — Headquarters+33 1 00 00 01 00observatoire@oimap.exampleMonday to Friday, 9 am – 5 pm

Back to decorative arts

Embroidered Panel: Holy Kinship (1500s)

Review the overview of the segment.

Decorative arts
Image credits (16)
▲