Featured 1835 R. Wallace 16DWT

I realize this is silverplate, with the 16DWT referring to the pennyweight amount of silver used to plate a certain number of pieces (12?). Seems like quite a lot of silver for plating to me. Any real value to these?

The set of 6 knives is being sold on-line for $135.00. I swiped their picture but I have the same 6 knives that I just bought for $1.40. I was thinking worth more like a couple bucks each at best.

 

These are the Floral pattern ,

 

Looks like I might be able to get my money back out of them. Here are 4 that sold for $ .99 ..... LOL!

Antique 1835 R Wallace 14 DWT Silverplate Knives Set Of 4 Floral Pattern AS IS | eBay

 

I am so sorry that this happened to you. I discovered 3 knives in the identical floral pattern of the knives in your photo. The plating has worn and there is absolutely no way that they're worth $135.00.

However, $1.40 and $0.99 are below value, especially given the majority of online RW 1835 floral pattern dinnerware for sale online. There is a lot of junk that eBay sellers are unloading for grossly inflated prices along with ads peddling the same junk for $5.00.

On the issue of their general worth, i can vouch that they're not junk. My mother is an interior decorator and she bought them. I have no intention of bragging about my mom, but her experience is worth noting because it backs up her expertise. If you know Portland, OR, you may remember Recollections antiques at NW 23rd & Johnson. That was her business. She sold high-end pieces, mostly in English pine (e.g., armoires), pieces with historical significance, antique books, silver that included dinnerware, wall art & detailed ceramic models of English villas, and more. She knew what she was doing.

The claims of value of this silverware model are all over the place. There is a lot of rusty junk pieces for $5.00 on eBay next to other rusty junk pieces that sellers price at $80.

I think it would benefit everyone to determine the appropriate price ranges for this model. If anyone who reads this post knows of a source that will assess true market value, I would really appreciate it if you could either post it or reply to me directly.

Thanks!
-TSM

 

It looks like those knives just sold for $101. Maybe because they were made by Wallace (who I consider better than most)? That price seems high and they're tarnished. They cost about $30 each ($20 for the shorter ones) on the R Site. I think they're lovely but I would hunt around if I wanted them to get a better price than a hundy. They would be charming as part of a set to use for a ladies luncheon (if I were that kind of person, which I'm not). I can see them with vintage table linens and old china. In terms of buying behavior, I wouldn't look twice at AS IS and for something like this would pay more based on the seller's item description and photos. Certainly polishing them is a plus. And since they're Wallace I believe the 16DWT to be accurate. If you sell locally like in a garage sale $2 each is probably a good buy and they could be cleaned up and sold on line for maybe upwards of $25 on eBay, more on Etsy? What does everyone else think?

 

Welcome @TSM .

Unfortunately true market value doesn't exist, not in any field of antique, vintage, and collectible items. Markets fluctuate and prices are different in different parts of any country and of the world.
There are many factors that influence a price, and an asking price and a selling price are two different things.

 

Welcome TSM.

The original post is a few years old but still worth discussion. This is an international forum so often things are more desirable in one part of the world than another. In addition, the venues people have to sell their items or value them varies tremendously.

Probably the best way for each person to value their items is using past sales in venues they might use. In the US, past sales on places like Ebay if selling online, using Worthpoint or Terapeak or perhaps past in-person auction houses using Liveauctioneers for example, might be the best way to see if something is worth buying or selling.

 

I never tried to do anything with my set. Ironically, I just ran across them in a drawer the other day and actually know where they are.

 

The question now is...continue to hoard or try to get your investment back.

 

The above quote is the 'truest of truths' regarding the antique & collectibles market-whether it's a piece of Neiger jewelry, a Van Gogh or pieces I bought last year and stuffed in my garage.

 

It's worth what someone is willing to pay who has access and ability to transport the item to their location. A necklace worth $300 on the open market may be worth $10 at a yard sale/bootie/vide grenier. The person at the yard sale may be able to sell it on line for $300 and may not; it depends on who is looking. The person they sell to will not be at the yard sale.