It’s Tea Time

Vintage tea sets have been around for centuries. The sets are made up of 5 pieces, a coffee server, teapot, sugar bowl, creamer and tray. So when visiting an estate sale be aware of the count! Brands like Reed & Barton, Alessi, Cuisinox and William Rogers are some of the most exquisite fine silver plated tea sets. They range from $200-$1,200, but you can get an bargain when finding them at an estate sale. If the silver seems tarnished or scratched you can clean and polish with items like toothpaste or a very hot bath of water. After these steps, if the silver is still very tarnished, soak in boiling water, aluminum foil, salt and baking soda. Then, get a toothbrush and polish the individual blemishes with toothpaste. You will save a fortune on the set and will be able to refurbish it on a budget. However, if these home mixtures aren’t working, try Hagerty Silver Foam Polish, it adds a quick shine to the silver and will make it look good as new for showcase. If you are looking for something a little more unique set, you could look into the sterling silver tea sets. They are more expensive, but are more durable and tend to last much longer- making for a great heirloom for your children and grandchildren. These sets keep their value over the years and tend to look good longer and keep their shimmer and shine. They run from $1,500-$10,000 and some brands to look out for are Gorham, Shreve and Sheffield. Happy hunting for your next family heirloom! If you want to learn more about buying sterling tea sets, visit http://www.grayandsons.com/category/154Unknown

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