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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: elfyx on June 07, 2012, 01:44:56 PM

Title: help
Post by: elfyx on June 07, 2012, 01:44:56 PM

hi...I have just picked up at a house sale a beautiful silver plate picture frame....on the back is stamped E.P on G.S....i know what the Ep stands for but not the G.S......any ideas please..thanks elfyx  ;D

Title: Re: help
Post by: Rauville on June 07, 2012, 02:33:21 PM

I'm guessing "German Silver"?

Title: Re: help
Post by: rsorgel on June 07, 2012, 03:15:34 PM

my thoughts were electro plated on gorham silver. gorham made a lot of electro plated things, and is one of the most common names i see on silver plate items.

Title: Re: help
Post by: mart on June 07, 2012, 08:34:29 PM

Most of the sites I checked at said German silver !!  Gorham is a brand rather than a type of silver !! I think they would have written out Gorham Silver since they want brand recognition !! 

Title: Re: help
Post by: elfyx on June 08, 2012, 11:32:10 AM

Hi guys...yes...could well be german silver as i have brought it in france....but why electro-plate silver?
cheers elfyx

Title: Re: help
Post by: mart on June 08, 2012, 08:21:22 PM

Because that is the process used to adhere the silver ( whatever kind,, and they are different) to the base metal !!  Has to be marked because you wouldn`t want to pay for sterling and get electro plate !!  Would be difficult for most people to tell the difference !!

Title: Re: help
Post by: KC on June 08, 2012, 11:31:19 PM

Helpful article for EP GS.
http://www.marks4antiques.com/Sterling-and-Silverplated-antiques.htm (http://www.marks4antiques.com/Sterling-and-Silverplated-antiques.htm)

German Silver isn't silver but is a base metal to look like silver!

Title: Re: help
Post by: mart on June 09, 2012, 10:39:58 AM

KC,, I am not a silver type person but if it only looks like,, but is not silver,, why would it need to be electroplated ??  I thought just a lower grade silver on base metal !!  Fill me in as its not my area !!