How to Identify Antique Silver Plated Teapot

If you have recently come across a teapot that you think could be valuable you may want to have it identified as such. This is a serious hobby for many people today and there is a lot of money to be made doing it. The most difficult part of that hobby is identification of the antiques. It takes time and effort, but the reward can be substantial.

• Find the marking that will normally be on the bottom of the teapot. This number will usually be .925 or .950. If it is .925 it indicates that the teapot is a newer pot and the .950 means it is an older pot. The numbers on the silver pieces tell you what percentage of silver the piece is. For example European silver is of a common silver type and usually has a number of .835. That means it is an 83.5% grade of silver.


• Look for other markings on the pot as well. There could possibly be markings indicating the country of origin such as a “T” which means it was made after 1970 and probably in Mexico. If the pot is not stamped “Sterling” it probably is not sterling and the type of silver is not known.


• Visit antiques dealers or people you know to have experience in antiques for help. There are many “antiquers” who would be more than willing to help you authenticate your pot. Many of the markings on antique items of all types are not commonly known and can be quite rare. Don’t hesitate to get help in your search. The main focus is to identify and classify your antique silver plated teapot.