Look for the Silver Lining : Adventures in the Antique Silver Market...April - November, 2016

By Jeffrey Lant

I have been interested in antique silver most of my life. Unfortunately, when I was young I had no good place to see antique silver, nor did I the means for purchasing what I already admired. This unsatisfactory state went on for some years. As when I lived in London, I used to go look in the shop windows at Garrard's... the silversmith which made the Sovereign's baubles.
I made a vow to myself. I would never go into this establishment unless and until I had the funds to buy something suitable. I kept this promise.
And so I became a window watcher. also when I lived in London I had everyday to pass the Silver Vaults.Just passing by the windows of this astonishing establishment, I caught myself in an audible intake of breath.
My serious work in silver began in New York at Sotheby's. They treated me like the czar of all the Russias.
The folks at Sotheby's were focused and attentive, answering questions not already asked but necessary, and not doing anything which would draw attention to my ignorance of this glorious matter.
Now, since those earlier days, when I made my first major purchase and which I shall always regard as a red letter day in my life. I have without having big league money, challenged the big leaguers with the big bucks. They could spend their way to glory. I had to think about every penny and where it was best expended and how I should use it for maximum effect.
I am glad that it worked out that way. Now every foray into the antique silver market meant homework, and questioning the experts.. In short order, I was something of an expert myself.
This book, "Look for the Silver Lining", is a snapshot of a few months of my silver purchase activities in the year 2016. You will see that I tell you more than what I gained; I tell you why. And I tell you something else that no one else ever tells you: what I lost, and what I did to ensure that I learned the most from every episode, and spent the absolute minimum. You see, I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I had to buy it at auction! And you can be sure that I got just the price I wanted to pay.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeffrey Lant
• Release date: Jan 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386887027

Jeffrey Lant

Dr. Jeffrey Lant is known worldwide. He started in the media business when he was 5 years old, a Kindergartner in Downers Grove, Illinois, publishing his first newspaper article. Since then Dr. Lant has earned four university degrees, including the PhD from Harvard. He has taught at over 40 colleges and universities and is quite possibly the first to offer satellite courses. He has written over 50 books, thousands of articles and been a welcome guest on hundreds of radio and television programs. He has founded several successful corporations and businesses including his latest at …writerssecrets.com His memoirs “A Connoisseur’s Journey” has garnered nine literary prizes that ensure its classic status. Its subtitle is “Being the artful memoirs of a man of wit, discernment, pluck, and joy.” A good read by this man of so many letters. Such a man can offer you thousands of insights into the business of becoming a successful writer. Be sure to sign up now at www.writerssecrets.co

Book preview

Introduction https://youtu.be/dPuTyz7iwJ4

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Special Reading by Dr. Jeffrey Lant at: https://youtu.be/dPuTyz7iwJ4

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I have been interested in antique silver for a long time, most of my life in fact. For example, in high school, my interest in silver was demonstrated by the 18th Century German coins minted for the various states of the still divided German Empire. To this day, I have a box of these coins, which I haven't opened in over 40 years. They must be worth a pretty penny now.

Unfortunately, in those dim distant days, I had no good place to see antique silver, nor had I the means, as a teenager, for purchasing what I already admired. This unsatisfactory state went on for some years. For example, when I lived in London, I used to go look in the shop windows at Garrard's... the silversmith which made the Sovereign's baubles, and had for reign after reign.

I made a vow to myself. I would never go into this establishment unless and until I had the funds to buy something suitable. I kept this promise.

In this particular Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly was smarter than I was, for she went into Tiffany's and had them engrave a Cracker Jack ring. She was unfazed by its lack of value. Moreover, the salesperson at Tiffany's treated her as if she were a viscountess, though he knew how little she had. No matter, a queen could not complain of all the attention.

I, however, was too proud to take a bit out of a Cracker Jack box to be engraved... far, far too proud for that. And so I became a window watcher. When I lived in London when I was finishing my first book, I had everyday to pass the Silver Vaults on my way to what I hoped would become my first book and first best-seller.

Just passing by the windows of this astonishing establishment, I caught myself in an audible intake of breath. I went in, though I feared I could never bring anything out.

Inside the Silver Vaults are gathered dozens of small shops, all dedicated to the silver that the British do so well. Here, I learned what the Brittania standard meant, how each piece was assayed, weighed, and measured, what was good but overlooked, and what was bad but pushed ahead. I want to take a moment to thank those people who were so kind to a penniless lad. I hope they understood I did not mean to be penniless for very long.

And in fact, in short order, I purchased a set of silver apostle spoons in a chic blue velvet box. Years later, I donated these spoons to the AIDS Action Committee, feeling they could put them to better use than I could. I never regretted my donation, not least because I knew in my heart I would buy more silver and more again.

My serious work in silver began in New York at Sotheby's. They treated me like the czar of all the Russias. One day, I invited my mother, then living in California, to meet me in Manhattan to see what I was cooking up for the embellishment of my life. It was a tureen, George III, fashioned by Paul Storr, the unchallenged master of silver (see book cover).

The folks at Sotheby's, as they so generally are, were focused and attentive, answering questions not already asked but necessary, and not doing anything which would draw attention to my ignorance of this glorious matter.

There were two lots that I particularly wanted to see. One was a lot of four octagonal 18th Century plates, with the heraldry of the Earl of Meath. It is one of my more happy quirks that I adore octagonal plates. You're thinking now, I've never seen such a thing, and I say to you, That your never having seen them is better for me. I am not worried about your knowledge, for I have since that day purchased quite enough octagonals to suite me, and that's saying a lot.

The other item in question was the magnificent Paul Storr tureen, graced by the arms of King George III, who had presented it to his Prime Minister, George Canning. It had a provenance to die for.

Sadly, the King died mad, and George Canning died early. Thus, the heavy brilliance of this piece