Silver History & Design

This rich social history of silver from the Middle Ages to the present draws on the world-renowned collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, to offer a fresh perspective on this beautiful and virtually indestructible metal. An indispensable guide for collectors and connoisseurs, Silver includes such valuable and practical information as how to recognize fakes and forgeries, care and cleaning, the techniques of making and embellishing silver, and how to read hallmarks.The wealth of illustrations, which show silver in many styles and contexts, include paintings, engravings, historic photographs, designs, and outstanding examples of ceremonial and domestic silver, including superb objects created in the past 10 years.a