What are Tiffany Sterling Silver and Mixed Metal Pieces Worth? The following is a value guide on Tiffany Sterling Silver and Mixed Metals Pieces:
To set a base line of values, a common piece of sterling silver flatware or hollowware made by Tiffany is usually worth between $55- $100 per troy ounce at retail.
However, a Tiffany item that has any kind of mixed metal element or embellishment will automatically be worth at least $135 per troy ounce or much more depending on the piece. Most of these pieces were made between 1870 and 1910 and few were ever produced. As a result they are quite valuable and collectible.
We are going to go through the various price levels within the category of Tiffany Mixed Metals.
Tiffany Mixed Metal Water Pitcher Circa 1875 - Sold for $104,000 with buyer's premium at Sotheby's for approximately $3,115 per troy ounce. https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2019/important-americana-n10005/lot.57.html
Level One - Tiffany Mixed Metal Copper Base Sterling appliqués If the Tiffany item has a copper base with decorations of sterling applied onto to it, then these pieces are usually are worth between $135-$250 per troy ounce. The values vary depending on the desirability of the pieces. Aesthetic movement themes of butterflies, dragon flies, birds, frogs and other Japanese related subject matter are the most popular. The more elaborate and sensational the sterling applied elements are on the piece, usually the more valuable it is going to be.
Condition on these copper based pieces is also important as well. If the piece is visibly corroded in the copper, or the copper has black pitted spots on the piece, then you can usually down grade the above values by 50-75% below. These kind of condition issues are typically not repairable. The collectors want these items immaculate and pristine. Collectors also like original beautiful aged petina that looks like an artwork itself with striking variations of hues of reds, oranges, pinks, and purples. Pretty Petina is good - ugly green corrosion and pitted black spots are bad.
Here are several examples of Tiffany Mixed Metals with a copper base and silver embellishments: The small bowl sold for $135 per troy ounce. The large tray with rams heads sold for $100 per oz. (condition issues with spots.). The peacock feather tray sold for $192 per troy ounce. These were all sold on LiveAuctioneers.com
Tiffany Copper Tray with applied silver - Mixed Metals with Peacock Feathers Weight approximately 20 troy ounces - Sold for $3,480 with buyer's premium at Live Auctioneers. This equates to: $192.00 per troy ounce
Level Two - Tiffany Mixed Metals Light Design Work and Somewhat Plain Tiffany mixed metals items that have a sterling base with copper, gold or brass elements applied on to them but that are only lightly decorated and lack a cohesive scene usually retail between $250 - $500 per troy ounce at retail. Quite frankly, the percentage of pieces of Tiffany Mixed Metal that fit into this price category is very small. Here are a few of examples of this price category:
Tiffany Mixed Metal Punch Bowl 59 t. oz. selling for $22,000 on Ebay which is $372.88 per troy ounce. Nice piece, but lacking a cohesive story and detail work is nominal and light. Has a plain look overall.
Tiffany Mixed Metal Tea Caddy sold for $2,800 on Ebay which is $280 per troy ounce. No applied pieces of metal and the copper design is a bit repetitive. Piece not really telling a story, just has an artisan look and is not saying much.
Tiffany Mixed Metal Teaspoon on Ebay for sale at $495.00, the seller would probably take $400.00. Weight approximately 1 troy ounce which equates to $400 per troy ounce. This piece is not plain, but the design is repetitive and somewhat uninteresting.
Level Three - Tiffany Mixed Metal Medium Amount of Design Tiffany items that have a sterling base with applied copper, gold and brass elements decorated with a medium amount of design and workmanship are worth a minimum of $500 - $1,000 per troy ounce at retail.
Japanese themes are amongst the most popular. Birds, Dragon Flies, Turtles, and Frogs are very popular in this category.
Here are several examples of Tiffany Mixed Metal in this price category:
Tiffany Sterling Silver Bowl Mixed Metals with Turtles Weight approximately 18 troy ounces - Sold for $15,199 with buyer's premium at Christies. This equates to: $844.44 per troy ounce
Tiffany Mixed Metals Tray with Birds 19 troy ounces sold for $15,000 including buyers premium at Heritage Auctions. This equates to: $789 per troy ounce.
Tiffany Mixed Metals Salt and Pepper Shakers Weight 3.83 Troy ounces sold for $2,880 at Live Auctioneers including buyer's premium
which equates to:
$751.95 per troy ounce
Awesome detail work with understated Japonesque themes abounding
Level Four - Tiffany Mixed Metal Heavy Design Work or Very Unique Themes Tiffany items that have a sterling base with applied copper, gold and brass elements decorated with a heavy amount of design work or that have somewhat unique themes are worth $1,000 - $1,500 per troy ounce at retail.
Opulent designs with lavish details are common in this category as is the lavish use of more advanced metal techniques including Mokume and intricate copper and gold inlay and applied metals methods.
Learn more about Mokume https://www.gemsociety.org/article/mokume-gane-metal-techniques/
Here are several examples of Tiffany Mixed Metal in this price category:
Tiffany Sterling Silver Lap Over Edge Flatware This 237 piece set of Lap Over Edge Mixed Metals Flatware sold for $237,5000 with buyer's premium at Heritage Auctions. This equates to: $1,187 per troy ounce
Tiffany Mixed Metals Ginger Jar
10 troy ounces sold for $13,000 with buyers premium at Live Auctioneers. This equates to: $1,300 per troy ounce.
This is a true one of a kind experimental piece that utilizes several advanced metal inlay techniques.
Tiffany Mixed Metals Gourd Waiter - Weight 263 troy ounces sold for $387,200 at Christies's including buyer's premium which equates to:
$1,472.24 per troy ounce
Level Five - Tiffany Mixed Metal Over The Top Designs and Dripping with Extreme Wealth
Tiffany items that have a sterling base with applied copper, gold and brass elements highly decorated with over the top amazing designs and that are literally dripping with wealth are worth $1,500 - $5,000 per troy ounce at retail.
This category is one that borders on fantasy and the super wealthy.
Here are several examples of Tiffany Mixed Metal in this price category:
Tiffany Mixed Metal Water Pitcher Circa 1875, sold at Sotheby's for $81,250 This equates to: $3,115 per troy ounce
It has all the different metals of gold, copper, brass as well as The Mokume technique of swirling together various metals.
Tiffany Mixed Metals Water Pitcher 28 troy ounces sold for $49,518 with buyers premium at Christies. This equates to: $1,768 per troy ounce.
The piece has extensive gold and copper applied metal pieces all over and most importantly even on the handle.
Tiffany Mixed Metals Beer Jug 33 troy ounces sold for $60,000 with buyers premium at Sotheby's. This equates to:
$1,818 per troy ounce.
The piece has extensive gold and copper applied metal pieces all over and most importantly even on the handle.
Tiffany Mixed Metals Tea Caddy 14 troy ounces sold for $68,922 with buyers premium at Christies. This equates to:
$4,923 per troy ounce.
This piece has an outrageous large Mokume panel with experimental finishes abounding including Japanese Shakudo on the top lid. There is even a mix of spot hammering on one panel and then planishing the other face smooth.
Level Six - Tiffany Mixed Metal Exhibition Presentation Pieces
Tiffany items that have a sterling base with applied copper, gold and brass elements that are highly decorated with over the top amazing designs and that were custom made for world fair exhibition are worth $5,000 to $50,000 per troy ounce at retail. This category is one that is impossible to imagine that a piece of this caliber would ever come on to the market.
Here is one example of Tiffany Mixed Metal in this price category:
Tiffany Mixed Metals Vase made for The Columbian Exposition in 1893 and donated to the MET by Tiffany Approximately 500 troy ounces and would project to sell for $25,000,000. which equates to: $50,000 per troy ounce.
Has gold all over it as well as enameling and cabochon gem insets. This is the "Holy Grail of Tiffany Mixed Metals."
Conclusion
That concludes our assessment of Tiffany Mixed Metals Values. At the end of the day, the valuation is of course is subjective and ultimately it will take an interested buyer to determine the true market value. However, our price range level guidelines should be pretty accurate in giving you a ballpark guidance on how to properly evaluate your Tiffany Mixed Metals Sterling Silver Items.
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Outstanding Article on Tiffany Mixed Metal Silver!