Recent Silver Auction Trends - Results from Heritage Auctions Fine Silver Objects of Vertu Signature Auction

GREG ARBUTINE
1 hour ago
4 min read

Heritage Auctions Fine Silver Objects of Vertu Signature Auction

I recently attended Heritage Auctions Fine Silver Objects of Vertu Signature Auction on November 12, 2025. Here are some of the trends I noticed:

Antique Silver Market is Super Strong Currently - I watched the auction for hours off and on all day and almost everything I saw sold went for prices that seemed to exceed my anticipated expectations. My theory as to why: When the stock markets are at an all time high and the world economy is booming, people feel rich and even if it is just rich on paper. People want to reward themselves when times are good and spend money more easily. That was definitely the case in the past auction.
Tiffany Mixed Metals items not always a slam dunk - Many of the Tiffany mixed metal pieces went for between $400-$700 per troy ounce when in previous auction sales the pieces sold for prices typically in the thousands. Why: Although the Tiffany items in this sale were nice, they had unusually flat saucer like shapes in sort of a Scandanavian style. The collectors didn't really bite on these atypical shapes. These flatter designs just don't present as well aesthetically and show off the mixed metal embellishments very well. There's not that wow factor.
Tiffany Mixed Metal "Saucer" shaped Set sold for $40,000 weight 85 t.oz. which equates to only $470 per troy ounce.
Gorham Mixed Metals went through the roof! There was a huge collection from a Richmond collector that definitey exceeded expectations and the items went for between $300- $700 per troy ounce when normally Gorham, Durgin, Dominick & Haff and other mixed metal makers other than Tiffany go for between $150-$300 per troy ounce.
This Gorham Mixed Metal Vase sold for $6,250 and weighs 8 t.oz. equaling $781.25 per troy ounce.
George Shiebler Items grow ever increasingly growing stronger in the marketplace. There seems to be an ever increasing amount of interest in pieces made by George W. Shiebler. There are more collectors are out there for this maker and they are willing to pay more money to get unusual items. In previous years you could pick up most better items for between $80-$200 per troy ounce. In this auction items went for between $300-$400 per troy ounce. Remains to be seen if this is a fluke or a new normal.
A George W. Shiebler Silver and 14K Gold Dessert Server Sold for $2,437.50 and weighs 7.56 troy ounces which equates to $322.42 per troy ounce.
English Silver Continues to be weak in price - This past Heritage Auction had some absolutely phenonmenal Paul Storr Holy Grails as silver goes. Paul Storr is one of the most famous silversmiths on planet earth who created masterpieces for the English royal family in the 18th and 19th Century. His pieces sold for big prices, but when you do the math, they were light on price per troy ounce. One piece only sold for $100 per ounce and the others sold for between $100 to $300 per oz. These aren't bad sale prices, but they a comparative bargain when lined up against other comparable American Makers. Post Brexit has not been good for antique English silver, the English don't have excess money right now to buy up the best of the best of their famous English Silversmiths and in the United States most collectors here want American made pieces by Tiffany, Gorham, George Shiebler and other U.S. makers. We predict that there will be a time again when English silver demand does soar again, but right now not so much. Good time to pick up bargains for English silver is now!
Fine Pair of Paul Storr Silver Wine Coolers, London, 1817 sold for $87,500 and weighed 287.81 troy ounces which equates to $304.77 per troy ounce
A Paul Storr Silver Covered Soup Tureen, London, 1822 sold for $11,250 and weighs 112.27 troy ounces which equates to $100.20 per troy ounce - Seems like a total bargain!

Conclusion: The overall antique silver market is strong and even despite a few categories underperforming, most really high end antique silver pieces are in high demand and there are a lot of collectors out there eager to part with their money to buy the very best of the best in museum quality silver.

Bonus Tip:

When attending an on-line auction like Heritage Auctions, use both your phone and desktop computer both at the same time. Open up the auction on your computer as well as on your phone app. It is easier to keep one device open for bidding while doing some last minute research on the other without having to fumble through browsers and potentially lose track of everything. Plus, easier to navigate and be mobile if you are called away from your perch while attending the on-line auction.

Please Sell Your Silver to: The Silver Museum LLC

We know you have many selling options out there even including the auctions. However, never hurts to get more than one opinion on your valuable antique silver items. We also specialize in buying large collections of rare and valuable silver items. Plus, sometimes many smaller items are not always the most optimal choice and not as worth while in consigning to larger auction houses. We will buy all your items including pieces only worth a few dollars on up to larger items worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. We want it all including your scrap silver pieces.

Give us a try, you won't regret it!

The Silver Museum LLC wants to purchase silver pieces like the ones shown above!

We can often pay more than you would net at auction.

If you have items that you'd like to sell,

or even just want to get an idea on valuation

please click the email us button for a quote.

Email Us:

Please send us photos, measurements and item descriptions.

Thanks,

Greg Arbutine

Silver Museum Owner