New Hotel Silver Arrivals...

Just added some newly acquired pieces of hotel silver to the shop! They are available for purchase right here...

Stay tuned for lots more next week!

Some FAQS About Hotel Silver

I regularly receive emails from people inquiring about how to care for their hotel silver or where to acquire specific pieces. I thought I'd try and answer some of the frequently asked questions and hope they help with your search.

my collection of coffee, teapots & pitchers

c. 1900 Reed & Barton catalog showcasing prototypes

c. 1900 Reed & Barton catalog showcasing rare pieces

Q. I'm looking for large items such as punch bowls and serving platters. Do you ever come across any?

A. Early pieces of hotel silver were primarily made for individual servings, such as small little teapots, coffee pots, serving dishes or butter pats --one for each guest. A small tureen could have been used for a single serving of soup, but can now be used to hold gravy or sauce. Back in the early 1900s, china was mixed with silver for serving. There weren't a lot of large-scale pieces. If they do exist, they are quite rare and costly.

assorted spoons

Q. I'm interested in purchasing 8, 10, 12-piece place settings of flatware. Do you carry that?

A. Hotel silver is getting more and more difficult to acquire. I generally come across individual pieces of flatware. Sometimes I get lucky and acquire a small set, but have never come across a complete table setting. I always suggest mixing and matching. It's more fun anyway!

sometimes I get lucky and acquire a "lot"

Q. I'm looking for a bulk lot of ______. Do you carry that?

A. As I mentioned above, hotel silver is hard to acquire. It's like mining for gold. You never know what you're going to find and from where. It's not often you come across a "lot" of one type of piece. However, if a hotel is liquidating, there is an occasional opportunity to purchase an entire "lot."

Q. Can you locate a piece of silver from the _____ Hotel?

A. Quite frankly...well (see above answer). I really wish there was a 1-800-hotelsilver number. I'd have a wonderful supply!


Q. How do I care for my hotel silver?

A. Actually, I did a blog post about that some time ago, referenced here. I swear by Hagerty Silver Foam!


Q. I need a piece repaired, what do I do?

A. I highly recommend a qualified silversmith. We have an excellent one here in San Francisco called Biro & Sons. I plan on devoting an entire post on their operation in the near future.

Hope that answered a few questions. If you have any more, please don't hesitate to ask!

Hotel Silver: Still a Hot Collectible

Gosh was I thrilled to pick up the newest issue of Romantic Homes to see hotel silver included as one of editor Jacqueline deMontravel's picks for top vintage collectibles.


This issue is definitely a "must-have" for antique/vintage enthusiasts. It is brimming with goodies. There is a special flea market section which includes the top 50 flea markets in ths US and the top romantic flea markets. Its 'special collection section' includes the editor's picks for the top vintage collectibles, as well as what's hot and where to find it.

part of my hotel silver collection (above)

I'm humbled that Jacqueline contacted me to talk a bit about my favorite collectible. It's been a passion of mine for over 13 years; collecting and selling it, and I'm honored to be quoted (above). There's even a photo of part of my collection. Hotel silver is something I'll never tire of and I'm glad to see that others are still as enthusiastic!

If you have an opportunity, pick up the August issue of Romantic Homes on newsstands now. This issue is the biggest collectibles guide ever and you'll love it!

Many thanks again to Jacqueline at Romantic Homes for including me in this wonderful publication.

images: Romantic Homes magazine

Wow, thanks!!

Thank you to all of you who participated in my recent hotel silver giveaway with Joni at Cote de Texas. I can't begin express my appreciation for the overwhelming amount of comments received. It was so much fun seeing what some of your favorite pieces were at Paris Hotel Boutique. I was amazed at how many people took the time to go through and list several items that appealed to them. Wow.

Thanks to the existing customers of Paris Hotel Boutique and followers of this blog--you guys/gals are the BEST! (OMG... I sound as if I'm accepting an Oscar...but you truly are the best!) And thanks to the readers of Cote de Texas.

Lastly, thanks to the wonderful, fabulous JONI at Cote de Texas for hosting the giveaway. Joni's enthusiasm is contagious and that shows in her loyal following of people!

Okay, I'll stop with the thank yous and get on with the winners...

Stefan from Architect Design

&

Elisabeth... enjoy your silver!


image from here

A Special Hotel Silver Giveaway!

Do you remember our mirror giveaway on Cote de Texas blog? Well, Joni and I have teamed up once again to offer this special giveaway with TWO WINNERS.... one receives a rare early 1900s serving piece from the old Alexander Young Hotel, Hawaii, the other, a set of forks from San Francisco's Palace Hotel, both from Paris Hotel Boutique!!!

But, before I send you over to Joni's blog, let me tell you a bit about her...


Houston-based interior designer Joni Webb shares her love of house & garden, antiques, interior design, and country French decor interpreted for the Texas coast in her popular blog, Cote de Texas.

The blog is mixed with a bit of history and a lot of humor. Joni's blog has won several awards including The Washington Post's top 10 blogs in 2008. Additionally, she has been featured in publications such as Better Home & Gardens, Houston House & Home, and HGTV.

Joni Webb

And Joni c0-hosts a fabulous blogging and interior design weekly radio show, The Skirted Roundtable, with the fab Megan from Beach Bungalow 8 & Linda from Surroundings. They have interviewed some of the most influential designers and editors including Margaret Russell, editor-in-chief of Elle Decor, and Stephen Drucker, editor-in-chief of House Beautiful to name a few.

So go visit Joni at Cote de Texas, check out her lovely blog, and enter our giveaway! Deadline to enter is Saturday May 28th.

Good luck to all!

I'm on my way out of town tomorrow for my nephew's graduation, so wishing you all a fantastic holiday weekend!

What's This Worth?

I get several emails a week from people asking me the value pieces they have. I thought this would be a great place to talk a little bit about that.

First, and foremost, I'm not an antiques appraiser, so I can't supply the value of something. Which brings me to this...

How does one find out the value of an antique or vintage item?

• No matter what information you find regarding the value of your antique or collectible, it is only worth as much as someone is willing to pay you for it. Perhaps you watched the Antiques Road Show and saw a piece valued at a certain amount. That only applies unless you have a buyer.
  
  
• Supply and demand. When the supply is low, collectors will pay a higher amount for an item just so they can own it. When the market is flush with goods, the value of those items goes down.
  
  
  
• Take for example, hotel silver, something I specialize in. How do you put value on it? Not an easy answer. The more scarce of a piece--for example, a sought-after hotel such as the Plaza or Waldorf in New York City is generally worth more than a piece from a Hilton or Sheraton.
  
  
• Condition. In most cases, the better condition of a piece, the greater its overall value. Not with hotel silver. Sometimes the most pitted or tarnished piece can be a real treasure because of its provenance and design.
  
  
• Generally, if you have an item that you'd like to sell, you shouldn't expect to get much more than half of its value. That’s because dealers need to mark the item up to make a profit. Unless, however, you have a retail venue to sell it.
  
  
• My recommendation is to do the most you can to investigate it. Scour the internet for similar items, visit auctions and eBay to find out what people are buying and what prices are being paid. You can also contact auction houses or consignment shops to sell your items. Good luck!
  

images: parishotelboutique.com

Hotel Silver... New Arrivals!

Just added some pretty new pieces of hotel silver to the shop. If you want to check them out, click here to shop!

At Your Service!

New arrivals of hotel silver being added today and tomorrow...

Click here to shop!

Going, going, gone!

Yesterday I lost out on one of the most beautiful pieces of hotel silver/china I've ever seen. This Hotel Ritz, Paris teapot fetched $560 on eBay. My bid just wasn't high enough!

You may already know that I collect and sell hotel silver. I have similar pieces to this in my collection (from US hotels), but have never seen a combination of Christofle silver and a very rare china manufacturer, the Sarreguemines Co., that was located in France.

Interesting...the cobalt blue china insert portion of the teapot is turned to the left side and was intentionally designed that way to accommodate pouring with use of the right hand.

This piece dates to 1919 or 1920. Beautiful elaborate crest Hotel Ritz crest on the front and insanely beautiful craftsmanship. Divine...

Okay, so I didn't win, but my, oh my, isn't it beautiful?

images from here, uniondepothotel

Can Someone Please Tell Me What This Is??

I'm hoping you smart bloggers out there can help with this small dilemma...

I've been collecting and selling hotel silver for over 12 years now and am completely stumped as to the use of this piece. It's been in my collection for many years and I plan on selling it. I love that it's from the Grand Hotel in Cannes, but what exactly is it?

This is a side view of the piece...It measures 5" in diameter (not including the handle) and 5" tall

This is a close-up of the handle that ejects the lid when pulled apart.

Inside the bowl is a spoon-like paddle that shifts across the bowl when the handle is moved. What would it be used for? Couldn't be coffee, tea or a juicer since the base has such large openings.

This is the base. It appears as if it rests on top of a glass, but again, why the large openings?

If anyone has any clue as what this piece is for, I would greatly appreciate your input!!

Thanks a bunch!

Sneak Peek: The Vintage Table

a most elegant table setting - Lucy & Tony Torres' home

Boy was I excited to receive my copy of the recently released book, "The Vintage Table," by Jacqueline de Montravel and the editors of Romantic Homes Magazine.

This book is a compilation of table and kitchen vignettes that are inspiring to say the least. Everything from old & new, to crisp & clean, family heirlooms to time-worn treasures, are compiled in such a manner that make you want to start planning a tea or dinner party just so you can set your table!

my dining room table (usually not that dressed up!)

I'm humbled to be included in this book! Better yet, to be alongside my friends Janet of FrenchBlue & Co., and Lucy Torres of My Paris Flea Market. And of course, the other amazing people with scrumptious homes and treasures!

a little more about me...

page 146 has my tips on collecting hotel silver...

I love this photo of Janet's collection of Laduree candy boxes under her gleaming chandelier...

...and Janet's prized Hotel Le Meurice cafe cup...(love it!)

How beautiful is Lucy's deck which overlooks the ocean in Southern California? The colors so soothing...the hanging grapes...so whimsical!

So, if you want to see the entire 224 pages of this book, you can purchase it here or here. Believe me... the photos are exquisite, and there are some wonderful tips on entertaining.

A BIG thank you to Jacqueline at Romantic Homes for coming here and patiently shooting my house!

photos from The Vintage Table

FOUND: Rare Hotel Silver from Hawaii

double-logo serving dish - Alexander Young Hotel

ALOHA! I just had to share my latest acquisition of hotel silver from the old Alexander Young in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hawaiian hotel silver is difficult to find, so I was thrilled to purchase a large collection from this old, extinct hotel. It was actually the first luxury hotel in Hawaii. Can you imagine what Honolulu looked like during the Victorian-era?

The Alexander Young Hotel was built in 1901 by Alexander Young, a Scottish-born Honolulu businessman who had made his fortune in sugar mills and as the General Manager of the Honolulu Iron Works. The hotel opened for business in 1903 with 300 rooms at Bishop and Hotel Streets in downtown Honolulu. The hotel was turned into an office building in 1961, and sadly demolished in 1981.

I just love the detail of these old pieces, such as this compote. The base has a fancy raised logo of the hotel, and the top rim is quite ornate.

Here is a close-up of the raised logo that grace these lovely pieces.

I'm also going to be adding a set of flatware from the "Hob Nob" coffee lounge located in the Alexander Young Hotel. What a cute name, right?

These pieces were made by Reed & Barton, date to the early 20th century, and are available here at Paris Hotel Boutique!

MAHALO!

photos from Paris Hotel Boutique

Just added...

Biltmore Hotel Toast Cover

Some unique pieces of hotel silver from my own collection, and a collection of early 1900's trophies. You can take a peek here...

Hope you're enjoying your week!!

"The Babe" Dines with Hotel Silver

I love this rare photo of home run king, Babe Ruth and heavyweight boxing champion, Jack Dempsey, having breakfast at Ruth's residence at the Ansonia Hotel in New York City, 1927.

Photo courtesy of seth.com

Cleaning your Hotel Silver

I’ve had many people contact me about how to care for their hotel silver. It’s quite simple, in fact, you treat hotel silver pretty much the same as sterling or other silverplate.

Hotel Silver was designed for commercial use. It has several layers of silverplate, making it quite durable. It does, however, tarnish like all silver if exposed to the elements. By using your hotel silver regularly, it will slow down the tarnish process. Additionally, storing it in a closed cabinet such as a china cabinet or in felt pouches will slow down the tarnishing.

Here are some tips on caring for your silver:

• When you start to notice a brownish or yellowish film, it’s time to polish!
  
  
• My polish of choice is Hagerty’s Silver Foam. It comes in a white jar and the polish is a thick, chocolate-looking paste. It’s strong enough to polish your silver, but mild enough not to hurt it. Most hardware stores or large chain grocery stores carry it.
  
  
• Put on some latex gloves and lay down some paper towels or old towels. This way you can polish several pieces at a time.
  
  
• Rinse each piece of silver in warm or hot water to remove dust and dirt. Then, while the silver is still warm, dip a moistened foam sponge or soft rag into the polishing cream and spread the cream over the entire silver piece. Rub in a circular motion until you begin to see the tarnish coming off. Rinse the sponge or rag and continue to polish those missed areas until the piece is no longer tarnished.
  
  
• When the piece is tarnish-free, rinse again with warm/hot water and a mild soap to remove all the traces of polishing agent.
  
  
• Dry thoroughly with a very soft cloth to avoid water stains.
  
  
• Now your silver is bright and shiny! Use it! Entertain with it often and it will slow down the tarnishing cycle.
  

Additional Tips:

• Don’t forget to polish those difficult areas such as the handle and spout.
  
  
• Keep salt away from silver whenever possible, or wash salt residues away immediately after use.
  
  
• For an “aged patina," leave some of the tarnish in the crevices.
  
  
• DO NOT use Tarnix, chemical silver dips or the kitchen sink/foil/detergent/electroplate trick. This can damage your silver by removing a coat or giving it an almost white patina. Stick to the soft polishes like Hagerty’s or Wright’s Silver Polish.
  
  
• If you’ve purchased a piece of silver that's extremely black and tarnished, and you just can’t get the tarnish off using all of your elbow grease, it may require the service of a professional silversmith. They use heavy duty buffing and cleaning machines that bring your silver back to life.