Silver plays a significant role in jewellery-making, from traditional to contemporary designs. Knowing key terms related to silver’s properties, crafting techniques, and finishes helps individuals appreciate this versatile metal and its applications. This glossary provides clear, concise definitions to support both beginners and professionals in understanding silver’s diverse uses in jewellery.
Acanthus
A popular motif in classical revival silver, inspired by the prickly leaves of the acanthus plant, is commonly seen in 18th-century silver design.
Alloy
A combination of silver with base metals like copper to improve durability and workability in jewellery and decorative pieces.
Anchor
The hallmark for Birmingham, England, indicates the silver’s assay location. Established as a hallmark symbol in 1773.
Anthemion
A stylised honeysuckle flower is used as a decorative motif, particularly in classical silver designs.
Arabesque
Ornamental decoration with scrolling foliage patterns is often associated with oriental influences.
Argyll
A silver container with a heating reservoir used to keep gravy or sauces warm. Originating in the 18th century.
Assay
The process of testing silver to determine purity, is essential for hallmarking in the UK. Active assay offices include London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Sheffield.
Base Metals
Non-precious metals like copper, brass, and aluminium, are often used as an economical alternative to silver or as a core in plated jewellery.
Beeswax
Applied to saw blades to reduce friction and enable smoother cutting through silver and other metals.
Bleeding Bowl
A small bowl, usually silver, used historically for medical bleeding; primarily seen in 17th and 18th-century collections.
Bright-Cut
An engraving technique that leaves a highly polished surface, enhancing the silver’s reflectivity and creating decorative patterns.
Britannia Silver
A high-purity silver standard was introduced in 1697, with 958.3 parts per thousand silver, softer and suitable for intricate work.
Bruise
An accidental dent or indentation in silver, is often found on older or antique items.
Caddy Spoon
A small spoon was created to measure tea, particularly popular in mid-17th-century England.
Casting
The process of forming solid silver shapes by pouring molten silver into a mould, often used for creating detailed motifs.
Chasing
A method of decorating silver by hammering and scoring lines to create raised designs, opposite to the repoussé technique.
Charcoal Block
Used as a base for soldering; reflects heat, making it ideal for small-scale silver soldering.
Chinoiserie
European silver design that imitates Eastern motifs, popular in late 17th-century England.
Coaster
A shallow circular dish, usually with a wooden base, for holding bottles or decanters on dining tables.
Electroplating
Applying a thin layer of pure silver to base metals through an electrolytic process, widely used since the 19th century.
Filigree
Delicate silver wirework arranged into intricate patterns, often used in small jewellery pieces or decorative boxes.
Fusing
Joining pieces of silver using heat alone, without the addition of solder, to create seamless connections.
Hallmark
Official stamps on silver indicating purity, maker, date, and assay office. Hallmarks guarantee authenticity and quality.
Hollowware
Silver items made from sheet silver and shaped by hammering or spinning, are often used for teapots, pitchers, and similar items.
Inlaying
A technique where grooves or recesses in silver are filled with contrasting materials like gold, wood, or stones for decorative effect.
Mokume Gane
A technique developed in Japan that layers metals in a way that resembles wood grain, is used decoratively in jewellery.
Old Sheffield Plate
A historical method of plating copper with silver by fusion, popular in the 18th century before the advent of electroplating.
Parcel-Gilt
Silver items with sections gilded with gold to create contrast and decorative appeal, are often found in ceremonial pieces.
Plated Metal
A budget-friendly option where a base metal is coated with a thin layer of silver or gold, suitable for beginners and costume jewellery.
Precious Metal
Naturally occurring metals such as silver, gold, and platinum. Silver is the most common in this category for jewellery.
Repoussé
A technique where silver is hammered from the reverse side to create a raised design on the front, often detailed further with chasing.
Scrap
Silver is left over from crafting, which can be melted down and reused, promoting sustainable jewellery-making.
Soldering
Joining metal parts using melted filler metal (solder) that bonds to the surfaces, essential in complex silver jewellery assembly.
Sterling Silver
The standard for jewellery-grade silver consists of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper or other alloys for added strength.
Tarnish
The natural oxidation of silver, resulting in a dull or blackened layer that can be removed through polishing or silver-cleaning solutions.
Triblet (Ring Mandrel)
A tapered steel tool marked with ring sizes is used to shape rings and other jewellery items to precise dimensions.
Vermeil
Silver is coated with a thick layer of gold, commonly used in jewellery to achieve a gold appearance with silver durability beneath.
