Chelsea Probate and House Clearance Solutions
Valuation Of Silver Cutlery For Probate Purposes
In a recent probate valuation in Admiral Mews, Chelsea, London W10 our probate valuers report included a large amount of scrap silver cutlery valued for probate purposes at over £1000.
Chattels Valuations Throughout Kensington & Chelsea
Avery Associates regularly carry out probate valuation in London, but it was during a probate valuation of chattels in Admiral Mews, Chelsea, London W10 that the large quantity of scrap silver cutlery was listed. We have also carried out probate valuation in London areas Bromley, Camberwell, Camden, Canary-Wharf and Catford but it was during the probate valuation of house contents in Chelsea, London W10, that we noted the flatware.
Photo of solid silver cutlery in Chelsea probate valuation
About Flatware
The general catchall term for silver eating utensils is “flatware” or “silver flatware”, (as opposed to “hollowware” which is used for hollow vessels such as jugs, dishes etc). However, the more widely used term now is cutlery, or Silver Cutlery, which originally referred only to the silver knives. A cutler was a knife maker, and while he fashioned the knife handles from silver the blades were always made in harder steel. Thus the profession of cutler was separate and distinct to that of the silversmith despite the predominance of silver cutlery or silver flatware as compared to that of other materials. Later of course, particularly in Sheffield, where the best British steel was made, cutlers began to make other eating utensils such as silver spoons and silver forks, traditionally the preserve of silversmiths. Thus nowadays people generally refer to eating utensils as cutlery.
A matching set of cutlery is generally termed a Canteen, whether it is boxed or not. The word canteen can also be used to refer to the box alone, although to avoid confusion many refer to it as a “canteen box”. However, as well as canteen many refer to a full set of eating utensils as a “service”. This is more formal, and perhaps more correct. It is more proper to refer to solid silver cutlery as “silver cutlery” or “silver flatware”, however people do refer to silver plate cutlery and flatware simply as silver cutlery, perhaps adding later that it is “not solid”. This differentiates it from the harder stainless steel cutlery most people use now. Sterling is a term generally used in America to differentiate from the lower grade coin silver. All British made cutlery is Sterling while continental cutlery can be a number of different grades. However, it is still correct to call it solid silver cutlery, and differentiate it from silver plate cutlery.
Our valuers always carry out extensive research, so by having our RICS probate valuation we will ensure that the chattels are not under or overvalued.
For a professional, compliant, probate report and to reduce risk and avoid the possibilities of Inheritance Tax Investigation call Avery Associates at our London office for an accurate RICS probate valuation.
