Got my napkin ring back!

[Digger_O'Dell]

Hi all,
If you remember a while back I found a silver napkin ring on the farm, but it was really mangled. I took it to a local silversmith to be restored. They said it would be done in about 30 days, but that was almost 5 months ago. Not entirely satisfied with t he job, but it looks tons better than it was. Here's the pics:

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[aloldstuff]

It does look a lot better, not 100% but much better. Did you notice the 1873 on it before you handed it off to the silversmith?

[Tony Two-Cent]

It sure is shiny now! :yes:

I'm a little surprised that the silversmith wasn't able to straighten out more of the dents and dings. I might be tempted to get a second opinion and estimate from an alternate silversmith.

Either way it's a very cool and historic find! :thumbsup02:

[Digger_O'Dell]

It sure is shiny now! :yes:

I'm a little surprised that the silversmith wasn't able to straighten out more of the dents and dings. I might be tempted to get a second opinion and estimate from an alternate silversmith.

Either way it's a very cool and historic find! :thumbsup02:

A while after I had dropped it off at the local silversmith I saw a promo video for a restoration specialist. Awesome work from what I saw, and no lead solder even on the thinnest material like this item it's all hand micro tig stitched. I'll get the data together with more photos and contact them for a quote.

Al, I sure did know about the name, date and fancy on it before sending it in for repair. Here's the before pics again:

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[del]

Its a definite improvement Chris , I like it !

[Lodge Scent]

What a difference! That thing was pretty mangled.

[Digger_O'Dell]

Looked up the other restoration service. They day they do museum quality work, and their sample prices reflect that ouch! But maybe it may be worth it for a once in a lifetime find.
Here's the link if anyone is interested: http://www.hermansilver.com/index.htm

[calabash digger]

nice ! I bet that thing had a sweet sound.

[Digger_O'Dell]

Long story short, after many emails and photos with the antiquities restoration and conservation expert I finally got a ballpark quote of about double what it would have been if I had sent it there in the first place. I definitely felt the cringe factor after he got the "after" photos.
So the piece will be going back out soon to be done right, and put back like it was in 1873. Going to be a lot of work to not only repair the original damage correctly, but to also now remove the lacquer and repair the extensive damage the local shop did.
:bangshead01::stretcher:

[rsarge1]

yes if you want it done right and it is an old historical piece you will have to bite the bullet and pay the piper LOL lesson learned but it is a nice and beautiful piece