All it really takes to own a new treasure is $3.99 and a visit to a local thrift store.
Well, that, some silver polish, and a little elbow grease.
Don’t overlook a tarnished piece at a thrift store or garage sale just because it’s an ugly duckling. There are many people who would rather get rid of their silver pieces than put in the work to keep them tarnish-free (and when I say “work”, I mean five minutes every once in a while).
If you come across a cheaply priced item, check the markings on the bottom of the piece. Mine was marked EPNS, which means electroplated silver. It’s not as valuable as sterling silver (generally marked Sterling or .925), but it’s just as pretty, shiny, and collectible. Both types of silver should polish to a beautiful shine if it’s not scratched beneath the tarnish.
Have you ever been scared away from a thrift store purchase because you don’t know what it may become?
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
You should be proud of yourself! Getting tarnish off of silver is hard work. Looks great!
I have tons of tarnished treasures…hope they will look as good as yours with my Wright's cleaner! I keep the cleaner in the bathroom to shine up my silver jewelery!
Hugs,
susan
Hmm.. I'm not usually to adventurous when it comes to silver in thrift stores. You might have just changed that for me!
All the time! I've passed up silver pieces, because I wasn't sure if I'd be rubbing that stuff on for years, you know?
That looks, fantastic, though! How long did it take you?
http://tearinguphouses.blogspot.com
wow! that's beautiful!
YES! Just yesterday morning I tried to clean a few pieces that when I picked up, I wasn't sure were silver or not. I discovered that they weren't which was fine because I'm planning on painting them. But it got me wondering about how to identify silver when I'm out thrifting. I was embarrassed that I can't figure out a simple thing like that… so THANK you for the tips on the markings to look for!
I've turned away from beautiful pieces before b/c I often just don't have a place to put them.
Esp. nice furniture. 
I would be thrilled beyond measure if I found that! It is soooo beautiful. I LOVE finding this stuff at thrift stores and garage sales. And with my "upscale country" theme I have going on here I love them tarnished too, when I am too lazy to polish!
Kelly @ Beginner's Luck
I have a lovely silver tray on my ottoman (coffee table) that I bought on eBay for a STEAL! I'm certain it's not very valuable, but when it's nice and shiny it looks like a total gem!!!
Great little $3.99 find!!! I purchase a lot of silver plated pieces at thrift stores, but call me crazy, I love the tarnished look!! At a church garage sale I purchased two large silver plated tarnished trays. The woman at the checkout asked me who was going to keep them polished. You should have seen her cute little face when I told her I liked them tarnished!
It is beautiful! You can also use baking soda, just take a damp sponge and rub well, to make it kind of paste like!
Looks like I will be purchasing some Wright's Silver Cream. It looks very shiny and new!
Chelsea
What a gorgeous piece. I love it. I do so love the look of beautifully polished silver. I sometimes take part of the work away by first using Tarnx and then the Wrights for a beautiful lustre. Great piece. Hugs, Marty
What a pretty piece! Good eye you have!
Tarnx, then Wright's..I'll have to remember that one. I grab all the silver polish when I go to our local landfill recycling looking for paint…I have several things of it now. Last time I sat down to polish silver, I got all my materials out, then turned the TV to On Demand and caught up on all my back episodes of Drop Dead Diva!
What a great find and for so under the real value.
That looks great! As a kid, my aunt hired me to polish up the brass and silver in her home furnishings store, and it really is amazing what a little elbow grease will turn up.
I lovvveeee that! So pretty!