Advice on Removing Tarnish From Silver Cantle

[Dram]

What would be the best way to safely remove very dark black/brown tarnish from an old sterling silver sporran cantle? Also any advice on cleaning the old goat/horse hair would be greatly appreciated.

The cantle and cones are severely tarnished, just want to be sure I don't make a mistake and ruin the value or history and at the same time want to return it to its previous glory.

Thanks!

[CMcG]

On my silver cantle horse hair sporran, both the tassels and the cantle are removable. I take them off, shine them up with metal polishing compound, and then reattach.

[Dram]

I should add that I was planning on using a silver polishing cloth. Any harm in that?

[tyger]

Just a word of caution here. Many objects, not limited to metal and wood, develop color and overall appearance with time. The color is called 'patina.' Patina takes time, and while it can be accelerated artificially, nothing matches color that time brings to an item. Objects with patina are invariably worth more than those whose patina has been removed (lost).

So, if you want bright metal, and do not have an old item whose patina will be lost, or whose monitary value you treasure, or that might some day be sold to somebody who will pay for that patina, by all means use polishing compounds and chemicals.

[Dram]

Just a word of caution here. Many objects, not limited to metal and wood, develop color and overall appearance with time. The color is called 'patina.' Patina takes time, and while it can be accelerated artificially, nothing matches color that time brings to an item. Objects with patina are invariably worth more than those whose patina has been removed (lost).

So, if you want bright metal, and do not have an old item whose patina will be lost, or whose monitary value you treasure, or that might some day be sold to somebody who will pay for that patina, by all means use polishing compounds and chemicals.

I am familiar with patina however, aren't tarnish and patina two different things?

Also I mentioned a polishing cloth not compounds and chemicals.

I don't have a problem with patina, but I do have a problem with a sterling silver cantle being brown and black.

What I am trying to do is find a safe way of removing the heavy tarnish.

[MacBean]

Silver tarnishes and you have to polish it. I think it's that simple. However, to avoid having to polish, can I recommend keeping the sporran in a zip-lock bag? It's an odd thing, but there isn't enough oxygen in the bag to result in much tarnishing. I think you will find it stays bright much longer, perhaps indefinitely.

[CMcG]

<snip>
So, if you want bright metal, and do not have an old item whose patina will be lost, or whose monitary value you treasure, or that might some day be sold to somebody who will pay for that patina, by all means use polishing compounds and chemicals.

I am familiar with patina however, aren't tarnish and patina two different things?
<snip>

Silver tarnishes and you have to polish it. I think it's that simple. <snip>

My cantle has quite a lot of detail embossed on it and I like the way it looks with peaks shiny and valleys dark. That is to say, I leave the "patina" in the furrows, which gives a nice relief. I think tarnished silver looks unkempt and Dram is wise to want to give it a cleaning.

My sporran is fifty years old (from my dad's youth) and gets polished once a decade or so with a non-toxic, non-abrasive, anti-oxidant paste and a soft cloth. Still looks good! To each their own, but I prefer polished silver.

[Slag101]

For all my reproduction civil war brass I use a product called Blue Magic. You can get it at any good auto parts store. It isn't as harsh as brasso, and works twice as well. However, be mindful not to get it on anything not made of metal, i.e. leather, fur, wood, etc.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I would suggest you avoid the use of liquid or paste polishes, and stick with one of the polishing cloths used to polish fine silver-- tea pots and the like. The reason for this admonishment is that after using most liquid/paste polishes you are advised to wash the article in water, something that is awkward at best when dealing with the bells and cantle on an antique (or even very new) sporran. I find that after lightly polishing my cantle with a silver cloth, I can clean off any surface residue with several wipe downs with a soft damp cloth, followed by a polish with a soft dry cloth until all the polising residue is removed. An old tee shirt works quite well for this job. This will leave the patina undisturbed in the cracks and crevices, but bring up a very mellow shine on all the raised bits.

You can pick up a jeweler's cloth at most jewelry stores, or at department stores that sell silver flatware (cutlery).

[ThistleDown]

Dram, I think the years of tarnish to make your cantle brown and black, as you describe, is going to require a much more aggressive approach than the suggested polishing cloth. Those cloths are perfect for the weekly or even monthly touch-up by the butler or valet, and the years of lovely patina thereby saved. Do buy one for use in the future and try it on an area where there is no engraving or chasing; you will immediately see how difficult your task would be. Your silver has had years of neglect and you may just have to wait more years for a patina to redevelop. In the meanwhile, you should do either of two things: (1) use a gentle silver polish such as Birks or Haggerty retail, apply it in small quantities to a soft cloth (not directly to the silver) and rub the silver briskly, or (2) take your sporran to a silversmith or fine jeweller and enquire about the method of cleaning he would use and, if you are happy with his explanation, leave it with him.

Rex