Should I polish it?

[Benning Boy]

Recently purchased an early 19th Century Dutch purse, just to get the cantel to use on a sporran. (It's slightly larger than an MOD cantel.) It's silver, and so heavily tarnished it looks black. If I were to take to Antiques Road Show they'd tell me not to polish it. However, it will contrast so much better with whatever bag I decide to put on it if polished. I'm torn between leaving it alone, and shining it up. Any thoughts?

Right now it has a lined velvet bag stitched to the cantel. It would need to be removed before polishing. The Woman thinks we ought to use the purse as a wall hanging. She's got a point.

[Geoff Withnell]

Could we see a picture?

[sydnie7]

Road Show typically tells people to polish old silver. "Patina" is more for wood and deliberately patinated items (such as lamp bases).

[Bagpipe Esoterica]

I would say thats up to you. Personally I would polish it. Leaving some tarnish for highlights is what I would do. I recently polished a Nickle Sporran Cantle, with a dremel and felt pads to really get in there with the polishing compound, then a buffing pad.

"Patina" is a fancy word for "Rusted Metal" that artists use to sell rusted metal.

[Laird O'the Cowcaddens]

IMHO if it started life bright & shiny, then return it to its former glory.
Aye yours.

[Pleater]

If it is for wearing then polish it.

If you use it then the tarnish will start to wear off and I think it will look rather disreputable. Polish gently so you get to a good surface without removing too much of the metal and it should be fine.

I have heard the term 'butlerises' for silver items polished so vigorously and often that they were literally worn into holes. You really do not want that to happen, so it is a case of just enough to keep the item looking good.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: