Silver Letter Tray

A letter tray is used for organizing papers. You can place different categories of mail and paperwork in the various levels of the trays. Often, people use trays with two levels: one for incoming documents and one for outgoing documents. Find a variety of vintage letter trays on 1stDibs.

The best way to tell if a tray is pure silver depends on what you mean by pure. It is very unlikely that any tray would be made of 100% pure silver. Generally, the highest purity of silver used to produce serveware is fine silver, which is 99.9% pure silver but still contains trace amounts of other metals. Sterling silver is much more commonly used to make trays and is 92.5% pure. To find out if your tray is made of fine silver, look for hallmarks that indicate its materials. Different countries employ varying silver hallmark systems, so research the marking using trusted online resources on your tray to determine its meaning. Alternatively, if by pure you mean solid silver that isn't plated, try placing a magnet near your tray. A strong attraction indicates that your tray features a thin layer of silver plating over a magnetic base metal. Should you need assistance identifying your tray, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer can help you with the process. Find a wide range of silver trays on 1stDibs.

To know if a silver tray is valuable, search the piece for markings that indicate the maker and materials. You can compare these markings to images found on trusted online resources to determine what type of silver the tray is and who produced it, and then research what similar pieces have sold for in the past. Generally, sterling silver and fine silver items fetch higher prices than silverplate. However, the maker, type and condition of a tray will also impact its value. A certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer can also perform a valuation for you. Shop an assortment of silver trays on 1stDibs.

Yes, some silver trays are worth something. If your tray is solid silver rather than silver plate, you can sell it on the scrap market and get the going rate for sterling or fine silver precious metals. Some trays may be worth more due to their age, style, maker and condition. Some makers that collectors often focus on include Georg Jensen, Tiffany & Co., Cristofle, Buccellati, Reed & Barton and Gorham. To get a rough idea of how much your tray may be worth, consider consulting a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of silver trays.