Auction and Antique Expert
Ellen Babbitt

Please meet one of our well-respected local experts in both auctions and antiques. Her name is Ellen Babbitt and, when we owned our auction house, we were lucky enough to have Ellen as our auction manager for all those years. During that time others tried to steal her away. They would have been fools not to. But she stuck with us and we are very grateful. She is the best in the business - no one does it faster and no one does it better. 

Ellen's exemplary reputation for honesty, friendly service and what is unparalleled knowledge in her field is what made us so successful. No one works harder or works smarter than Ellen. It is not possible to thank her enough for all that she did for our business. 

Ellen was a part of a team. We were fortunate enough to have the other member of that team working with us as well. Pete proved to be quite an outstanding employee. Never late for work and never one to rest on his laurels, Pete gave 100% to his job as greeter. He was happy to see everyone and everyone was happy to see him. 

Since you will find Ellen mentioned in several of our articles about collectibles and antiques, we thought you'd like to meet her. And Pete, too. Shortly, Ellen will be joining me in writing quality articles containing all original content for your consideration in AHT's Article Arcade. Our arcade offers unique content that you can purchase at a reasonable cost for use on your own website, blog or publication. 

Below is an article Ellen wrote about how she developed her interest in antiques as a child. We wanted to publish it here for everyone to read. Always the teacher, Ellen has managed to weave helpful tips and details about silver into her wonderful story. Thanks for visiting and we hope you will come back often.

Silver and Family Ties

Throughout my childhood, Grandma's fancy silver tea set, so pretty and grand, was the centerpiece on her Hepplewhite sideboard. I remember it as always being shiny - as if magic kept it that way. 

On my frequent visits to her house as a child, she would sometimes surprise me with a tea party. We would use her elegant silver tea set and she would be my special guest. I would imagine that I was a princess and as we sipped tea, we would giggle as we stuck out our pinkie fingers. Grandma was as beautiful as her silver tea set. 

My mother is now in possession of this wonderful family heirloom. After my grandmother passed away, my mother told me that the five-piece silver hollowware tea set was made during the late 1800's by Gorham in the Chantilly pattern. It is named after the Palace of Chantilly, which is located not far from Paris. 

Silver tableware is broken down into two categories, flatware and hollowware. Hollowware would include my grandmother's silver tea set as well as silver vases, bowls and other vessel like items. Flatware is made up of all types of eating utensils and the many different serving pieces that accompany them. 

My parents were antique and history enthusiasts and, as the saying goes, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. At the tender age of four I attended my first auction with my father. I can remember standing there and pulling on his shirt sleeve to get his attention, "Daddy, Daddy, this is like a circus!"

My father's passion was coin collecting which is technically called "numismatics." He always kept silver half dollars in his pocket and, whenever he would meet a child, he would give them one with the hopes that one day that child might grow up to enjoy coin collecting as much as he did. As a child my father was my hero and as I got a little older he became my mentor. When he passed away we placed a silver half-dollar in his shirt pocket.

During my lifetime, I have attended thousands of estate auctions and have managed two very popular local auction houses over a span of twenty-years. My sister and I were also co-owners of a well-known antiques mall for a time. It runs in the family because my sister is a long-time manager at still another local auction house that is also known Internationally. 

About seven years ago when my oldest daughter announced she was getting married, I began collecting ornate vintage silverplate hollowware and flatware serving pieces to use at the wedding reception. Quality silverplate can be a real bargain at auction. I carefully previewed all the silverplate lots making sure the pieces were in good condition with no dents or missing silver. 

Sometimes when silverplate has tarnished over a period of time, it is difficult to evaluate the condition of the actual plating. A pencil eraser will quickly remove the tarnish in a small area so one can determine the state of the silver. It can also help to highlight the maker's mark. 

Unless you are a silversmith, worn silverplate is no bargain at all. Keep in mind that wear could be a reason why an auction house or an antique shop doesn't polish its silverplate. Also, I personally try to avoid newer silverplate from China because of the inferior workmanship. The famous saying, "They don't make things like they used to," is really true when it comes to many things. 

Original patina on some metals such as copper and bronze are important but not so with silver. Polishing silverplate is not only okay it's necessary.

Once my daughter's wedding was finally upon me, I was ready. Some of the wonderful antique silverplate items I had at the reception included an elegant bride's basket in the Victorian tradition; tall tiered trays for Italian cookies, rumballs, petit fours, Jordan almonds and chocolate covered strawberries; many various platters, some with glass inserts; a punch bowl and ladle; fancy utensils to lift delicate slices of meats and cheeses; bowls in many sizes; as well as candelabras for the special tables. 

Needless to say, the wedding was a great success - especially the desert table, which thoroughly entertained and delighted all the children who were in attendance. 

After things settled down, the silverplate pieces were packed in boxes and I consigned them to my favorite auction. My goal was to break even on this vintage collection that I spent so much time building from scratch. I was pleasantly surprised to end up with a profit after all was said and done. Win or lose, you can't help but love the auction business.

Oh, by the way, my youngest daughter recently announced that she would be getting married sometime this year. I suggested that she think about one of those quaint little corner chapels in Las Vegas.

Written by Ellen Babbitt
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