✴ precious metals

{silver card tray, £5}

{pearl knot clip earrings, 50p}

A magpies haul of shiny metals from the local charity shop this week.

The brooch and earrings will be fashioned into new vintage style headdresses and I  had hoped that the silver tarnished card tray might well prove to be a precious metal of sorts. 

I had been practicing my 'pleasantly shocked' face and picked out an Antiques Roadshow appropriate outfit. I think I may have got a bit carried away. 

It clearly isn't real silver. There is a slight copper tone over the pattern which would hint at years of exuberant Brasso scrubbing by an eager maid, I'm guessing that if you owned and used a card tray, that you probably had staff...It's such a piece that depicts a bygone era, don't you think?

The custom of 'calling' in Victorian society and the etiquette of leaving a calling card for the lady of the house. 

Texting just seems so crass in comparison!

{goldtone pearl brooch, 50p}

Here is the method I used for cleaning the tarnish from the silver tray. It should work well for silver, silver plated and EPNS {but not best for gemstones and pearls} although care should always be taken when cleaning antique treasures.

Even though this is an eco cleaning method, there is a slight sulphurous odour during the cleaning process so it's best to do in a ventilated room or even better outside.

• Line a large bowl with aluminum tin foil.
• Sprinkle over 3 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda.
• Place pieces to be cleaned on top.
• Pour over freshly boiled water from the kettle to just cover pieces.
• Leave to soak for 10-15 minutes.
• Remove and buff gently with a dry clean cloth, tea towel or silver polishing cloth.
• See your silvery bits sparkle in the sunshine....or, under a very bright light....

Flea Market Finds here