Before and after pictures of restored silver

Shown below are before and after pictures of several sterling silver objects restored by Mark Erdmann and Cleveland Art Metals.

sterling silver bowl with gold wash, before restoration

Above left is shown several large dents in a sterling silver bowl. Above right is the same bowl after dent removal and polishing by Mark Erdmann at Cleveland Art Metals.

18th century French dueling pistols with silver mounts, before restoration

Above left is a pair of French 18th century dueling pistols with silver trigger gaurds and butt caps. The pistol on the bottom in the picture had a poorly made brass replacement trigger gaurd with silver plating peeling off, and was missing its decorative medallion. The pistol on top in the picture was missing most of the trigger gaurd.

18th century French dueling pistols: casting, fabrication and restoration by Mark Erdmann

A new trigger gaurd was cast using the existing one as a model. The silver straps were fabricated out of solid sterling, The decorative extensions on the left in the picture were cast and the hand chased. The fabrication and restoration was done by Mark Erdmann at West Dean College.

18th century French dueling pistols: silver restoration, hand chasing, electroforming, and fabrication by Mark Erdmann.

18th century French dueling pistols: silver restoration, hand chasing, electroforming, and fabrication by Mark Erdmann.

A new silver medallion was electroformed using a mold taken from the existing original one and installed on the restored and polished butt cap. Surface rust was removed from the barrels and locks and the steel and wood elements were cleaned and waxed.