>Recently while inventorying some of our textile collection, I came across
>some pieces trimmed with tiny silver-colored ornamentation, which was quite
>bright and shiny. The accompanying card stated that this was "pure silver"
>and noted that "pure silver does not tarnish." Can anyone shed any light on
>this?
>
>ivy
>
>Ivy Fleck Strickler                     Phone 215-895-1637
>Drexel University                       Fax 215-895-4917
>Nesbitt College of Design Arts          [log in to unmask]
>Philadelphia, PA 19104
>
>88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

Ivy:

I question the "pure silver" notation.  Whats holding it together it its
pure?  Sterling is
approx. 93% silver and "pure" is usually thought of as 99%  silver.
However I was given an ingot of "pure" silver in 1980 as a present, it is
not covered with any coating of any kind, and it hasn't
tarnished hardly at all.  Sterling silver certainly does!  So maybe there
is something to it.

Jeanne Keefe


Jeanne M.  Keefe                                        *  E-mail:
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Graphics Curator                                        *  Tel: (518) 276-2727
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Architecture Library
Troy, NY 12180