ASCAS Association of Small Collectors of Antique Silver ASSOCIATION OF SMALL COLLECTORS OF ANTIQUE SILVER
ASCAS
article # 47
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by Giorgio Busetto
 
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ANOTHER WAY OF DOCUMENTING A SILVER COLLECTION

  
To keep detailed records of his collection is of particular importance for any collector.

In its March/April 2005 issue Silver Magazine (note 1) has published a highly informative article written by Will Chandler (note 2) containing useful suggestions on keeping well documented records of silver collectibles.

The focus of Silver Magazine article is the standardized worksheet on which the information about an artifact can be written down (note 3).
 
a silver collection
Beginning to collect silver I've adopted an analogous (even if less documented) system to keep record of my collectibles, using Windows Word program of my computer and devoting a page to each item with a small description, measurements, provenance and photos of the object (note 4).
When I began to use the Internet, I realized that the web was a better support for storing all my information in a reliable and easily accessible way. At first the access to my website was maintained as 'private' and only I had access to my web pages.

Following the requests of many friends I’ve successively allowed free access to my website
and now more than half million pages are viewed every year by thousands of visitors.

Now my small (very small) collection is not only a private gathering of objects displayed in a glass-fronted cabinet of my lounge, but is available and enjoyed by thousands of passionate lovers of silver throughout the world.
 
I have continued to enrich the content of the pages adding new and more detailed photos and, where possible, ameliorating my descriptions with brief stories about the origin of the item and its use (an example is the ‘stamp case’ page http://www.silvercollection.it/pagina145.html ).
 
A special section of the website is devoted to each of the following for an easier approach by visitors of the website:
 

Hallmarks' photos:
http://www.silvercollection.it/hallmarks.html

Alphabetical glossary:
http://www.silvercollection.it/glossary.html

Provenance (Russian, German, etc.):
http://www.silvercollection.it/Russiancorner.html

Age: (18th century, 19th century, etc.):
http://www.silvercollection.it/18thcenturysilver.html

Use (tobacciana, spoons, napkin rings, etc.)
http://www.silvercollection.it/tobacciana.html

Alphabetical or chronological order
http://www.silvercollection.it/index.html

 		 a cabinet of silver

The website is in English, with two sections
 

in French
http://www.silvercollection.it/indexfrancia.html

and in Italian
http://www.silvercollection.it/indexitaliano.html
 		 a cabinet of silver
Now my collection isn’t only mine but belongs to whomever enters in my website through the Internet.

This is a great satisfaction for me and I hope that other and more important collectors will be available to share their collections, their knowledge and their passion with other unknown visitors throughout the world.

Endnotes
(1) Silver Magazine, vol. XXXVII n. 2, p. 16-19
(2) Will Chandler was associate curator of decorative arts at the San Diego Museum of Art
(3) the worksheet may be downloaded from Silver Magazine website at http://www.silvermag.com/SampleSilverInventoryWorksheetFREE_DOWNLOAD_VERSION.doc
(4) this article is an elaboration of my letter to Silver Magazine, published in May/June 2005 issue, page 6
 
Giorgio Busetto
www.silvercollection.it
- 2005 -
English text revision: Jayne Dye