01_Before_Cleaning 02_After_CleaningI paid $25 for it. The seller told me that it was made of solid sterling silver, bt I did not believe him (and hence got my price instead of asking price). I bought it purely because it was looked good and I assumed it was made from some cheap metal that was silver plated.
Upon getting home however, I tried to make some deep scratches in an unconspicuous place in one piece, and to my surprise, despite making a deep scratch, the metal beneath was still relatively soft and silvery looking. The stamp on the service pieces refers to some silversmith.
The set weight about 7 lbs 6 oz, according to my postal scale.
I use the following Cleaning method: Aluminum Foil, Baking Soda, and Salt: Place a sheet of aluminum foil in the bottom of a pan, add 2-3 inches of water, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, and bring to a boil. Add silver pieces, boil 2-3 minutes, making sure the water covers the silver pieces. Remove silver, rinse, dry, and buff with a soft cloth. This method cleans the design and crevices of silver pieces. Toothpaste. To clean off tarnish, coat the silver with toothpaste, then run it under warm water, work it into a foam, and rinse it off. For stubborn stains or intricate grooves, use an old soft-bristled toothbrush.