Got a DIY, home furnishing or household repair problem? Don’t despair, ask Hugh St Clair

Q My mother is very old now and has at last given me the key to her safe! Inside there is a canteen of silver, knives and forks and some silver jugs and candlesticks. In an ideal world we would love to use the cutlery, but we have children and busy lives and are used to using a dishwasher. We don’t want to ruin the silverware by putting it in the machine. We would like to sell it but is it worth anything?
FD, Norfolk

A: You will be delighted to learn that the price rise in silver over the last year has been unprecedented. Kevin Lines from Hansons Auctioneers in Norwich tells me that a canteen of silver sold for £500 in September 2024 has now doubled in value. The huge leap is driven by the Chinese, who previously were restricted on the amount of silver they could buy from Europe and America, and it’s all about the price of silver per ounce. So if you decide to sell them, your objects will likely be melted down and used in electronic devices – unless they are French Carolingian silver; highly collectible 17th-century Trefid spoons; or are by currently popular 20th-century makers such as Stuart Devlin and Gerald Benney. Kevin advises you to sell over the next year, as the price won’t stay high for ever. Contact hansonsauctioneers.co.uk/location/hansons-norfolk-saleroom, 01603 536 267

Q: I want to buy a piano for my 10-year-old grandson who is currently at about Grade Three standard. I’m not musical myself, so I don’t really know what make of piano to buy. Could you help?
PV, Herts

A: Composer James Keay, the musical director of Giffords Circus, recommends a second-hand upright Kawai or Yamaha from the 1980s. Black and modern in style, you can expect to pay around £1,400 for one. If you prefer a classic style, he suggests a vintage Steinway or Bechstein from the 1920s or 1930s, which sell for a fraction of the price of a modern model of those makes – a refurbished Bechstein can be found for around £2,900 and a Steinway £8,000. Before buying any piano over 40 years old, it’s advisable to get a professional piano tuner to check that the keyboards work and there are no cracks in the soundboard – ideally, find a model that has been refelted. A recommended place to find old and nearly new pianos is at the three-monthly auctions at Piano Auctions Ltd in Watford, who buy and sell and will organise delivery and installation by specialist removals companies. They offer a condition report for buyers, and valuations from photos for sellers. Contact pianoauctions.co.uk, 01234 831 742. For piano tuners in your area, see pianotuner.org.uk.

To ask Hugh your question, send an email to mail@idler.co.uk using the subject heading Home Fix.

This article is from Idler #109.

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