What does 800 on the hallmark mean on Italian silver candelabra?

Answer 1

Solid silver comes in many different finenesses.

First, silverplate is a very thin coat of pure (99.9%) silver that is used to cover up some other metal, such as copper or pewter.

Second, the standard for solid silver in England is sterling, i.e. 92.5% actual silver, usually alloyed (mixed in) with copper. No matter where you test the item, it will always have 92.5% silver.

Third, other countries use different mixes in their solid silver. In Italy, a longtime standard was 800 silver, i.e. 80% pure silver, mixed in with some other metal. Like sterling, because it is an alloy, no matter where you test the item, it will always have 80% silver.

Most countries now use sterling, because that is what people want/expect, and it facilitates export, but historically, Germany has produced a lot of 835 silver; the Scandinavian counties used a lot of 830 silver; and so on. These are all solid silver alloys, as is sterling, and should never be thought of as silver plate.