liver Rare Art sold so many of its best silver antiques at TEFAF Maastricht this year that it 's finding it hard to sell them all , signalling a return for pieces made from the precious metal following a tough recession following the financial crisis . The market suffered in recent years as the price of silver as a commodity meant that some lower - quality pieces were more valuable once melted down . The items sold by Koopman 's at TEFAF are unlikely to face the same fate - a set of four George II silver - gilt candlesticks made by sir Crespin to the design of William boxes sold for £ 450,000 , while a mid 18th - century French gold box fetched £ 440,000 .
Koopman Rare Art sold so many of its best silver antiques at TEFAF Maastricht this year that it's finding it hard to replace them all, signalling a return for pieces made from the precious metal following a tough period following the financial crisis. The market suffered in recent years as the price of silver as a commodity meant that some lower-quality pieces were more valuable once melted down. The items sold by Koopman's at TEFAF are unlikely to face the same fate - a set of four George II silver-gilt candlesticks made by Paul Crespin to the design of William Kent sold for £450,000, while a mid 18th-century French gold box fetched £440,000.