The ancient Italians and Greeks used silver for personal ornament, jewelry, vessels, arrows, coinage, and weapons. Silver was either inlaid or plated. Silver was likewise combine with gold in producing white gold, and was likewise mixed with baser metals.

Some of the types of ancient jewelry were discovered in the tomb of Queen Pu-abi at Ur in the ancient country of Sumeria which existed some 5000 years ago. The said crypt contained jewelry made from silver, gold, carnelian, lapis lazuli, agate, and chalcedony beads.

One of the richest deposits of precious metals was the Aegean lands. The deposits of these metals were estimated to have existed in 2000 BC. The biggest of these deposits was referred to as Priam’s Treasure, a large silver cup where gold ornaments consisting of pectorals, six bracelets, 9,000 beads, and 60 earrings were held. Silver was used in the Greek areas although only a few rings, vessels, headbands, and pins survived.

In the Mycenaean and Minoan civilizations, silver was also harnessed. A couple of silver dagger blades were discovered at a tomb at Kumasa. Silver ornaments and seals from the same era were likewise found in the said regions. Silver cup discovered in Gournia traces back to 2000 BC. Some of the jugs and vases from Mycenae were out of silver, while blades are inlaid with silver, gold, niello, and electrum.

Silver use remained prevalent from the Bronze and Iron ages. Embossed and engraved silver bowls used by the Phoenicians were located in Greece. Most of these bowls have elaborate designs of Egyptian and Assyrian characters, making experts conclude that the said items were brought to Greece.

There were some simpler types that were designed with rows of flowers and animals that are difficult to distinguish from the earliest Hellenic products. A typical silver bowl used in 5 BC has a fine flower style.

The earliest form of Christian silverwork resembled closely the work of pagans and made use of techniques such as chasing and embossing. Design was classical, at times decorated with pagan scenes.

During the Ottonian period, design of silverwork focused on the human body and made use of chip-carving techniques or the niello. Some of the examples of silverwork during this period are the Tassilo Chalice and the book cover of Lindau Gospels.

In the 1200s the Roman Catholic Church supported the arts, with silver and gold becoming the setting for many enamels like the framework of altars or devotional diptychs and triptychs, and shrines of saints. The same period also marked the rise of silversmiths which resulted from the increased wealth of the aristocracy, royal courts, and merchants.

Secular silver also saw continued rise in output with the emergence of the middle class. Silver was used in the manufacture of spoons and drinking bowls, as well as the numerous reliquaries and altar plates.

During the Baroque period, Huguenot silversmiths introduced new standards in craftsmanship in England. During this time, the silver furniture became extremely fashionable among the royalty and the nobleman.

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