You probably already know this, but plain old cigarette ashes moistened with a few drops of water will immediately remove even the blackest tarnish from anything made of silver, from the most delicate necklace chain to the most gargantuan serving platter.
Just rub the paste on, wipe the black off, behold the bright shiny silver, rinse, and poof!
(To get down into intricate patterns, you will probably have to use a toothpick, pointy Q-tip, whatever, to get the damp ashes into the grooves and crevices. Or you can just leave those black, for a more "textured" or "antique" look.
(At least that is what you can tell people it is, if you don't have the time or inclination to dig into all the little curls on the heads of 900 bas relief cherubs adorning the outside of the huge platter...)
Just rub the paste on, wipe the black off, behold the bright shiny silver, rinse, and poof!
(To get down into intricate patterns, you will probably have to use a toothpick, pointy Q-tip, whatever, to get the damp ashes into the grooves and crevices. Or you can just leave those black, for a more "textured" or "antique" look.
(At least that is what you can tell people it is, if you don't have the time or inclination to dig into all the little curls on the heads of 900 bas relief cherubs adorning the outside of the huge platter...)
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