There's silver you buy because you need something. And there's silver where the question of purpose doesn't even arise. Signature is the richly chased line from Zaramella Argenti in Padua — trays, platters, plates, and vessels made of 925 sterling silver, whose rims were hammered by hand, leaf by leaf, into the metal.
What distinguishes Signature from other silverware
The difference lies in the technique. The ornaments of this line are chased, not embossed: the silversmith hammers the pattern into the metal with punches, stroke by stroke, from both sides. An embossing is created in one operation under the press and is uniform throughout. Chased tendrils have real depth, cast shadows, and no section exactly repeats the previous one.
You can recognize it by three things: by the soft transitions between raised and recessed areas, by the difference in height within a motif, and by the fact that the outer contour follows the ornament instead of opposing it with a straight edge. On several pieces in the line, the rim undulates in curves because the leaf shapes guide it there.
The second characteristic is the consistent separation of rim and center. The flange — as the surrounding rim is called — carries the entire ornament. The mirror, the surface in the middle, remains completely smooth. This has a practical reason: what stands or lies on it should be effective, not compete with the pattern. And it has a consequence that many only appreciate later — the smooth mirror is an unusually good engraving surface.
The design language: Acanthus, Palmette, Shell
Three motifs recur in the line, all from the formal repertoire of the Italian Renaissance, which in turn adopted them from antiquity.
The acanthus — that jagged leaf that has adorned capitals since Greek antiquity — forms the continuous scrollwork. The palmette, a fan-shaped upright leaf, sits where a long rim is to be articulated: centered on each side of a square tray. The shell, leitmotif of the Italian Baroque and ancient symbol of abundance and hospitality, takes on the same role in stronger relief.
In addition, there are blossoms as breathing spaces in the dense scrollwork, bunches of grapes as a reference to wine and harvest, and the fine beaded edge: a continuous band of small hemispheres that finishes the flange outwards or separates it from the mirror.
What the line includes
Signature is not a fixed series, but a handwriting. It runs through several product groups — from serving trays to ritual objects.
Trays form the core — rectangular in three sizes from approx. 39 × 28 to 53 × 40 cm, square from 42 × 42 to 48 × 48 cm, round with approx. 46 cm diameter in three different rim motifs. Platters complement them: square, round, one in a cross-shaped contour with grapevines, the largest with approx. 54.5 cm diameter. Additionally, a deep soup plate with an unusually wide rim and the wine carafe set with carafe and tray.
If you want to see how differently the same handwriting can turn out, compare the round tray with four lily motifs with the equally sized tray with cartouche articulation: same diameter, same technique, completely different effect.
Vessels stand alongside: three silver vases from approx. 38 to 46 cm — one with openwork à-jour — the Salome jug and two wine carafe sets with matching tray.
Light forms the youngest branch: four single-armed candlesticks from approx. 39.5 to 47 cm, plus candelabras with nine to fourteen flames and approx. 65 to 66 cm height. A candelabra replaces a pair of candlesticks with a centerpiece — the suitable form for round tables and room centers.
The larger part: Silver for the ritual table
Forty of the pieces in this line are Judaica — objects for Jewish holidays and days of rest. This is not a sideline, but the focus that Zaramella places on Signature.
These include Kiddush cups, over which the blessing at the beginning of Shabbat is spoken, and the significantly larger Eliyahu cups from 23.5 to 51 cm, which are filled but not drunk on Seder evening. Also, Seder plates with six inscribed depressions, the Challah plate for the two loaves, a Netilat vessel with two handles and the Mayim Achronim set for handwashing after the meal.
Many of these pieces are available as cups, plates, and sets — you can start individually and add over the years. The complete overview is in the category Judaica made of 925 Silver.
We consciously draw a line here: We carry silver objects and describe their use. Questions about ritual suitability are answered by one's own community — we are not the authority for that.
The Manufacturer
Zaramella Argenti has been manufacturing since 1948 in Ronchi di Villafranca near Padua — in Veneto, which stands for silver craftsmanship like Tuscany for leather. The company is in its third generation and supplies specialist retailers throughout Europe; SilberKosmos is an official dealer.
Zaramella's signature style is not loud. It lies in the purity of form and the care of the rim work. The effect arises from the silver itself — from the alternation of chased depth and polished surface, without distracting additives. Each piece bears the official Italian hallmark of the manufacturer, the maker's mark with the fineness indication 925.
If you want to get to know the house's handwriting in its simpler form, you will find it in the rest of the table silver & silverware — there Zaramella stands alongside other manufacturers.
How Signature is used
Most commonly: as serving silver. A tray of approx. 47 × 35 cm carries a carafe and six glasses, a platter of approx. 46 cm holds a cheese selection for eight, the soup plate the first course of a meal. At receptions, the large formats carry twelve filled glasses in one go.
Almost as frequently: as a freestanding element. On the sideboard, the console in the entrance, in the center of the table — as a surface on which an arrangement is built and remains. Silver that remains visible ages more beautifully than silver in a cabinet: the raised areas remain bright, the depressions darken, and this difference creates the depth that characterizes old silverware.
And finally: as a carrier for an engraving. The smooth mirror accommodates coats of arms, monograms, dedications with dates, or a company logo without conflicting with the ornament. How a logo becomes an engraving is described in our guide on engraving services.
For whom
For your own table. Those who build a place setting over the years will find in Signature a design language that can be complemented — a tray and platter from the same line stand next to each other without one overwhelming the other. What is not in use stands in the display cabinet or on the sideboard and remains visible.
For people who can't categorize the piece — and still reach for it. You don't have to be a connoisseur to see that a hand-hammered rim looks different from a pressed one. If you buy a piece for its shape, every description will tell you what it is and why it was made that way. This also applies to ritual pieces: an Eliyahu cup is a beautiful goblet even if you don't know the Seder evening — and it doesn't hurt to understand it.
As a gift for special occasions. Wedding, silver wedding, golden wedding, milestone birthday, company anniversary. A piece of this magnitude is not consumed but passed on — and can be contributed to by several gift-givers. Further suggestions can be found in the guide on wedding gifts made of silver with engraving.
For collectors of Italian silver. Chased work of this density has become rare today because it cannot be replaced by machines. Those looking for craftsmanship will find it here in a line that is still produced — and in series that can be completed: the same cup in five sizes, the same tray in three formats, the same form once in silver and once partially gilded.
For communities and foundations. The large pieces of the line — the cup of approx. 51 cm, the platter of approx. 54.5 cm — are made for spaces, not for dining tables. They are donated, provided with a dedication, and then stand in the same place for decades.
Why such pieces remain
Silver is not consumed. A cup from which blessings have been made on Shabbat for thirty years is not worn out, but accepted — the indentations have darkened, the raised areas are polished by countless hands. This is precisely the difference from an object that is replaced when it gets old.
Therefore, these pieces are passed on. To the couple getting married, who are hosting a holiday for the first time. From grandfather to grandson. From a family to a community. An engraving on the foot records when this happened — on old cups, there are often several names one below the other, a legacy in lines.
Whoever buys such a piece today is deciding about something that will still be on a table long after them. That is the real reason to choose carefully — not the price, but the longevity.
The Stages of the Line
Signature often offers the same form in multiple variations — this is the unique characteristic of this line and the reason why it can be collected.
Size. Rectangular trays in three formats, Eliyahu cups in five heights from 23.5 to 51 cm, Seder plates in two diameters. If you buy a second piece of the same series, you don't get a duplicate, but a gradation — the contour matches, only the dimensions change.
Finish. Several models are available both plain and partially gilded, where the raised ornamental parts are highlighted with fine gold. The manufacturer also offers other pieces as a Light variant with a calmer surface. Same shape, different appearance.
Single piece or set. Cups and plates are sold individually and additionally as a set in a gift box. The advantage of the set is not the price, but the joint manufacturing: same silver tone, and for gilded pieces, the same gold application. If you already have the cup, you can buy the plate separately later — both remain permanently available.
Care
By hand with warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft cloth, then dry thoroughly. No dishwasher: cleaning salts attack the surface, and moisture remains in the chased depressions.
Tarnishing silver is not damage, but a reaction with sulfur from the air. A silver polishing cloth or a mild silver bath restores the shine. Important: In the tendrils, the darker depth should remain — it is what makes the ornament sculptural. Polishing a chased piece until it's completely shiny removes its definition. This is explained in detail in the guide on the care of silver cutlery and silverware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Signature solid silver or silver-plated?
Solid 925 sterling silver — 925 parts fine silver per 1,000, the rest copper for the necessary hardness. No plating. Each piece bears the official Italian hallmark.
What does "chased" mean?
The pattern is hammered by hand into the silver with punches, stroke by stroke. Unlike embossing, this creates real depth, and no section is exactly like another.
Can the pieces be engraved?
Yes. The smooth mirror is designed for this. We advise beforehand on placement, scale, and technique — for large surfaces, the size of the engraving determines the effect.
Can food be served directly on them?
Yes, 925 silver is suitable for food contact and was for centuries the material for upscale tableware. For acidic foods, we recommend an interleaf and prompt cleaning.
Are the pieces available in different sizes?
Several forms are available in series of sizes — for example, the rectangular trays in approx. 39 × 28, 47 × 35, and 53 × 40 cm. The respective dimensions are listed with each piece.
Is the line in the shop still growing?
Trays, platters, vessels, candlesticks, candelabras, and the Judaica assortment including the Chanukkiot are already available. We will add individual candelabra designs as soon as reliable product images from the manufacturer are available.
What is the difference between a candelabrum and a Chanukkiah?
The arrangement of the arms. A Chanukkiah holds eight lights at the same height and a ninth raised — the Shamash. A candelabrum distributes its arms equally around the shaft, even if there are nine.
Does Judaica belong to the same line?
Yes — and it's the larger part of it. Forty of the pieces are ritual objects, made with the same technique and design language as the trays. The overview is in the category Judaica made of 925 Silver.
Do you have to be an expert to buy here?
No. Each description explains what the piece is and why it was made that way — even for people who don't know the occasion and acquire a piece for its form.
Is it delivered in gift packaging?
Yes, each piece comes in high-quality manufacturer packaging, ready for gifting.
At a Glance
- ✦ 925 sterling silver, solid, with official Italian hallmark
- ✦ Rims entirely hand-chased — Acanthus, Palmette, Shell
- ✦ Smooth, unornamented center as an engraving surface
- ✦ Zaramella Argenti, Padua — manufacturer since 1948
- ✦ Pure Italian silver form — effect from chasing and polishing
- ✦ Forty pieces of Judaica — cups, plates, and sets for Shabbat and Passover
- ✦ Size series for complementing: the same cup in five heights, the same tray in three formats
- ✦ Engraving upon request, with free SilverVerse card
You might also be interested in
You can find the entire range in Table Silver & Silverware. Sorted by product group, you can find Silver Trays and Carafes & Jugs. If you are interested in the craftsmanship, our guide Silver Cutlery – A Touch of Luxury for the Table provides a broader context. The article Silver at the Jewish Table explains how these objects relate to each other and why they look the way they do.
