Silver plated items do not say sterling on the bottom. Plating is a process that places a thin layer of metal (in this case silver) electrically, onto the surface of a base metal item such as aluminum, brass, tin, copper, etc. In addition the plated surface could have been lacquered for protection from oxidation which is caused by exposure to acids within the air. (See lacquered silver care in previous heading). To clean the item, dip it in warm water and wipe with a soft cotton cloth or jeweler's rouge cloth. If your item is very dull or black, then use a recommended silver dip or cleaner to refurbish the original surface quality (same as sterling cleaners) . Follow the directions exactly! Do not expose to harsh sunlight or heat during display or storage. Note: do not store silver plated items in plastic bags, this will result in condensation (a greenhouse effect) causing extreme pitting to the item's surfaces. The item will then require replating. It may or may not be salvageable due to the cost of removing the original plating, repolishing and then replating.