Mappin Webb Tray

Appointed the Crown Jeweler in 2012, Mappin & Webb is one of the most widely recognized makers of silver and luxury goods in the world. With a roster of prestigious clients that has included six British monarchs as well as Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill and Harry Houdini, the historic firm has supplied fine jewelry and silver objects for royalty all over the globe including the Russian Imperial Household, the Siamese royal family and the Indian Maharaja.

Mappin & Webb’s origins are rooted in Jonathan Mappin’s workshop in Sheffield. He opened in 1775 with the intent to serve British society with the highest quality silverware ever made. His son and grandson, both named Joseph, carried on his vision until the mid-19th century when his four great-grandsons incorporated the business into Mappin Brothers Ltd. and embarked on a substantial expansion of the firm.

Nearing 1860, two of the great-grandsons, eldest Sir William Mappin and youngest John Mappin, left to pursue other opportunities. John opened his own business, Mappin & Company, and was joined two years later by his brother-in-law George Webb. Webb passed away in 1868 — the same year that saw the family form Mappin & Webb Co.

Webb’s name lived on in the company even after 1889 when the company became Mappin & Webb Ltd. In 1897, Mappin & Webb were granted their first Royal Warrant as silversmiths to Queen Victoria. The firm has been a holder of Royal Warrants since then.

Mappin & Webb supplied soldiers in the battle of Omdurman with their acclaimed Campaign watch. The company also supported wartime efforts during both World Wars in their enormous factory in Sheffield. Today Mappin & Webb is among the most prominent makers of Sheffield silver in the world.

Watches of Switzerland Operations Ltd. acquired Mappin & Webb in 1998 after a series of mergers and acquisitions. 

Find antique Mappin & Webb serveware, decorative objects and other collectibles on 1stDibs.

Your dining room table is a place where stories are shared and personalities shine — why not treat yourself and your guests to the finest antique and vintage glass, silver, ceramics and serveware for your meals?

Just like the people who sit around your table, your serveware has its own stories and will help you create new memories with your friends and loved ones. From ceramic pottery to glass vases, set your table with serving pieces that add even more personality, color and texture to your dining experience.

Invite serveware from around the world to join your table settings. For special occasions, dress up your plates with a striking Imari charger from 19th-century Japan or incorporate Richard Ginori’s Italian porcelain plates into your dining experience. Celebrate the English ritual of afternoon tea with a Japanese tea set and an antique Victorian kettle. No matter how big or small your dining area is, there is room for the stories of many cultures and varied histories, and there are plenty of ways to add pizzazz to your meals.

Add different textures and colors to your table with dinner plates and pitchers of ceramic and silver or a porcelain lidded tureen, a serving dish with side handles that is often used for soups. Although porcelain and ceramic are both made in a kiln, porcelain is made with more refined clay and is more durable than ceramic because it is denser. The latter is ideal for statement pieces — your tall mid-century modern ceramic vase is a guaranteed conversation starter. And while your earthenware or stoneware is maybe better suited to everyday lunches as opposed to the fine bone china you’ve reserved for a holiday meal, handcrafted studio pottery coffee mugs can still be a rich expression of your personal style.

“My motto is ‘Have fun with it,’” says author and celebrated hostess Stephanie Booth Shafran. “It’s yin and yang, high and low, Crate & Barrel with Christofle silver. I like to mix it up — sometimes in the dining room, sometimes on the kitchen banquette, sometimes in the loggia. It transports your guests and makes them feel more comfortable and relaxed.”

Introduce elegance at supper with silver, such as a platter from celebrated Massachusetts silversmith manufacturer Reed and Barton or a regal copper-finish flatware set designed by International Silver Company, another New England company that was incorporated in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1898. By then, Meriden had already earned the nickname “Silver City” for its position as a major hub of silver manufacturing.

At the bar, try a vintage wine cooler to keep bottles cool before serving or an Art Deco decanter and whiskey set for after-dinner drinks — there are many possibilities and no wrong answers for tableware, barware and serveware. Explore an expansive collection of antique and vintage glass, ceramics, silver and serveware today on 1stDibs.