Sheffield Plate Chafing Dish
Antique 1860s British Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Late 20th Century Unknown Other Serving Pieces
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Regency Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Recent Sales
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Sheffield and Silverplate
Sheffield Plate
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal
Early 20th Century English Regency Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Late 20th Century American Classical Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Antique 1850s British Early Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Late 20th Century Unknown Victorian Platters and Serveware
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal
People Also Browsed
Antique 19th Century French Architectural Elements
Iron
2010s American Modern Contemporary Art
Paper
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
Early 20th Century Spanish Art Deco Tea Sets
Silver
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Wood
Vintage 1920s French Louis XVI Loveseats
Alpaca, Wood
Early 20th Century American Sterling Silver
Gold, Silver
20th Century English Belle Époque Dinner Plates
Porcelain
Vintage 1960s English Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1930s Argentine Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
Bouclé, Wood
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Sterling Silver
Gold, Sterling Silver
2010s Philippine Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Rattan
Antique 1810s English George III Tableware
Sterling Silver, Silver
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Vases
Glass
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets
Mahogany, Glass
Vintage 1910s English Edwardian Dinner Plates
Sterling Silver
Finding the Right Sheffield-silverplate for You
Sheffield silverplate is a durable combination of thin silver sheets and comparatively thicker sheets of copper that was used to create a variety of household objects for years. On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique and vintage Sheffield silverplate and other silverplate for all of your formal dining and entertaining needs.
A cutler named Thomas Boulsover, who worked for a cutlers company in Sheffield, England, accidentally invented what we now call Sheffield silverplate during the 1700s. While working on a decorative knife for a customer — the metalworkers guild had been tasked with repairing its handle — Boulsover mistakenly overheated the silver and noticed that the knife’s layers of silver and copper melded together, creating an impressive bond. This new material felt like silver but was substantially cheaper. It was then used to produce a variety of serveware, candlesticks, buttons, tea sets and more. For families that couldn’t afford the sterling-silver tureens that were used to serve soup in the upper-class English homes at the time, this was good news. They could impress guests with housewares that looked like sterling silver but actually weren't.
Today, just as pewter collectibles and sterling silver are popular with collectors at neighborhood flea markets, antique Sheffield silverplate housewares are sought after for their appearance and rich history. Sheffield silverplate can command high prices on the secondhand market.
Securing yourself a Sheffield silverplate piece is like acquiring a little bit of history. In order to identify authentic Sheffield silverplate, you need to look for one significant attribute of the material. A metalworker had to ensure that all of the exposed edges of a particular piece had to be covered with a rim of silver. If not, the middle layer, which comprised copper, would show through. This would reveal that the piece was not sterling silver.
Don’t just trot out your matching crystal, silver and porcelain once or twice a year. Make a habit of mixing high and low when setting the table. To pair with your everyday contemporary tableware, find antique and vintage Sheffield silverplate on 1stDibs as well as silverplate by goldsmith and tableware companies such as Christofle, Elkington & Co. and more.
Read More
37 Cheerful Home Bars, Where Everybody (Literally) Knows Your Name
Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.
How a Craving for Color Revolutionized Glass
After synthetic dyes changed fashion, home goods and printed matter, it was only a matter of time till glass caught up.
1882 Ltd. Looks to the Future of Ceramics in the U.K. with an Eclectic Exhibition and Auction
Faye Toogood and John Pawson are among the list of plate designers.
20 Inviting Dining Rooms Perfectly Arranged for Entertaining
Top interior designers show — and tell — us how to create delectable spaces for hosting dinner parties.
Paul Revere Crafted This Silver Coffee Pot 250 Years Ago
Perhaps best known as a Revolutionary War hero, Revere was also an accomplished silversmith, and this pot is now available on 1stDibs.
From Arne Jacobsen to Zaha Hadid, Top Designers Tackle Tableware
Clever objects like these make feasting even more festive.
How the Chunky, Funky Ceramics of 5 Mid-Century American Artists Balanced Out Slick Modernism
Get to know the innovators behind the pottery countercultural revolution.
Ready for a Cinderella Moment? This Glass Handbag Is a Perfect Fit
Glass slippers might be the stuff of fairytales, but glass handbags? Artist Joshua Raiffe has made them a reality, and they're far less delicate than you might imagine, but just as dreamy.