Sheridan Silver Tray
20th Century Serving Pieces
Copper, Silver Leaf
Mid-20th Century Unknown Victorian Platters and Serveware
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Unknown Victorian Platters and Serveware
Silver Plate
Vintage 1940s American American Classical Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Unknown Victorian Platters and Serveware
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Unknown Victorian Platters and Serveware
Silver Plate
Late 20th Century Victorian Platters and Serveware
Silver Plate
Recent Sales
Mid-20th Century Victorian Platters and Serveware
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century English George III Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Victorian Platters and Serveware
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Victorian Platters and Serveware
Silver Plate
20th Century American Rococo Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century Victorian Platters and Serveware
Silver Plate
Finding the Right Dining-entertaining for You
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024The best way to tell if a tray is pure silver depends on what you mean by pure. It is very unlikely that any tray would be made of 100% pure silver. Generally, the highest purity of silver used to produce serveware is fine silver, which is 99.9% pure silver but still contains trace amounts of other metals. Sterling silver is much more commonly used to make trays and is 92.5% pure. To find out if your tray is made of fine silver, look for hallmarks that indicate its materials. Different countries employ varying silver hallmark systems, so research the marking using trusted online resources on your tray to determine its meaning. Alternatively, if by pure you mean solid silver that isn't plated, try placing a magnet near your tray. A strong attraction indicates that your tray features a thin layer of silver plating over a magnetic base metal. Should you need assistance identifying your tray, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer can help you with the process. Find a wide range of silver trays on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 30, 2024To know if a silver tray is valuable, search the piece for markings that indicate the maker and materials. You can compare these markings to images found on trusted online resources to determine what type of silver the tray is and who produced it, and then research what similar pieces have sold for in the past. Generally, sterling silver and fine silver items fetch higher prices than silverplate. However, the maker, type and condition of a tray will also impact its value. A certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer can also perform a valuation for you. Shop an assortment of silver trays on 1stDibs.
- Are silver trays worth anything?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 24, 2024Yes, some silver trays are worth something. If your tray is solid silver rather than silver plate, you can sell it on the scrap market and get the going rate for sterling or fine silver precious metals. Some trays may be worth more due to their age, style, maker and condition. Some makers that collectors often focus on include Georg Jensen, Tiffany & Co., Cristofle, Buccellati, Reed & Barton and Gorham. To get a rough idea of how much your tray may be worth, consider consulting a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of silver trays.
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