Sheffield Silver Co. Tea Sets

To identify Sheffield silver hallmarks, look at images published on the Sheffield Assay Office's official website. Most silver objects produced in Sheffield, England, will feature a lion's head marking indicating 92.5% pure silver. In addition, they will usually display a crown, rose or combination of both symbols. For assistance with the identification process, use the services of a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer.

Sheffield is an English city known to collectors largely for its production of silverplate, not sterling silver. 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.

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.

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The difference between a silver plate and a Sheffield plate is that one item is a type of the other. Silverplate, which is sometimes spelled silver-plate or silver plate, is the general name for any silver wares made predominantly of a base metal finished with a thin layer of pure silver.

Developed in the 1700s by Thomas Boulsover in Sheffield, England, Sheffield silverplate is a specific type of silverplate created by fusing silver with copper. 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.

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Tiffany & Co. only uses sterling silver to create their silver jewelry designs. With proper care, the sterling silver of your gorgeous piece will last from generation to generation. You can shop a collection of Tiffany & Co. jewelry from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.