Sheffield and Silverplate
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Brass
1940s Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1940s English British Colonial Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate, Nickel
Mid-20th Century English George III Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal
1960s Italian Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century English Edwardian Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate, Copper
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal, Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century English Art Nouveau Sheffield and Silverplate
Copper
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Crystal, Silver Plate
1940s American American Classical Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century English Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate, Copper
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal
Mid-20th Century English Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1960s French Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century French Sheffield and Silverplate
Crystal, Silver Plate
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Ceramic
1940s Mexican Georgian Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate, Nickel
1950s French Romantic Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1930s English Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal, Silver, Silver Plate, Silver Leaf
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1950s French Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1950s American Victorian Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1950s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal, Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century American Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate
Crystal, Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal
Mid-20th Century American International Style Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Unknown Tibetan Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal, Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century French Empire Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1930s Danish Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate, Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate, Nickel
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal
1930s Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century American Romantic Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1950s American Rococo Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century American Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1930s British Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Sheffield and Silverplate
Gold Plate, Silver Plate
Antique and Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
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.