Sheffield and Silverplate
1940s English Georgian Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate, Nickel
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Stone, Silver Plate
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal, Aluminum, Silver Plate
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal, Silver Plate, Aluminum
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal, Silver Plate, Aluminum
Mid-20th Century English Georgian Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1940s Mexican Georgian Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate, Nickel
1960s Italian Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1950s Italian Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver, Silver Plate
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Glass
Mid-20th Century Canadian Edwardian Sheffield and Silverplate
Copper
Mid-20th Century English George IV Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Slate, Spelter
Mid-20th Century American Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate
Copper
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century American Other Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century British Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1930s English Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century British Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver
Mid-20th Century Georgian Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1930s American Renaissance Revival Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1930s English Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century French Other Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century French Other Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century French Other Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Unknown Tibetan Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal
Mid-20th Century English Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver
Mid-20th Century English Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century French Other Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century English Art Nouveau Sheffield and Silverplate
Copper
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century English Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1960s Italian Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Aluminum, Silver Plate
1950s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century English Late Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal, Gold Plate, Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century English Sheffield and Silverplate
Copper, Silver Plate
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century English Other Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1960s English Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
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.