Sheffield and Silverplate
Early 20th Century English Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal
1880s American Aesthetic Movement Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver, Copper
20th Century English Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate, Copper
20th Century English Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal, Silver Plate
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate, Sterling Silver
1820s American American Classical Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Sheffield Plate
Early 20th Century English Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver
Early 19th Century American Neoclassical Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver
Early 20th Century European Louis XV Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1780s English George III Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Sheffield Plate
Late 19th Century Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1880s Scottish Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century English Georgian Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate, Stainless Steel
1960s French Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-19th Century American High Victorian Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1870s Victorian Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Mid-20th Century Canadian Edwardian Sheffield and Silverplate
Copper
Late 19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1880s European Victorian Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Late 19th Century Scottish Anglo-Indian Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal, Silver Plate
1870s English Victorian Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century English Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
20th Century Edwardian Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1820s English Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal
Early 20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Early 19th Century French Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Sheffield and Silverplate
Early 20th Century German Art Nouveau Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal, Aluminum, Silver Plate
1880s English Victorian Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century English Chinoiserie Sheffield and Silverplate
Stainless Steel
20th Century Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
20th Century Sheffield and Silverplate
Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
19th Century Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1920s British Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver, Silver Plate, Sterling Silver
20th Century German Art Nouveau Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Crystal, Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century American Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Late 20th Century Italian Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Revival Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Late 19th Century English High Victorian Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Metal
19th Century Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century English Late Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
20th Century French Neoclassical Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate, Copper
20th Century English Sheffield and Silverplate
Gold, Silver Plate
19th Century Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
1760s English George III Antique Sheffield and Silverplate
Sheffield Plate
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sheffield and Silverplate
Brass
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.