Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 21

Mappin Brothers English Tray Old Sheffield, Victorian Style Engraved And Marked

About the Item

Please read the entire description carefully, as we strive to provide you with detailed technical and historical information to ensure the authenticity of our items. This is an exceptional and rare Sheffield Plate tray in early Victorian style. Notably, this tray is rare because it belongs to the transitional period between Old Sheffield Plate and electroplated, or silver-plated items. It was crafted in 1850 by Mappin Brothers, one of the finest English companies, established in Sheffield in 1810 (as indicated by the mark on the underside of the tray). The term “Sheffield Plate” refers to a method of fusing silver and copper, discovered accidentally in 1742 by silversmith Thomas Boulsover in Sheffield. This technique was applied to various domestic items from around 1750 to 1850 and was significant for its technical value and immediate economic and social impact. By 1750, household items for a refined middle class were already being produced using Sheffield Plate. This social class, keen to replicate the lifestyle of the nobility, found in this material an affordable means to achieve their aspirations. Sheffield Plate items were not inferior to solid silver pieces of the era, except for their lower cost, which contributed to the technique's success. After 1840, with the advent of electroplating (a galvanic silvering process), the Sheffield Plate gradually fell out of use and came to be known as “Old Sheffield Plate.” Our tray, made in 1850, was not produced using the traditional Old Sheffield Plate method. Although copper (visible beneath the silver coating in the photos) is still used as the base metal, the silvering was done via the galvanic method, where a significant amount of silver was deposited electrolytically onto the copper. This makes the piece valuable and, as noted, rare, being among the last items made with copper—a superior, though costly, conductor that was later replaced by more economical metals and alloys suited for electroplating (such as brass, nickel silver, and nickel) after approximately 1865. Other production methods also evolved. The engraving on our tray was done by hand using a burin, as copper's softness made it ideal for this type of work. However, with the adoption of harder metals, this manual process was gradually replaced by mechanical techniques. The tray's exquisite handles and vine-themed border are particularly noteworthy, crafted through investment casting and hand-finished with detailed chiseling. Joseph Mappin Sr. founded the company and initially operated it with his son as Joseph Mappin & Son. In 1828, Joseph Jr. (1794-1841) parted ways with his father and partnered with George Arundel (Arundel & Mappin). After Arundel's retirement in 1835, Joseph Jr. continued the business under his own name. The company’s trademark (a “sun”), which also appears on our tray, was registered that year. Following Joseph Jr.'s death in 1841, his eldest son, Frederick Thorpe Mappin, took nominal leadership of the company alongside his three younger brothers: Edward (1826-1875), Joseph Charles (1828-1901), and John Newton (1835-1913). Despite his young age, Frederick proved to be an adept businessman, successfully managing the company, first as Joseph Mappin & Brothers and, from 1852, as Mappin Brothers. In 1851, the company moved its operations to the new Queens Plate & Cutlery Works and participated in the Great Exhibition in London, opening showrooms in the city. In 1857, John Newton Mappin, the youngest brother, joined as a partner. However, in 1859, the Mappin Brothers dissolved, but the company continued to operate successfully under different names. In 1963, Mappin & Webb merged with Elkington and Walker & Hall to form British Silverware Ltd. Unfortunately, the merger was unsuccessful, and in 1971, the Mappin & Webb factory in Sheffield closed its doors. The tray is in good, unrestored condition, showing signs of 174 years of wear. Dimensions: width 73 cm, depth 46 cm, height 3 cm. We use special packing materials (wooden crates, Styrofoam, etc.) for all our shipments to ensure maximum protection and safety of the items.
  • Creator:
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 1.19 in (3 cm)Width: 28.75 in (73 cm)Depth: 18.12 in (46 cm)
  • Style:
    Early Victorian (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1850
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. The tray is in good, unrestored condition, showing signs of 184 years of wear.
  • Seller Location:
    Prato, IT
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 160751stDibs: LU4632242327392

More From This Seller

View All
Old Sheffield Plate English Tray Early Victorian, Handles, Engraved, Hallmarked
Located in Prato, Tuscany
Please read the entire description carefully, as we aim to provide detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our items. This important and opulent English Old Sheffield Plate tray...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Sheffield Plate

Mappin & Brothers Crystal and Silver Plated Ice Bucket with Lid
By Mappin Brothers
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Beaut...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Crystal, Silver Plate

Maxfield & Sons English Victorian Style Silver-Plated Tray With Railing Border
By Maxfield & Sons Ltd. 1
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly encourage you to read the full description, as it provides detailed technical and historical information to ensure the authenticity of our items. This elegant and refined o...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Silver Plate

Victorian Silver Plated Tea and Coffee Service Set
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Class...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Silver Plate

Georgian-Style Silver-Plated English Teapot-Chocolate Pot
Located in Prato, Tuscany
Please read the entire description carefully, as we strive to provide you with detailed technical and historical information to ensure the authenticity of our items. This is an elega...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Georgian Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Silver Plate

Dixon James English Teapot-Chocolate Pot In Silver Plated
By James Dixon & Sons
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly invite you to read the entire description, as we try to provide you with detailed technical and historical information to ensure the authenticity of our objects. A sober an...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Silver Plate

You May Also Like

Antique Mappin Brothers Regency Style Silverplated Oval Handled Tray
By Mappin Brothers
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique Mappin Brothers Regency Style Silverplated Oval Handled Tray Encounter a luxurious slice of history with our Antique Mappin Brothers regency st...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Regency Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique Victorian Round Silver Platter by Mappin Brothers
By Mappin Brothers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Antique English Victorian round silver serving tray or platter standing on three feet, featuring beautifully engraved and embossed foliate with a letter "F" at the center / Made in E...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Silver Plate

Rare and Magnificent Antique English Travelling Bar, Mappin Brothers, circa 1880
By Mappin Brothers
Located in Bath, GB
A rare and quite wonderful find, and fun too. Victorian in era and dating to circa 1880, this travelling trolley or cart is made to travel down the cent...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Barware

Materials

Crystal, Silver Plate

Antique English Sheffield Silver Plate Tray Signed "Mappin and Webb" Circa 1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Sheffield Silver Plate Tray Signed "Mappin and Webb" Circa 1890. With lovely Greek Key Engraving.
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Silver Plate

English Sheffield Silver Plate / Engraved Interior Round Serving Tray
By Sheffield Silver Co.
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Introduce a touch of timeless elegance to your entertaining with this exquisite English Sheffield Silver Plate serving tray. The round shape is adorned with delicately engraved flora...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Silver Plate

Victorian Period Mappin Brothers Silver Plated Condiments Set
Located in London, GB
A late 19th century Victorian Period silver plated condiments set retaining its original stand. Stamped Mappin Brothers’ 220 REGENT STRE...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Metal, Silver Plate

Recently Viewed

View All