Items Similar to Old Sheffield Plate English Tray Early Victorian, Handles, Engraved, Hallmarked
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 21
Old Sheffield Plate English Tray Early Victorian, Handles, Engraved, Hallmarked
$917.03
£682.85
€770
CA$1,256.14
A$1,400.74
CHF 730.85
MX$17,187.64
NOK 9,302.53
SEK 8,813.94
DKK 5,861.73
Shipping
Retrieving quote...The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation
About the Item
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 features a fully embossed silver foil border. Additionally, the edges showcase a technique that covers the underlying copper with thin silver borders, a method invented by Samuel Roberts & George Cadman in 1795 ("silver borders"). The tray’s surface has been expertly hand-engraved with intricate floral motifs, leaving a central space where the owner’s initials have been engraved (the script is highly ornate and thus difficult to interpret). The two handles are true masterpieces: rich, imposing, yet aesthetically balanced (note the detailed craftsmanship both above and below!). On the underside of the long edge, you’ll find the maker’s stamp (see photo), featuring a cross above an orb. Although slightly worn, the top of the cross remains clearly visible. When compared to the punch mark shown in reference books, it is easily identifiable as belonging to Walker, Knowles & Co. (47 Burgess St., Sheffield) and dates to around 1840 (see pages 133, 440, 451 of History of Old Sheffield Plate by Frederick Bradbury). This makes 1840 the likely year of production, placing the tray in the Early Victorian era. The term "Sheffield Plate" refers to a fusion process involving silver and copper, discovered accidentally in 1742 by silversmith Thomas Boulsover of Sheffield. This technique was applied to the production of various household items between approximately 1750 and 1850. The process involves superimposing and heating copper and silver sheets to high temperatures under intense pressure, causing them to bond seamlessly. This bimetallic sheet could then be worked just like silver (embossed, chiseled, engraved, or stamped). Starting in 1770, a second layer of silver was added, creating a true "sandwich" of three metal layers. The resulting sheet displayed silver on both sides, making it ideal for objects such as gravy boats, tureens, and trays, where silver was needed on all visible surfaces. This process quickly proved to be a major technical innovation, with significant economic and social impacts. By 1750, much of the household equipment used by the bourgeoisie, who had developed refined tastes, was made in Sheffield Plate. This social class, eager to emulate the lifestyles of nobles and aristocrats, found in Sheffield Plate an affordable alternative to solid silver, allowing them to achieve their aspirations. Sheffield Plate items were in no way inferior—other than in cost—to the silverware of the time, contributing to the widespread success of the technique. However, after 1840, with the advent of electroplating (a galvanic silver-plating process), the Sheffield Plate gradually fell out of favor and came to be known as "Old Sheffield Plate."
The tray is in good condition, has never been restored, and shows the natural wear of its 184 years. Dimensions: width 48 cm, depth 30 cm, height 2 cm.
For all shipments, we use special packing materials (wooden crates, styrofoam, etc.) to ensure maximum protection and safety for the items.
- Dimensions:Height: 0.79 in (2 cm)Width: 18.9 in (48 cm)Depth: 11.82 in (30 cm)
- Style:Early Victorian (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1840
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. The tray is in good condition, has never been restored, and shows the natural wear of its 184 years.
- Seller Location:Prato, IT
- Reference Number:Seller: 154921stDibs: LU4632241520932
About the Seller
5.0
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 1977
1stDibs seller since 2019
284 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: PRATO, Italy
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllMappin Brothers English Tray Old Sheffield, Victorian Style Engraved And Marked
By Mappin Brothers
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 excep...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate
Materials
Sheffield 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 Chiseled And Engraved Sterling Silver Basket With Handle
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest that you read the entire description, as with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our items.
Beauti...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Early Victorian Sterling Silver
Materials
Sterling Silver
Victorian English Inkwell in Silver Plated, Queen Anne Style
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.
Refin...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Queen Anne Inkwells
Materials
Crystal, Silver Plate
Staffordshire Potteries English Tray with Blue Transferware Decorations
By Clementson 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.
Lovely and refined English oval ceramic tray; elegant and rich blue decorations have been executed on the white background using the transferware method; the mark on the back tells us exactly that the object was produced by the Clementson Brothers LTD Company between 1901 and 1913 at the Phoenix factory in Shelton, the company made a wide range of objects with this decoration called "Delf" ( see mark no.909 p.150 of "Encyclopaedia of British Pottery and Porcelain Mark"). Transferware, which was very fashionable in the Victorian period, refers to glazed and decorated pottery with a specific treatment that they produced in Staffordshire, England; they used copper plates on which the design was engraved, the plate was then inked and the design transferred to a special fabric that was later placed on the pottery (plates, trays, tureens, etc.) which was glazed and fired; the first to use this printing process were John Sadler and Guy Green of Liverpool in 1756. If we look at the pottery made by this method we will notice that the designs are not perfect and often the ink is smudged: this is their characteristic. A hand-painted plate service could afford few English families, with this method even middle-class families could have a decorated plate service. The Clementson Firm was founded in 1839 by Joseph Clementson, who retired from the business in 1867, leaving the factory to his four sons and son...
Category
Early 20th Century British Victorian Ceramics
Materials
Ceramic
Art Deco Production Daum Design Pierre d'Avesn French Molded Glass Bowl
By Daum, Pierre D'Avesn
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.
Origi...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Glass
Materials
Glass
$331 Sale Price
20% Off
You May Also Like
Antique English Sheffield Silver-Plate Rectangular Serving Tray
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Sheffield silver-plate rectangular serving tray.
Category
Antique 19th Century English Sheffield and Silverplate
Materials
Sheffield Plate
Early 20th Century English Silver Plate Serving Tray with Ornate Handles
Located in Atlanta, GA
A beautifully detailed early 20th century English silver-plated serving tray featuring elaborate repoussé work and richly cast edges. Rectangular in form, the tray is adorned with fi...
Category
Early 20th Century English Platters and Serveware
Materials
Silver
Small Antique Styled English Silver Plated Serving Tray with Ornate Engraving
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique styled silver plated serving tray was made by Dobman of England in approximately 1950 in a Victorian style. The tray is rectan...
Category
Early 20th Century English Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate
Materials
Copper
Mid-19th Century Oval Engraved Sheffield Tray with Handles
Located in Brescia, IT
Engaging piece made in United Kingdom with the sheffield technic of the layer of copper between layer of silver.
The tray is fully engraved with drawing of flowers and baroque scrolls...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate
Materials
Sheffield Plate
$2,463 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique English Engraved Sheffield Tray with Rolled Edges, Circa 1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Sheffield Tray with Intricate Engraving and Rolled Edges, Circa 1890.
We have a similar tray to this one which is footed. See Reference LU2854336786062 or SIL843
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Sheffield and Silverplate
Materials
Sheffield Plate
Vintage Sheffield England Victorian Style Silver Plated Serving Platter Tray
By Sheffield Silver Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Sheffield England Victorian Style Silver Plated Serving Platter Tray. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 2.5" H x 24" W x 15" D.
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Victorian Platters and Serveware
Materials
Silver Plate
More Ways To Browse
George Hallmark
Antique Advent
Antique Wooden Boats
Embossed Silver Tray
Victorian Orb
Covered Sheffield Tureens
Knowles Plate
Old Bradbury
Christofle Leaf
Sheffield Reproduction
Union Street Glass
Victorian Cruet Set
Sheffield Carving Set
Sheffield Plate Caddy
Silver Meat Dome
Silverplate Epergne
Silverplate Tea Caddy
5 Piece Sheffield Silver Plated Set