1880 Sheffield Plate
Antique 1880s French Art Nouveau Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
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1880 Sheffield Plate For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a 1880 Sheffield Plate?
Finding the Right Sheffield-silverplate for You
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.
- What is Sheffield plate?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Sheffield plate is a layered combination of silver and copper.
- What is Sheffield silver plate?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Sheffield silver plate usually refers to electroplated silverware produced in Sheffield, England. Prior to electroplating, Sheffield silver was associated with a particular process of layered construction which consisted of copper and silver. Today, this older form of silver is usually referred to by collectors as “Old Sheffield Silver Plate.” Shop a collection of Sheffield silver from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 20, 2024The difference between a silver plate and a Sheffield plate is that one item is a type of the other. Silverplate, which is sometimes spelled silver-plate or silver plate, is the general name for any silver wares made predominantly of a base metal finished with a thin layer of pure silver.
Developed in the 1700s by Thomas Boulsover in Sheffield, England, Sheffield silverplate is a specific type of silverplate created by fusing silver with copper. 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.
Find antique Sheffield silverplate and other silverplate objects for sale on 1stDibs. - 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Sheffield plates were created in 1742 with production ceasing by the 1870s. The process fused silver and copper together to create utensils and serve ware. Work with a certified appraiser to determine the age and authenticity of your Sheffield plate item. On 1stDibs, you’ll find expertly vetted Sheffield serve ware and collectibles.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024Yes, Sheffield plate may be worth something. Generally, the maker, age, style, type and condition of silver-plated pieces determine their value. The material itself doesn't have a lot of value on its own, as silver plate contains only small amounts of pure silver. A certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can give you an estimated value for any items that you own. Find a variety of Sheffield plate dinnerware, serveware and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
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