Victorian Plate, as the term implies, is used in respect to plated articles made by the process of electrolysis during the period 1840 – 1900. The effect of electoplating was similar to that of the introduction of the automobile to an age which had long known only the use of horse power. The industrial age caused the entire process of Sheffield Plating to be discarded. Electoplating was the way in which the manufacturer could bring his products to the public at large at a price that all could afford.
Victorian Plated ware is often referred to as the date “c1880.” This is an abbreviation for the term “circa” which means around. Many silver plated items bear the marks “EPNS” that stands for Electro Plated Nickel Silver or “EP” for Electro Plate.
The amount of fine Victorian Plate produced between the years 1860 and 1900 is truly amazing, not only for its huge numbers, but also for the wide variety. The difficulties of manufacturing were now overcome by the never-ending improvements due to technology. Thus, electoplated silver at this time achieved enormous popularity due to the affordability of the pieces as well as the highly elaborate and overornamented designs.
An elegant Antique Victorian Silver Plate Sauce Ladle that is decorated in the ‘Old English’ pattern. It is quite plain in style with a rounded terminal and a single drop to the reverse of the bowl. This was the most commonly produced pattern during the …
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A handsome Antique Victorian Silver Plate Stuffing Spoon that is decorated in the ‘Fiddle’ pattern. Dominant throughout the nineteenth century, the ‘Fiddle’ pattern was the most popular one in tableware. Originating in France, it first appeared in England during the 1760’s. The production of plain …
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A very stylish Antique Victorian Silver Plate Soup Ladle that is decorated in the ‘Fiddle Thread and Shell’ pattern. The pattern is a timeless design from the English Regency period as it has a delicate thread edge border and a distinctive shell design. This Antique …
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Asparagus did not become popular as a vegetable in England until the early 18th century. This popularity was due to asparagus being considered an exotic accompaniment for other dishes. Thus, Asparagus Tongs became the acceptable item at the dinner table during the Victorian era. This …
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A lovely pair of Antique Victorian Silver Plate Sauce Ladles in the Bead pattern. This pattern is known as ‘Old English Bead’ which was created by the pre-eminent English female silversmith, Hester Bateman. Her late 18th century pieces featured a simple and elegant beaded border …
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Even though Asparagus was introduced to England during the sixteenth century, it did not become popular there until the early eighteenth century. This was because asparagus was now considered an exotic and an interesting accompaniment to other dishes. Serving Tongs for asparagus first started to …
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The first Toast Rack was invented around the 1770’s, although the exact date or manufacturer is not known. Most likely, it was an inventor who came up with the idea. Whatever the case, it was quickly copied and never patented which is why the actual …
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Bread and cake never tasted so good!! This delicate Antique Victorian Plate Bread/Cake Knife is the perfect piece whether cutting bread or your favorite cake. Your table will be improved with this lovely antique serving piece. An Antique Victorian Plate Bread/Cake Knife having a bone …
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First recorded in the late 1770’s, toast racks first appeared on breakfast tables. As dining habits became more refined, toast racks became very popular and within a very short time, were seen in more and more homes. Thus, not only being utilitarian, they also became …
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Fish Sets started being produced during the 19th century, and rose to prominence during the Victorian era. This resulted in the demand for extravagant silverware. In the late 19th century, sets of cutlery and serving pieces with mother of pearl handles became quite popular. Cutlery …
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A wine funnel is a perfect gift for either someone who appreciates wine or a wine connoisseur. Antique Silver Plated Wine Funnels were developed towards the end of the 18th century as they were a necessity for decanting wines from the cask to a decanter. …
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The first pair of silver tapersticks were produced during the latter part of the 17th century. Tapersticks are small table candlesticks (generally 4 to 5 inches in height) designed to hold a wax taper which is a small thin tapered candle. Many tapersticks are miniature …
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Berry Spoons dating back to the mid-19th century, show fruits and flowers elaborately chased on the bowls and depicted on the handles leaving no doubt as to their intended purpose. They are wonderful spoons to bring out and use for desserts such as fruits and …
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2 Piece Fish Sets started being produced during the 18th century, and rose to prominence during the Victorian period. At first, in the 18th century, two forks were used for the eating of fish. This tradition lasted into the 19th century when a silver bladed …
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A pair of Antique Victorian Silver Plate Sauce Boats. Initially, sauce boats were supported by a central foot. However, by the mid 1700’s silver sauce boats supported by three feet increased in popularity. It was around that time that English porcelain sauce boats were introduced …
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Asparagus was cultivated and consumed by the Ancient Romans; however, it was introduced to England during the sixteenth century and did not become popular there until the early eighteenth century. At that time, asparagus got the reputation for being an exotic and interesting accompaniment to …
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Baskets became popular in the Georgian period, and continued to flourish during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. During these times, the wealthy and the middle class became enamored with dinner parties and all that they entailed. Baskets have always been popular for several reasons. Originally …
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An Antique Victorian Silver Plated Basket. As most baskets made at this time were usually oval or round, it is always enjoyable to find one that is a different shape – this one is rectangular. This Antique Victorian Silver Plated Rectangular Basket is quite elegant …
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Claret is a traditional British name for red wine from the Bordeaux region of France. The name ‘claret jug’ is synonymous for all vessels used for serving wine. From about 1780 to 1820, the fashion was to serve claret in a solid silver claret jug. …
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A handsome antique Victorian Plate oval Basket with an applied thread edge border and a pierced design that resonates near the rim. It has a hinged and reeded swing handle and resides on a pierced collet foot. Whether one chooses to use this basket for …
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The earliest known use of a vase was in Ancient Egypt. At that time, vases were quite basic both in design and shape. During the Ancient Greek and Roman times, vases became more decorative and some extraordinary examples were created. They became quite popular during …
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Candlesticks are among the most desired of all English silver objects and have been used for thousands of years. The 18th and 19th centuries saw a tremendous surge in popularity in candlesticks and ever since then, they have resided quite well on our dining room …
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In the late 19th century, sets of flatware with Mother of Pearl handles became popular and they are often found in their original boxes. Cutlery handles made from real Mother of Pearl shell occasionally have a slight variation in grain and size. However, that does …
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Tray Tables and Stands are a wonderful way of integrating the antique (the tray) with the contemporary (the stand). The trays for these stands are predominately made of either sterling silver, silver plate, papier mache or tole. The stands are always custom made and are …
View Item >A lovely pair of Antique Victorian Silver Plate and Mother of Pearl Jam Spoons in their original case. Elaborately chased with a floral and scroll design which resonates around the bowl as well as a very detailed ‘collar’. A ferrule (or collar) is a small …
View Item >Asparagus did not become popular as a vegetable in England until the early 18th century. This popularity was due to asparagus being considered an exotic accompaniment for other dishes. Thus, Asparagus Tongs became the acceptable item at the dinner table during the Victorian era. This …
View Item >You are at home or in a restaurant and you cut into a roll. You then notice that there are crumbs on the tablecloth or table and they need to be brushed away. Did you know that this ritual used to be part of American …
View Item >Every table deserves something unique. This Antique Victorian Silver Plate 3 Part Dish adds a little extra sparkle to any table setting. In the 19th century, these 3 Part Dishes were created and called BBC’s. They were used for bread, butter and cheese. Whether for …
View Item >Who would not want a stunning pair of antique Victorian Silver Plate Berry Spoons in a case!! These berry spoons have elaborate embossed gilt bowls decorated with fruits such as berries and pineapples. Having gilt bowls are ideal as they can be used for both …
View Item >Syphon Stands were used in the late Victorian era as decorative holders for either soda or water. Today, they are used predominately as wine and champagne bottle holders. Syphon Stands look so elegant when displayed on a beautiful dinner table. Many people today have been …
View Item >The Barker Brothers are one of the oldest firms of English silversmiths and electroplaters. Established in 1801 in Birmingham, England, the company was also known as the Barker Ellis Silver Company. It soon found quick success due to producing utilitarian silver and silver plate flatware …
View Item >2 Piece Fish Sets started being produced during the 18th century, and rose to prominence during the Victorian period. This was a result of an increase in wealth in England, the demand for extravagant silverware and silversmiths who made wonderful products. A Fish Server (Knife) …
View Item >Antique Victorian Plate Baskets are generally described as cake baskets but were more commonly used for bread and fruit. A handsome Antique Victorian Plate Basket having an oval body with a scalloped border. A very elegant swing handle complements this piece quite nicely. This basket …
View Item >Antique Biscuit Barrels (better known as biscuit boxes) have always been quite popular. Biscuit Barrels are an elegant way to serve cookies and other small desserts. The first biscuit barrels appeared in England around 1860 and quickly became “en vogue” as an essential serving piece …
View Item >Fish sets were first introduced during the 19th century. During the Victorian era in England, they became quite popular because of the increase in wealth of the middle class. Extravagant silverware which was always popular with the upper class could now be purchased by this …
View Item >Claret Jugs were produced throughout Europe beginning in the 19th century. Although France had a large production of fine silver and glass jugs, the diverse and often beautiful designs that we are able to appreciate today, were British. A glass body allows the color of …
View Item >A silver plated claret jug is a wine jug made of glass and silver plate. Claret is the British name for French red Bordeaux wine. Although glass had been used as a receptacle for beverages of all kinds for hundreds of years, it wasn’t until …
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Contact Us >Once or twice a month we send an informative email to our subscribers about all things antiques. We love to answer questions and dive into the history of antique silver, porcelain, and glass. Read our email archive here.
Greetings from Wyler Antiques!
We hope that everyone is having a wonderful Holiday season. No matter what holiday you celebrate, here are several more suggestions for those who still need last-minute gifts. Hopefully, this helps you at this busy time of the year.
