Old Sheffield Plate Wine Coaster

• Sheffield, circa 1820
• Dimensions: 5 1/4 inches diameter, 1 3/4 inches height

With the arrival of new wealth and all that it brings, the wine coaster was another article making its impact on society. The original purpose was to place a decanter within the coaster. This provided a decorative aspect to the table and helped prevent the scratching of the table by the cut glass. The earliest wine coasters generally started to appear around 1760, and very few are known prior to this time.

A handsome Old Sheffield Plate Wine Coaster having an intricate scroll design on the border. It has a wood-turned base and the underside is lined with baize (felt). Workmanship on wine coasters followed the style of the period that they were made in. Generally, simple and plain ones were made in the 18th century compared to heavy cast grapevine versions in the late Georgian period.

At Wyler Antiques, we have a nice selection of wine coasters for you to choose – some are silver and others (like this) are silver plated. Some of our wine coasters are quite elegant with their simplicity while others tend to be more elaborate, having exquisite workmanship.