| Here we are going to have a look at the history | | | | introduction of electroplating. |
| of Sheffield plate and how it has transformed | | | | Genuine Sheffield plate in good condition is scarce; |
| since its discovery. It is much less expensive than | | | | in the course of time the coating of silver has |
| silver but it is as strong and looks as good as the | | | | often worn away in places and the copper is |
| real silver. | | | | revealed clearly. When this happens the piece can |
| Sheffield Plate | | | | be given a fresh coat of silver electrically, but the |
| The manufacture of Sheffield plate was made | | | | colour and texture of the old cannot be |
| possible by the discovery in 1743 that plates of | | | | reproduced. Once Sheffield plate has been |
| silver and copper could be fused together to form | | | | tampered with in this way much of its value has |
| one indivisible sheet of metal. Thus, an article could | | | | been lost forever, and the careful buyer will not |
| be manufactured exactly similar in external | | | | want to add such specimens to his collection. |
| appearance to one of solid silver, but from | | | | Books |
| material costing far less. The inventor of the | | | | The standard work dealing with the marks of |
| process was a Sheffield cutler, Thomas Bolsover | | | | English silversmiths as well as date-letters and |
| (1704-88). | | | | hallmarks is: English Goldsmiths and Their Marks, |
| For some years only small articles were made, | | | | by Sir Charles J. Jackson. A useful and |
| but by 1760 production had increased and bigger | | | | comprehensive guide to the same subject is |
| pieces were attempted with success. Later, it | | | | English Domestic Silver, by Charles Oman*; |
| was found possible to plate an ingot of copper on | | | | hall-marks and date-letters are located |
| both sides, and it was then no longer necessary | | | | conveniently in a clearly printed pocket-sized |
| to coat the inside or underside of an article with | | | | booklet, compiled by Frederick Bradbury of |
| tin; which had been done hitherto. As methods | | | | Sheffield, obtainable from most good |
| had been devised already for concealing the red | | | | silversmiths.* |
| line of copper showing where it was cut on an | | | | Frederick Bradbury's History of Old Sheffield Plate |
| edge, the resemblance to silver was very close. | | | | (1902), is a standard work. |
| The deception was aided further by the fact that | | | | A Metropolitan Museum of New York Picture |
| some makers marked their wares with stamps | | | | Book, Early-American Silver* is a useful illustrated |
| that could be confused easily with those on silver. | | | | introduction to the subject. |
| Production of Sheffield plate received a fillip when | | | | Silver with copper looks exactly like silver but it is |
| a duty of 6d an ounce was levied on silverware in | | | | much cheaper. But only small articles were made |
| 1784, and again in 1815 when the duty was raised | | | | with this Sheffield plate and the levying of tax on |
| to 1s 6d an ounce. The ware was made in | | | | silver in increased the demand for this Sheffield |
| quantity between 1780 and 1830 and a | | | | plate in the late eighteenth century. Genuine |
| surprisingly large the plating of silver on a base of | | | | Sheffield plate in good condition is scarce to get |
| German silver (an alloy which showed silvery | | | | now. And some of the books that can be used to |
| when the outer coat of real silver wore through). | | | | learn more about this metal are given which might |
| Finally, in 1838 this was superseded by the | | | | be helpful to you. |