Sheffield plate

E97151

Sheffield plate is a type of early silver-plated metalware, produced by fusing a thin layer of silver onto copper, that became widely used for decorative and domestic items in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Old Sheffield plate 1

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf decorative art object
historical material
silver-plated metalware
associatedWithIndustry Sheffield cutlery and metal trades
category decorative arts
metalwork
silverware
commonFeature applied silver mounts to conceal copper
seams or edges revealing copper
coreColor reddish copper when exposed
countryOfOrigin England
declinePeriod mid-19th century
developedIn Sheffield
developedInCentury 18th century
hasAlternativeForm Sheffield plate self-linksurface differs
surface form: Old Sheffield plate
hasManufacturingProcess fusion of silver onto copper
mechanical bonding
hasProperty can show copper where worn
durable
less expensive than solid silver
silver appearance
historicalUseContext middle-class households
upper-class households
isDistinctFrom electroplated nickel silver
solid sterling silver
materialUsed copper core
silver layer
namedAfter Sheffield
notableRisk overpolishing can expose copper core
productionMethodPreceded electroplating
replacedBy electroplated silverware
timePeriodOfInvention mid-18th century
typicalColor silvery white surface
typicalConstruction items formed by rolling and shaping bonded sheet
silver fused to both sides of copper sheet
usedFor candlesticks
cutlery
decorative items
domestic items
tableware
tea services
trays
usedInCentury 18th century
19th century
valuedBy collectors
valuedFor aesthetic qualities
craftsmanship
historical significance

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Sheffield plate hasAlternativeForm Sheffield plate self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: Old Sheffield plate
Sheffield knownFor Sheffield plate