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Old Sheffield Silverplate

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Author	Topic: Old Sheffield Silverplate
Mom1710 Posts: 2 Registered: Sep 2005	posted 09-20-2005 05:43 PM Hi, I just inherited a silver tea service and was wondering if anyone can tell me anything about it. I do know that it was purchased in Toronto, Canada in about 1946. It consists of a teapot, coffee pot, creamer and sugar bowl. The markings are as follows: Teapot has a standing lion in a circle. Below that it has for marks in little squares. I can't make out the first three marks, but the last one looks like an "S". Below are the words "Made in England" A number "2" is stamped on one of the feet, and "8" on another. Coffee pot has the same standing lion in a circle. Below it has the words "Reproduction Old Sheffield Plate", "Made in England" The number "4" with "24" below it are stamped on one of the feet. Cream & Sugar have the same lion and words as the coffee pot. The number 24 is stamped on one of the feet. The set is very ornate and there are sunflowers on the lids to use as handles. Lots of carved flowers all over. The tray that came with the tea set is very large and heavy. It has grapes and leaves all along the edge and on the two handles. On the back it has a lion standing with a rectangle in the middle of him which says "BIRKS". Below in script it says "Regency Plate". Below that are the initials F.S.M. Any information you can provide me would be greatly appreciated. We plan to keep it in the family, but it would be nice to know something about it. Thank you so much. IP: Logged
tmockait Posts: 963 Registered: Jul 2004	posted 09-20-2005 06:18 PM Welcome to the forum. What you have appears to be a 2oth c. copy of an early 19th c. piece. The Regency period refers the time between George III last bout of insanity and the ascension to the throne of his son George IV, who served as regent until his father's death when he became king in his own right. Real Sheffield Plate would not say "Reproduction" or "made in England." The other marks are probably pseudo marks, marks added to mimic those put on real sivler. None of this in any way denegrates your piece, which sounds lovely. Hope this helps, Tom IP: Logged
Kayvee Posts: 204 Registered: Oct 2004	posted 09-21-2005 10:17 AM The �lion� mark on your tray is a Canada lynx standant, one of the manufacturers� marks for Birks, Canada�s most prestigious maker and retailer of silver and jewelry. The Birks website gives a comprehensive history of the firm. Briefly, the Birks family, cutlers and silversmiths in England since 1564 (first registered hallmark in London), emigrated to Montreal, Canada in 1832 and immediately entered the retail silver and jewelry business. There are now Birks stores across the country. Birks Members of the family have been admitted as liverymen to the Goldsmith�s Guild in London over the years. In 1926 the company began to use date letters on its sterling silver based on the London Key. Your tea service and tray are silver plate. If they were purchased together in Toronto I surmise that the service was imported and retailed by Birks, and the tray was manufactured by Birks in Canada. Are you sure the tray says "Regency Plate" and not "Rideau Plate?" Rideau Plate was the mark Birks used for silver plated items. Hope this helps shed more light on your heirloom. IP: Logged
tmockait Posts: 963 Registered: Jul 2004	posted 09-21-2005 04:19 PM Thanks for the correction on the marks. Could we see a photo of the piece? Tom IP: Logged
Mom1710 Posts: 2 Registered: Sep 2005	posted 09-21-2005 09:52 PM Hi, Thank you for all of your help. Yes, I double checked and it does say "Regency Plate" on the back of the tray. I suspected that the tea set was a reproduction, and electroplated just based on the date of purchase. Does anyone know if it is a copy of an old silver pattern or who the manufacturer might be. I'm just wondering what the words reproduction mean. Also, was the tea set made in England? Why would someone call it reproduction Old Sheffield Plate, and not put their name on it instead. Although the tray and tea set were purchased at the same time, they do not appear to be a set. The tray has a different pattern. I have taken pictures, but still haven't figured out how to post them, especially as I use a Mac. Hopefully my son can help this weekend. Thanks again. IP: Logged

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