Silver Plate Grapes and Vine Repoussé Bread and Butter Plate
Hollowware (Small Plate/Bread Plate) · Unidentified Silver-Plate Manufacturer; likely International Silver Co. or Leonard Silver Manufacturing Co. based on the heavy grape motif and die-stamping style.
Pattern: Grapes and Vine (Generic Victorian Revival)
Type
Hollowware (Small Plate/Bread Plate)
Maker
Unidentified Silver-Plate Manufacturer; likely International Silver Co. or Leonard Silver Manufacturing Co. based on the heavy grape motif and die-stamping style.
Material
Silver Plate (Likely EPNS - Electroplated Nickel Silver) over a base of white metal or copper. There are no sterling markings visible.
Dimensions
Approximately 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter. These vanity or bread plates typically weigh between 100-150 grams.
Description
This silver-plated plate features a exuberant 'Grapes and Vine' motif, a perennial favorite in traditional dining. The border is deeply embossed with clusters of grapes and curling leaves, encircling a center well that boasts a complex engine-turned pattern. It serves as a classic piece of incidental hollowware, perfect for use as a bread plate, butter dish, or dresser tray for jewelry.
Key Features
Deeply stamped grape cluster border; engine-turned center quatrefoil; high-luster finish; absence of sterling marks.
Material & Composition
Silver Plate (Likely EPNS - Electroplated Nickel Silver) over a base of white metal or copper. There are no sterling markings visible.
Finish & Decoration
Polished silver finish featuring a heavy repoussé (stamped) grape and leafy vine border and an engine-turned/engraved center medallion featuring quatrefoil scrolls and basketweave textures.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Likely marked on the reverse with 'EPNS' or a manufacturer's shield stamp. No individual hallmarks are visible from the obverse, but the light reflections suggest a typical mid-20th-century commercial plating.
Construction Details
Machine-stamped (die-struck) from a flat sheet of base metal. The decorative border is integrated into the mold, common in mass-produced silver plate from the 1950s-1970s.
Functional Features
Raised rim to prevent food sliding; decorative center intended to hide scratches from use; stackable design.
Handle & Grip Details
None; standard circular plate form.
Craftsmanship Details
Commercial grade; the piece shows excellent symmetry achieved through industrial die-striking, though it lacks the depth and soul of hand-wrought silver.
Authentication Indicators
The uniformity of the stamped pattern and the 'flat' look of the center engraving suggest modern machine production rather than hand-chasing. Lack of sterling stamps indicates silver plate.
Origin & Manufacturing
Likely United States or England; mass-manufactured in a large industrial workshop.
Era & Period
Victorian Revival / Mid-Century Decorative Arts (c. 1950-1975). The design mimics the 19th-century Rococo Revival style but with modern manufacturing shortcuts.
Age Estimate
Circa 1960s; based on the high-relief stamping quality and the specific style of the center engraving.
Cultural Significance
Represents the democratization of formal dining accessories in the mid-20th century, allowing middle-class households to emulate high-Victorian luxury at a lower price point.
Condition Notes
Good condition. There appears to be light surface scratching in the center and some minor tarnish in the crevices of the grapes. No obvious 'bleeding' (base metal showing through silver).
Value Estimate
$10.00 - $25.00 USD. Value is driven by decorative appeal rather than metal content.
Care & Maintenance
Clean with a non-abrasive silver cream like Wright's. Avoid dishwasher use at all costs as the heat and salts will strip the silver plating from the base metal.
Similar Pieces
Gorham 'Hispania' (Sterling variant - much heavier and hand-finished); Wallace 'Louvre' (Silver plate competitor - has different scrollwork).
Interesting Facts
The 'Grapes' motif regained massive popularity in the 1950s as American households sought 'Old World' elegance for formal dinner parties, leading to a boom in affordable silver-plated giftware.