Victorian Style Silver Plate Potpourri Bowl with Pierced Domed Lid
Hollowware (Rose Bowl / Potpourri Jar) · Attributed to various English or American silver plate manufacturers like Barker Ellis or Wallace Silversmiths. Common in early 20th-century production.
Pattern: Rococo Revival style featuring scrolling leaf and floral vine borders; generic production pattern rather than a named designer collection.
Type
Hollowware (Rose Bowl / Potpourri Jar)
Maker
Attributed to various English or American silver plate manufacturers like Barker Ellis or Wallace Silversmiths. Common in early 20th-century production.
Material
Likely Silver Plate (EPNS - Electroplated Nickel Silver) over a base metal (copper or nickel). A silver-plated brass/copper composition is common for these heavy-rimmed pieces.
Dimensions
Estimated 6 to 8 inches in diameter and 5 to 7 inches in height. Heavy weight due to the cast borders and thicker base metal used in plating.
Description
An elegant silver-plated potpourri bowl of pedestal form, featuring a deep hemispherical body and a highly decorative pierced lid. The piece is accented with traditional grape and leaf or scrolling floral borders, which provide a rich architectural contrast to the smooth, reflective surface of the bowl's belly.
Key Features
Intricate openwork lid, double-weighted architectural pedestal base, and high-relief chased borders that hide the seams between components.
Material & Composition
Likely Silver Plate (EPNS - Electroplated Nickel Silver) over a base metal (copper or nickel). A silver-plated brass/copper composition is common for these heavy-rimmed pieces.
Finish & Decoration
Polished mirror finish on body with repoussé and chased leafy-scroll borders on the rim and pedestal. The lid features heavy openwork/piercing with chased scrollwork.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Usually stamped on the underside of the pedestal or bottom of the bowl. Likely to feature marks like 'EPNS', 'Made in England', or a manufacturer's shield logo.
Construction Details
Spun silver-plated body with applied cast decorative borders. The lid is likely cast or die-struck and finished with hand-piercing for the ventilation holes.
Functional Features
Removable domed pierced lid designed to allow the scent of botanical potpourri or dried flowers to diffuse throughout a room while hiding the mixture.
Handle & Grip Details
No handles present. The lid is gripped by the raised scrollwork on the dome; it sits flush within the upper rim flange.
Craftsmanship Details
Shows high-quality assembly with well-integrated cast borders. Modern machine-spinning is evident in the uniform thinness of the bowl's central walls.
Authentication Indicators
The color of the luster suggests a silver plate rather than solid sterling. The absence of prominent sterling hallmarks on the outer rim is a primary indicator of plated status.
Origin & Manufacturing
Most commonly English (Sheffield/Birmingham) or American (New England factories). Produced using industrial plating techniques mixed with hand-finishing.
Era & Period
Late Victorian/Edwardian Revival style. Likely manufactured in the Mid-20th Century (1930s-1960s) imitating 19th-century aesthetics.
Age Estimate
Circa 1940-1960. The crispness of the border motifs and the specific style of the pedestal foot suggest a mid-century reproduction of earlier styles.
Cultural Significance
Represents the transition of silver from exclusively high-society luxury to a middle-class aspirational household staple through the accessibility of electroplating.
Condition Notes
Very Good condition with visible light tarnish in the crevices of the decorative border. Some 'bleeding' of base metal (copper) may be present on high points of the lid if polished excessively over time.
Value Estimate
$40 - $125 depending on the specific maker and the amount of silver plate wear ('bleeding').
Care & Maintenance
Clean with a mild silver cream (Wright's) and a soft cloth; avoid dipping solutions which can strip the thin silver layer and damage the base metal underneath.
Similar Pieces
English Sterling Rose Bowls (which typically have hallmarked sides) or American Sterling 'Francis I' bowls which carry deeper, more complex floral reliefs.
Interesting Facts
Items like this were essential in the 19th and early 20th century for managing indoor air quality before modern air fresheners, using high-quality dried botanicals.