St. Louis Silver Co. Quadruple Plate Hollowware Piece (No. 914)
Hollowware (likely Tray, Platter, or Serving Dish) · St. Louis Silver Co. (active late 19th–early 20th century in St. Louis, Missouri). Known for high-quality electroplated silver for middle-class American households.
Pattern: Pattern No. 914 (Numerical series indexing system common to late Victorian silverplate manufacturers)
Type
Hollowware (likely Tray, Platter, or Serving Dish)
Maker
St. Louis Silver Co. (active late 19th–early 20th century in St. Louis, Missouri). Known for high-quality electroplated silver for middle-class American households.
Material
Silver Plate (Quadruple Plate); electroplated silver over a base metal (likely white metal or nickel silver) using four times the standard quantity of silver.
Dimensions
Typical platter/tray size: 10–14 inches in length; weight varies but feels heavy due to base metal core.
Description
An American silver-plated hollowware piece by the St. Louis Silver Co., featuring the industrial 'Quadruple Plate' standard common at the turn of the century. The piece represents the democratized luxury of the Gilded Age, where high-style tableware became accessible to the growing middle class.
Key Features
Cursive 'St. Louis Silver Co.' stamp; '914' catalog number; Quadruple plate thickness designation (implied by brand standards).
Material & Composition
Silver Plate (Quadruple Plate); electroplated silver over a base metal (likely white metal or nickel silver) using four times the standard quantity of silver.
Finish & Decoration
Satin/brushed surface finish with signs of heavy oxidation (tarnish) and 'bleeding' where base metal is visible. Style context is late Victorian Industrial.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Stamped with 'St. Louis Silver Co.' in cursive script and the numerical reference '914'. Absence of 'Sterling' indicates a plated item.
Construction Details
Machine-stamped or die-struck from a flat sheet of base metal, then electroplated and machine-polished.
Functional Features
Likely a flat serving surface with raised edges for containing liquids or food items (typical of item 914 variants).
Handle & Grip Details
Identification limited by image; likely integrated rim or applied white metal handles typical of the 900-series line.
Craftsmanship Details
Factory-produced with consistent stamping; evidence of industrial polishing and mechanical shaping rather than hand-wrought details.
Authentication Indicators
Hallmark matches known St. Louis Silver Co. catalog fonts. Wear patterns are consistent with electroplated items (surface abrasions rather than deep tarnish).
Origin & Manufacturing
United States (St. Louis, MO); factory mass-production using early industrial electroplating techniques.
Era & Period
Late Victorian / Gilded Age (c. 1885-1910) following the American industrial silver-plating boom.
Age Estimate
Circa 1890-1905 based on the style of the maker's mark and the popularity of 'Quadruple Plate' marketing.
Cultural Significance
Reflects the rise of the American Midwest as a manufacturing hub and the societal importance of formal dining silver in the late 19th century.
Condition Notes
Poor to Fair. Visible heavy tarnish, surface pitting, and potential 'bleeding' (base metal showing through silver). Significant cleaning wear.
Value Estimate
$15 - $45 USD. Value is decorative/historical rather than intrinsic due to plate loss and lack of solid silver content.
Care & Maintenance
Clean with mild soap and water; use non-abrasive silver cream (Wrights); avoid silver dips which can strip the thin remaining plating.
Similar Pieces
Gorham silverplate platters, Meriden Britannia Co. quadruple plate, or International Silver Co. industrial hollowware.
Interesting Facts
The St. Louis Silver Co. famously marketed their wares as being 'four times as thick' as standard plating to compete with premium East Coast firms like Reed & Barton.