Wm. A. Rogers Silver Plate on Brass Oval Serving Tray, Pattern 1438
Hollowware - Oval Serving Tray/Platter · Wm. A. Rogers, a prominent American silversmithing brand founded in the 1890s. The company was later acquired by Oneida Ltd. in 1929 and became one of their most prolific silverplate lines.
Pattern: Pattern No. 1438; a classic Georgian-revival style featuring a chased/engraved floor with scroll and foliate motifs. This pattern was likely mass-produced during the mid-20th century.
Type
Hollowware - Oval Serving Tray/Platter
Maker
Wm. A. Rogers, a prominent American silversmithing brand founded in the 1890s. The company was later acquired by Oneida Ltd. in 1929 and became one of their most prolific silverplate lines.
Material
Silver Plated on Brass. The base metal is brass (an alloy of copper and zinc), which was electroplated with a thin layer of fine silver. This is indicated by the 'Silver Plate on Brass' stamp.
Dimensions
Estimated at 12 to 16 inches in length based on standard platter sizes. Since it is silverplate on brass, it is heavier than a sterling equivalent but does not carry intrinsic bullion value.
Description
This is a quintessential piece of American mid-century banquet ware. Designed for durability and formal presentation, the tray features a dense, scrolling foliate pattern across its center to provide visual interest and practical scratch resistance. The Wm. A. Rogers mark identifies it as a reliable domestic product intended to provide the look of fine sterling at an accessible price point for the average household.
Key Features
Explicit 'Silver Plate on Brass' marking; the 1438 catalog number; machine-etched floor decoration; oval form with multi-stepped rim.
Material & Composition
Silver Plated on Brass. The base metal is brass (an alloy of copper and zinc), which was electroplated with a thin layer of fine silver. This is indicated by the 'Silver Plate on Brass' stamp.
Finish & Decoration
The tray features a mirror-polished rim with a chased or machine-etched floor. The decoration includes elaborate rococo scrolls, plumes, and floral elements designed to mask surface scratches during use.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Stamped 'Wm. A. ROGERS' in a rectangular cartouche, followed by the explicit composition mark 'SILVER PLATE ON BRASS' and the production/catalog number '1438'. No purity marks like 'Sterling' or '925' are present.
Construction Details
Machine-pressed and stamped from a sheet of brass, then electroplated. The decorative etching on the floor is likely machine-engraved rather than hand-chased, typical of mass-produced 20th-century silverplate.
Functional Features
Features a raised rim (gallery) to contain fluids or items; the etched center provides a non-slip surface for glasses or serving dishes and hides knife marks.
Handle & Grip Details
None visible in image; likely a rimmed tray without separate handles, though some variations of this period had applied cast-metal handles.
Craftsmanship Details
Industrial-grade craftsmanship. The etching is precise but repetitive, lacking the variations of hand-work. The stamping of the brand mark is clean, indicating high-volume factory production standards.
Authentication Indicators
The markings are consistent with authentic Oneida/Wm. A. Rogers silverplate. The 'bottom' stamp is clearly die-struck. The weight and 'feel' of brass-based plate are distinct from the more resonant ring of solid sterling.
Origin & Manufacturing
United States of America, likely manufactured in Oneida, New York, or a similar industrial hub following the Oneida acquisition of the Rogers brand.
Era & Period
Mid-Century Traditional/Colonial Revival (c. 1940-1960). It mimics 18th-century English Georgian aesthetics for a middle-class American market.
Age Estimate
Circa 1940-1970. The font style of the stamps and the 'Silver Plate on Brass' wording are indicative of mid-to-late 20th-century commercial production.
Cultural Significance
Represents the democratization of 'fine dining' in post-war America, where silver-plated hollowware became a staple of wedding registries and formal Sunday dinners for the burgeoning middle class.
Condition Notes
Good. There are visible surface scratches consistent with use. No significant 'bleeding' (where brass shows through the silver) is immediately obvious in the center, though light tarnish is present in the crevices of the etching.
Value Estimate
$15 - $45 USD. Value is primarily functional or decorative rather than as an investment, as there is no scrap silver value. Condition of the plating is the primary price driver.
Care & Maintenance
Clean with a mild silver polish like Wright’s Silver Cream. Avoid abrasive pads which will strip the thin silver layer and reveal the yellow brass underneath. Store in a tarnish-resistant cloth bag.
Similar Pieces
1847 Rogers Bros 'Heritage' patterns (often silver on copper), or Reed & Barton 'Winthrop' silverplate. These differ primarily in the base metal (copper vs brass) and the specific scroll motifs.
Interesting Facts
The 'Rogers' name in American silver is famously confusing; there were dozens of unrelated companies using the name (1847 Rogers Bros, Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co, etc.) leading to significant trademark litigation in the late 19th century.