Victorian Style Silver Plate Repoussé Footed Bonbon Dish
Hollowware (Bonbon or Nut Dish) · Unknown manufacturer; likely an American or European commercial producer of silver-plated decorative wares. The lack of distinct high-end marks suggests a mass-market manufacturer from the late 19th or early 20th century.
Pattern: Generic Multi-Floral Repoussé pattern featuring daisies or mums; similar in aesthetic to S. Kirk & Son Kirk Stieff floral motifs but executed in a lower-grade production method.
Type
Hollowware (Bonbon or Nut Dish)
Maker
Unknown manufacturer; likely an American or European commercial producer of silver-plated decorative wares. The lack of distinct high-end marks suggests a mass-market manufacturer from the late 19th or early 20th century.
Material
Silver Plate (likely Electroplated Nickel Silver - EPNS). Evidence of 'bleeding' and green verdigris corrosion suggests a base metal of copper or nickel alloy with a thin silver coating that has significantly worn away.
Dimensions
Approximately 6-7 inches in length and 3-4 inches in width. Weight estimate is 150-250 grams. This is a small 'individual' or 'side table' size for serving sweets.
Description
This is a charming but heavily worn silver-plated footed dish designed for the Victorian parlor. The central well is densely decorated with raised floral blooms against a textured ground, a technique designed to catch the light. While once a bright centerpiece for serving bonbons, the silver layer has suffered from years of over-polishing or exposure, revealing the darker base metal beneath.
Key Features
High-relief floral repoussé; stippled background; scrolled handles; footed base; significant patina/wear indicative of age and base metal composition.
Material & Composition
Silver Plate (likely Electroplated Nickel Silver - EPNS). Evidence of 'bleeding' and green verdigris corrosion suggests a base metal of copper or nickel alloy with a thin silver coating that has significantly worn away.
Finish & Decoration
Repoussé and chased floral decoration with a stippled or 'martelé' background texture. Features a scrolled border with beaded edges and shell-like handle elements. The style is Neo-Rococo / Late Victorian.
Hallmarks & Stamps
No hallmarks are visible in the image. Typically, such pieces would be stamped 'EPNS', 'Silver on Copper', or feature a numerical catalog serial number on the underside of the base.
Construction Details
Likely die-struck or machine-pressed rather than hand-raised. The handles and feet appear to be cast pieces that have been soldered onto the central body. The thinness of the metal suggests a industrial manufacturing process.
Functional Features
Low-profile bowl for dry confectionery; includes integral scrolled handles for carrying and three or four small cabriole-style feet for elevation.
Handle & Grip Details
Open-work scrolled handles integrated into the rim design. These are cast white metal or brass, silver-plated, and soldered to the bowl ends.
Craftsmanship Details
Lower-tier commercial craftsmanship. The relief is somewhat blurred, and the soldering at the feet shows signs of mass production rather than the seamless joinery found in artisan-grade silver.
Authentication Indicators
The presence of green oxidation is a primary indicator that this is NOT solid sterling silver, as silver oxidation (tarnish) is black/grey. The softness of the details suggests a worn die-stamp rather than crisp hand-chasing.
Origin & Manufacturing
Likely United States or United Kingdom. Large centers like Birmingham (UK) or Meriden, CT (USA) produced millions of these plated items for the burgeoning middle class.
Era & Period
Late Victorian or Edwardian (c. 1890-1915). The floral repoussé style exploded in popularity during this time as a symbol of Victorian 'horror vacui' (fear of empty spaces) in interior design.
Age Estimate
Circa 1900-1920 based on the decorative style, the heavy oxidation patterns, and the wear on the plating.
Cultural Significance
Represents the 'democratization of luxury' during the Industrial Revolution, where plating techniques allowed middle-class families to own items that mimicked the solid silver services of the aristocracy.
Condition Notes
Poor to Fair condition. Significant loss of silver plating (plate-ware), heavy tarnish, and green verdigris (copper oxidation) in the crevices. Structural integrity appears fine, but the aesthetic value is diminished by the surface degradation.
Value Estimate
$5.00 - $15.00 USD. Value is primarily decorative/nominal due to the base metal being exposed and the lack of a prestigious maker's mark.
Care & Maintenance
This piece requires gentle cleaning with warm soapy water and a very soft cloth. Avoid abrasive polishes or 'silver dips,' as they will remove the remaining thin layer of silver and expose more of the base metal.
Similar Pieces
Sterling silver versions by S. Kirk & Son or Stieff (which would be much more valuable and marked 'Sterling'); or contemporary pewter reproductions which lack the shine of silver plate.
Interesting Facts
Bonbon dishes like this were essential social tools in the 19th century; offering sweets was a sign of hospitality and wealth, as sugar remained a luxury commodity until the late 1800s.