Sheffield Reproduction Silver Plate Tray or Hollowware
Hollowware (likely Tray, Platter, or Covered Dish base) · The piece is marked Sheffield Reproduction. This is a trade name used by various manufacturers, commonly associated with EPNS (Electroplated Nickel Silver) makers like Sheridan or similar mid-century American and British firms intended to mimic the aesthetic of Old Sheffield Plate.
Pattern: Sheffield Reproduction series; often features Gadroon or Shell-and-Scroll borders. The specific pattern name is rarely recorded for these reproduction lines beyond their descriptive style.
Type
Hollowware (likely Tray, Platter, or Covered Dish base)
Maker
The piece is marked Sheffield Reproduction. This is a trade name used by various manufacturers, commonly associated with EPNS (Electroplated Nickel Silver) makers like Sheridan or similar mid-century American and British firms intended to mimic the aesthetic of Old Sheffield Plate.
Material
Electroplated Nickel Silver (EPNS). The base metal is a nickel-copper-zinc alloy, electrolytically coated with a thin layer of fine silver. It is not sterling silver.
Dimensions
Dimensions vary by form but typically range from 10 to 24 inches for trays; weight is generally heavy due to the nickel-brass base metal but lacks the intrinsic value of troy-ounce sterling.
Description
A classic example of mid-20th-century silver-plated hollowware. This piece utilizes the 'Sheffield Reproduction' moniker to leverage the prestige of 18th-century English silver while providing a durable, affordable alternative for modern households. Its mirror-like finish and pseudo-hallmarks offer a stately appearance suitable for formal dining.
Key Features
Prominent 'Sheffield Reproduction' Gothic stamp; pseudo-hallmarks designed to imitate sterling marks; EPNS letter shields; catalog/design number 1686.
Material & Composition
Electroplated Nickel Silver (EPNS). The base metal is a nickel-copper-zinc alloy, electrolytically coated with a thin layer of fine silver. It is not sterling silver.
Finish & Decoration
High-polish mirror finish with decorative borders. Features include die-struck hallmarks intended to look like 18th-century assay marks. Decorative styles typically follow Georgian or Victorian motifs.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Stamped with 'Sheffield Reproduction' in a Gothic font. Below are pseudo-hallmarks: its EPNS status is indicated by the letters 'E', 'P', 'N', 'S' in individual shields, accompanied by a crown (mimicking a city mark) and a lion (mimicking a purity mark), plus the design number '1686'.
Construction Details
Machine-made and die-struck. The decorative elements are stamped rather than hand-chased. The silver layer is applied via electroplating rather than the fusion process used in authentic Old Sheffield Plate.
Functional Features
Designed for serving or display; features a flat polished surface and potentially raised rims to prevent liquid runoff. Solid, durable construction for domestic use.
Handle & Grip Details
If a tray, it may have cast handles soldered to the ends; if a dish, likely a central finial or side handles. Usually made of the same base metal and plated over.
Craftsmanship Details
Factory-produced with machine-stamped decoration. The 'hallmarks' are part of the mold or die-striking process rather than being struck by hand after manufacture. Reliable but not artisanal quality.
Authentication Indicators
The 'EPNS' stamp is the primary indicator that this is plate, not sterling. Authentic Sheffield Plate (fused) does not usually have Gothic 'Reproduction' stamps. The marks are arranged to mimic high-end silver but fail to meet official assay office standards.
Origin & Manufacturing
Manufactured in either the United States or England (likely USA or Birmingham, UK). These pieces were mass-produced in factories for the middle-market consumer who desired the look of antique silver.
Era & Period
20th Century (likely 1940s-1970s). While it references the Georgian 'Sheffield Plate' era (1770-1840), the manufacturing techniques and 'EPNS' marks place it firmly in the mid-to-late 20th century.
Age Estimate
Circa 1950-1970 based on the crispness of the stamp and the specific 'Sheffield Reproduction' branding style.
Cultural Significance
Reflects the post-war trend of democratized luxury, where middle-class families could own 'silver' that mirrored the aristocratic patterns of the Enlightenment and Regency periods.
Condition Notes
The surface shows 'plate wear' and light scratching. Some areas show a yellowish tint where the silver plate is thinning (bleeding), exposing the nickel base underneath. Moderate tarnish in crevices. Grade: Good.
Value Estimate
$20 - $75 USD. Value is based purely on decorative utility rather than metal content. Large, ornate trays command the higher end of the range.
Care & Maintenance
Clean with a non-abrasive silver cream (like Wright's). Avoid over-polishing or silver 'dips,' as the silver layer is very thin and can be easily rubbed away to reveal the base metal. Store in a tarnish-resistant cloth.
Similar Pieces
Sheridan Silver Co. trays, Reed & Barton silver-plate lines, and International Silver Co. hollowware. Identifiable by their similar use of shield-shaped pseudo-marks and 'EP' designations.
Interesting Facts
The term 'Sheffield Reproduction' was a marketing strategy; true 'Old Sheffield Plate' was a fused copper/silver sandwich that became obsolete after the invention of electroplating in the 1840s. These pieces were very popular wedding gifts in the 1950s.