Viking Plate E.P. Copper Lead Mounts Hollowware Bowl
Hollowware (Serving Bowl/Dish) · Viking Plate by Lipman-Levinter Industries. Founded in Toronto, Canada, they were a prolific manufacturer of mid-market silver-plated goods known for durable construction and traditional English-inspired designs.
Pattern: Traditional Georgian-style reeded/stepped pattern. This was a utilitarian line produced for the mass market and often sold through Canadian department stores.
Type
Hollowware (Serving Bowl/Dish)
Maker
Viking Plate by Lipman-Levinter Industries. Founded in Toronto, Canada, they were a prolific manufacturer of mid-market silver-plated goods known for durable construction and traditional English-inspired designs.
Material
Electroplated Copper (E.P. Copper) with lead mounts. This contains no solid silver; it is a base of copper with a thin layer of silver applied via electrolysis. The 'Lead Mounts' refer to the decorative rims or handles being cast in lead/antimony alloy and then plated.
Dimensions
Approximately 8-10 inches in diameter and 3-4 inches high. Weight is relatively heavy due to the copper core and leaded rims, likely between 600-800 grams.
Description
A mid-century Canadian silver-plated copper bowl featuring a classic stepped interior design. Produced under the 'Viking Plate' brand, this piece represents functional elegance designed for the everyday dining room. The heavy copper base provides excellent heat conductivity (though less relevant for a bowl), while the silver plating offers the prestige of silver at a more accessible price point.
Key Features
The unique 'Lead Mounts' stamp which is a specific industry disclosure of the time, the concentric tiered interior design, and the 'Viking Plate' brand name.
Material & Composition
Electroplated Copper (E.P. Copper) with lead mounts. This contains no solid silver; it is a base of copper with a thin layer of silver applied via electrolysis. The 'Lead Mounts' refer to the decorative rims or handles being cast in lead/antimony alloy and then plated.
Finish & Decoration
Polished silver finish with concentric stepped or tiered 'reeding' around the interior walls. The decoration is minimal and neoclassical, focusing on form rather than ornate chasing.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Stamped 'VIKING PLATE', 'E.P. COPPER', and 'LEAD MOUNTS'. It lacks the Canadian beaver mark or sterling lion, indicating it is strictly silver plate. The stamp is machine-impressed in the center of the base.
Construction Details
Spun copper body with applied cast lead decorative elements. The circular striations visible in the image are characteristic of the spinning lathe process used to form the bowl from a flat copper sheet.
Functional Features
Deep, wide basin suitable for serving salads, fruits, or as a decorative centerpiece. The stepped walls provide structural rigidity to the thin copper sheet.
Handle & Grip Details
None visible in this view; the piece is a simple round bowl form with no handles.
Craftsmanship Details
Machine-spun and mass-produced. The quality is solid for home use but lacks the hand-finishing or crisp definition found in high-end sterling or Old Sheffield Plate.
Authentication Indicators
The 'E.P. Copper' mark is a definitive indicator that this is not sterling silver. The weight and construction are consistent with mid-market Canadian silver plate of the mid-century.
Origin & Manufacturing
Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Manufactured by Lipman-Levinter, reflecting the strong British-Canadian silver-plating traditions of the mid-20th century.
Era & Period
Mid-20th Century (Post-WWII Era, c. 1940-1960). It reflects a revival of Georgian shapes intended for the burgeoning middle-class suburban market.
Age Estimate
Circa 1950s. The typography of the 'Viking Plate' stamp and the composition (lead mounts) are hallmarks of Canadian production from the 1940s through the early 60s.
Cultural Significance
Represents the democratization of formal dining in North America following World War II, when plated hollowware allowed middle-class families to emulate the look of traditional British high-society table settings.
Condition Notes
Good to Fair condition. The image shows significant surface scratches (buffing marks) and water spots. There is evidence of 'bleeding' where the silver plate has worn thin, revealing the reddish copper base beneath (found on the interior ridges).
Value Estimate
$15.00 - $35.00 USD. Value is based on decorative utility rather than silver melt value, as there is no recoverable precious metal content in silver-plated copper.
Care & Maintenance
Clean with a very mild silver foam (like Wright’s) and avoid hard scrubbing to prevent further copper 'bleeding'. Do not put in a dishwasher as the lead mounts and copper base can react poorly to high heat and detergents.
Similar Pieces
Pieces by Birks (Rideau Plate) or Sheridan silver plate. Birks is generally considered higher quality, while Viking was the more affordable, durable alternative.
Interesting Facts
The 'Viking' brand was specifically created to compete with British imports; it became a household staple in Canada, to the point where many Canadians inherited these pieces as 'family silver' despite them being silver plate rather than sterling.