International Silver Co. 'Chippendale' Pattern Silver-Plated Round Salver
Hollowware (Tray/Salver) · International Silver Company (Meriden, CT), founded 1898 through a merger of multiple independent silversmiths including Rogers Bros and Meriden Britannia. It became one of the largest silver manufacturers in the world.
Pattern: Chippendale (reinterpreted Neo-Rococo style). Introduced mid-20th century. One of the most ubiquitous and enduring commercial plated patterns for tea service accessories.
Type
Hollowware (Tray/Salver)
Maker
International Silver Company (Meriden, CT), founded 1898 through a merger of multiple independent silversmiths including Rogers Bros and Meriden Britannia. It became one of the largest silver manufacturers in the world.
Material
Electroplated Nickel Silver (EPNS). The base is a copper-nickel-zinc alloy known as 'nickel silver' which is electro-chemically coated with a thin layer of fine silver.
Dimensions
Estimated 12-14 inches in diameter. Weight unknown, but substantial due to the dense base metal; likely 600-900 grams range. Standard service size for a water pitcher or tea set.
Description
An elegant and durable example of American mid-century hollowware. This round salver serves as an ideal base for a coffee pot or as a delivery tray for cocktails. It features a lush, scrolled decorative field and a heavy shell-and-scroll border that provides a sense of Victorian opulence at an accessible price point.
Key Features
The most distinguishing feature is the 'Chippendale' shell border combined with the distinctive 'brassiness' or golden tarnish in the engraving, which reveals the silver layer is thin in high-friction areas.
Material & Composition
Electroplated Nickel Silver (EPNS). The base is a copper-nickel-zinc alloy known as 'nickel silver' which is electro-chemically coated with a thin layer of fine silver.
Finish & Decoration
High-polish mirror center with flat-chased or machine-engraved scroll and foliate cartouche; the rim features a deeply embossed die-struck border of shells, scrolls, and acanthus leaves in the Rococo Revival style. Partial golden tarnish (sulfidation) is visible in the center.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Typically stamped with the 'IS' logo inside a shield or circle, or 'International Silver Company', followed by 'EPNS' or 'Silverplate' and a numerical model number (e.g., 6023). No sterling lion or '925' marks indicate it is plated.
Construction Details
Machine-manufactured. The main body is spun or pressed, while the ornate decorative rim is die-struck or cast and then soldered to the flat plate. Edges are finished with a rolled or applied decorative border.
Functional Features
Flat surface for stability of stemware; raised decorative edge to prevent spills. It may have small applied bracket feet on the underside for elevation.
Handle & Grip Details
No handles present (Salver style); designed to be carried from the underside or rim.
Craftsmanship Details
High-quality industrial craftsmanship. Solder joints for the rim are well-hidden, and the die-striking is deep and clear, though lacking the unique variations found in hand-chased sterling.
Authentication Indicators
The lack of British hallmarks or 'Sterling' marks confirms its status as plated. The design language is consistent with mass-market American manufacturers of the 1950s.
Origin & Manufacturing
United States, Meriden, Connecticut. Manufactured in high-volume industrial silver factories using automated plating baths.
Era & Period
Mid-20th Century (c. 1940-1970). Stylistically inspired by 18th-century Rococo and Thomas Chippendale's furniture designs, modernized for the American suburban dinner party era.
Age Estimate
Circa 1950-1965. The crispness of the border and the particular yellow-gold hue of the tarnish suggest a mid-century production date.
Cultural Significance
Represents the post-WWII 'Aspiration Class' in America, where families sought to emulate high-society European dining customs using mass-produced electroplated substitutes for solid silver.
Condition Notes
Good condition. There is visible 'bleeding' or heavy tarnish in the chased center where the silver has oxidized to a yellow/brown hue. Surface micro-scratches from previous cleaning are likely. No major dents or deep gouges are visible in the photo.
Value Estimate
$25 - $65 USD. Silver-plated items from this era have low intrinsic metal value and are primarily priced based on utility and decorative appeal.
Care & Maintenance
Gentle hand-cleaning with Wright’s Silver Cream. Avoid abrasive sponges which will strip the thin silver plating off to reveal the yellow-ish base metal underneath. Store in Pacific Silvercloth to prevent the center from darkening further.
Similar Pieces
Wallace 'Grand Baroque' plated trays (more ornate), Reed & Barton 'Winthrop' (more lobed form), or Gorham 'Chantilly' plated wares (more floral).
Interesting Facts
The International Silver Co. was so successful during this period that it supplied almost all major department stores in the US, making this specific 'Chippendale' style one of the most recognized designs in mid-class American homes.