Zimmerman 'Prince of Wales' Style Electroplated Nickel Silver Tureen/Bowl
Hollowware (Tureen or Serving Bowl) · Arthur S. Zimmerman Ltd. (Birmingham, UK). Known as a mid-tier reliable manufacturer of hotelware and domestic silver-plate during the late Victorian and Edwardian periods.
Pattern: Chased Scroll and Shell; features a registration number (Rd 509509) indicating a protected design from approximately 1907.
Type
Hollowware (Tureen or Serving Bowl)
Maker
Arthur S. Zimmerman Ltd. (Birmingham, UK). Known as a mid-tier reliable manufacturer of hotelware and domestic silver-plate during the late Victorian and Edwardian periods.
Material
Electroplated Nickel Silver (EPNS). The base metal is a non-ferrous alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc, coated with a thin layer of fine silver via electrolysis. Features tarnish and 'bleeding' where base metal is visible.
Dimensions
Estimated 15-20cm diameter. Weight likely high due to nickel silver base (approx 600-900g). Larger than a sugar bowl, consistent with a small tureen or vegetable server.
Description
This is a robust example of Edwardian domestic hollowware. The piece sits on four elegant hoofed feet that elevate the rounded body, a design choice intended to protect linens from hot contents. While not solid silver, it represents the 'middle-class luxury' of the early 20th century.
Key Features
Registration number Rd 509509; Zimmerman maker's mark; characteristic four-footed hoof base; high-relief soldering points.
Material & Composition
Electroplated Nickel Silver (EPNS). The base metal is a non-ferrous alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc, coated with a thin layer of fine silver via electrolysis. Features tarnish and 'bleeding' where base metal is visible.
Finish & Decoration
Polished silver plate with chased or cast decoration on the legs. The style is Edwardian Neo-Rococo, characterized by the shell-and-hoof style feet and the rounded, bulbous body.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Symbols 'S&Z' in shields for Zimmerman; 'Rd 509509' (UK Registered Design number); '1062' (Pattern/Stock number). The lack of a Lion Passant indicates this is not sterling silver.
Construction Details
Machine-spun or die-stamped body with cast legs and handles. The legs are hard-soldered to the base of the bowl. Visible seams suggest industrial mass-production.
Functional Features
Four-legged stability for heat dissipation on a dining table; rounded interior for ease of serving with a spoon; likely originally had a matching lid (now missing).
Handle & Grip Details
Cast white-metal handles (not fully visible but implied by the tureen form) would have been soldered to the sides. The legs serve as the primary structural grip/support.
Craftsmanship Details
Industrial-grade craftsmanship. The feet are well-cast but the finishing on the bowl shows mass-market production marks typical of the Birmingham trade schools.
Authentication Indicators
The marks are stamped, not struck into the metal (typical of plated copper/nickel). The 'EP' or lack of sterling marks confirms it is silver-plate. Solder joints are slightly oxidized.
Origin & Manufacturing
Birmingham, England. Produced in the West Midlands industrial heartland using standard electroplating baths.
Era & Period
Edwardian (1901-1910). The registration number 509509 dates specifically to 1907, during the height of the British silver-plate export boom.
Age Estimate
Circa 1907-1915. Based on the 1907 design registration date and the style of the Zimmerman makers mark.
Cultural Significance
Reflects the early 20th-century trend of 'Sunday Best' dining, where families used silver-plated items to emulate the aristocratic lifestyle at an affordable price point.
Condition Notes
Poor to Fair. Significant surface oxidation, 'pitting' from moisture, and heavy tarnish. There is evidence of 'bleeding' where the silver layer has worn away to reveal the yellowish nickel base.
Value Estimate
$20 - $45 USD. Value is limited due to the item being silver-plated rather than sterling and its currently poor surface condition.
Care & Maintenance
Clean with mild soap and water first. Use a non-abrasive silver cream (like Wright's). Do not use silver 'dips' as they can strip the remaining thin plating from the nickel base.
Similar Pieces
Walker & Hall EPNS tureens; Elkington & Co. plated services. Both are typically higher quality in plating thickness than Zimmerman.
Interesting Facts
Arthur Zimmerman's firm was one of many in Birmingham that thrived by mimicking the patterns of Paul de Lamerie and other Rococo masters for the burgeoning middle class.