Wallace Silver Co. Silver Plate Hollowware Base
Hollowware (Base of a Pitcher, Vase, or Bowl) · Wallace Silversmiths (formerly R. Wallace & Sons), founded in 1833 by Robert Wallace in Wallingford, Connecticut. One of the most prominent American silver manufacturers of the 19th and 20th centuries, known for high-quality silver plate and sterling patterns like Grand Baroque.
Pattern: Pattern No. 914; a utilitarian or commercial-grade hollowware design typically produced in the mid-20th century.
Type
Hollowware (Base of a Pitcher, Vase, or Bowl)
Maker
Wallace Silversmiths (formerly R. Wallace & Sons), founded in 1833 by Robert Wallace in Wallingford, Connecticut. One of the most prominent American silver manufacturers of the 19th and 20th centuries, known for high-quality silver plate and sterling patterns like Grand Baroque.
Material
Silver Plate (Electroplated Nickel Silver - EPNS). The base metal is likely a copper-nickel-zinc alloy, evidenced by the greenish oxidation (verdigris) visible at the center wear point.
Dimensions
Estimated diameter of 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm). Weight is typical for heavy-gauge hotel-style silver plate, providing significant heft for stability.
Description
This is the underside of a circular silver-plated hollowware piece manufactured by the Wallace Silver Company. The item exemplifies the 'Hotel Plate' style—durable, heavy-duty silver plating intended for frequent use and polishing. The marking is clear, showing the company's mid-century branding. The wear patterns on the base indicate a history of being slid across table surfaces, typical of a pitcher or a large serving bowl.
Key Features
Distinctive Wallace script logo, pattern number 914, spinning marks characteristic of automated manufacture, and a recessed base for stability.
Material & Composition
Silver Plate (Electroplated Nickel Silver - EPNS). The base metal is likely a copper-nickel-zinc alloy, evidenced by the greenish oxidation (verdigris) visible at the center wear point.
Finish & Decoration
Satin or brushed finish on the underside with a polished exterior. The decoration on the base is minimal and functional, featuring a slightly recessed center to ensure mechanical stability on flat surfaces.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Stamped 'Wallace Silver Co.' in cursive script and the numerical code '914'. The absence of the word 'Sterling' or silver purity marks (like .925) confirms this is a plated item.
Construction Details
Spun construction from a flat sheet of nickel silver, characterized by the faint concentric circular lines visible on the surface. The piece shows evidence of a central lathe point where the metal was gripped during the spinning process.
Functional Features
Weighted or heavy-gauge base designed to prevent tipping; the central indentation suggests it may have once had a central screw or solder point for an internal weight or decorative finial.
Handle & Grip Details
Not visible in this view; however, the base construction implies a body that was either soldered or friction-fitted to a vertical vessel.
Craftsmanship Details
Machine-spun with high precision. The stamping is deep and legible, indicating a high-quality production die. While not hand-wrought, it shows the robust industrial craftsmanship of the New England silver valley era.
Authentication Indicators
The 'Wallace Silver Co.' stamp is consistent with genuine mid-20th-century American silver plate. The wear patterns and metal color at the corrosion site are consistent with nickel-silver base metal.
Origin & Manufacturing
Made in Wallingford, Connecticut, USA. Produced in a large-scale factory setting using mechanized metal-forming techniques common to the American silver industry.
Era & Period
Mid-Century Modern / Industrial Era (c. 1940-1960). The simplified typography and manufacture style reflect 20th-century mass production for commercial or domestic institutional use.
Age Estimate
Circa 1940-1955. The specific marking style and the numerical series '914' align with Wallace's mid-century production of hollowware.
Cultural Significance
Represents the mid-century American transition toward durable, mass-produced luxury goods that mimicked the look of solid silver but were accessible to the middle class and the hospitality industry.
Condition Notes
Fair to Good. Significant surface tarnish and oxidation are present. There is a notable spot of corrosion/pitting in the center where the silver plating has worn through to the base metal, exposing green copper-carbonate salts (verdigris). Extensive scratching and 'table wear'.
Value Estimate
$10.00 - $30.00 USD. Value is limited due to it being silver plate rather than solid silver, and the visible wear-through of the plating in the center.
Care & Maintenance
Clean with a mild silver cream (e.g., Wright's) but avoid over-polishing the center where the plating is already thin. Do not submerge in chemical 'dips' as they can accelerate the corrosion of the exposed base metal.
Similar Pieces
Reed & Barton 'Heritage' plate or International Silver 'Hotel' line. These competitors also used numerical coding systems and similar heavy-duty electroplating processes.
Interesting Facts
Robert Wallace, the founder, purchased the secret for 'German Silver' (nickel silver) from a chemist, which allowed his company to become a leader in durable silver-plated products before they eventually moved into high-end Sterling.