Silver Piece Dating Guide
Overlap in periods and influences always occur. This guide may be helpful in determining the circa in which a piece was produced.
BLACK COFFEE SETS
Used for serving after dinner coffee
Sets included small cups, cream jug, and a sugar bowel
Popular 1880 - 1910
BON BON DISHES
Small candy dishes with one handle, frequently round.
Introduced 1890s
BREAD TRAYS
Oval shaped bread trays introduced 1890s
BRIDES BASKETS & BOWLS
Silverplate frame or stand holding glass bowel
Glass cut/engraved crystal/ clear pressed glass used 1861-1896
Glass had ruffled/ fluted edges, elaborate decorations after 1886
Generally, bride's basket handles were stationary
BUTTER DISHES
Popular in 1880s, introduced 1850s
Perforated glass dish for butter 1870s
BUTTON HOOKS
Created late 1860s
Numerously produced 1870 - 1920s
CAKE AND FRUIT BASKETS
Generally, cake baskets have hinged handles
Cake baskets do not have glass inserts
Low pedestals or short feet, round or oval shape 1850s - 1860s
Square or rectangular shaped - 1870s
Round shaped, tall legs, and very ornamented - 1880s
Short legs, less ornamented - 1890s
Replaced by flat trays - 1900s
CANDLESTICKS/CANDELABRAS
Fluted concave columns, low relief, stepped feet 1780- 1830
Stems: Egyptian mummies, Roman soldiers 1830-1840
Stems of twisted grape vines full of grapes 1840-1850
Columnar stems, branches at right angles 1870-1900
CANDLE SNUFFERS
Held on a stand 1785- 1805
Kept on a tray 1805 -
Bell-shaped or scissors style
CARD RECEIVERS
Important in Victorian era 1860s - 1900
Simple small tray 1860 -1870
1870-1890 elaborate
1890-1910 simpler
CASTORS (frame or stand for holding cruets)
CRUET (glass bottle for holding condiments)
Originally for mustard and pepper
Four cruet sets: sweet oil, vinegar, salt, mustard
Five cruet sets: sweet oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and mustard
Five cruet sets: sweet oil, vinegar, cayenne and black pepper, mustard
Castors became popular in 1840s, short legs and low frames
Fancy castors introduced 1850s
Revolving castors introduced 1855 - short in stature
Revolving castors tall in stature - 1880s
Castors went out of style in the 1890s
CELLERY STANDS
Tall with colored glass 1860s - 1900s
CHAFING DISHES
Popular in 1890s
CHILD SETS
Children's flatware forks & knifes 1860s
Spoons added 1870s
Baby plates early 1880s
Baby sets include a napkin ring and mug 1880s
Baby sets with figures, Buster Brown and storybook heroes 1890s
Food pushers introduced 1890s
Baby spoons handles formed to a loop late 1890s
Etching of verses appeared late 1890s
Pictures added to spoon bowls late 1890s
Juvenile sets introduced with cartoon characters 1930s
Long handles 1940s
CHOCOLATE POTS
Have a short spout
Does not have a filter inside of spout
COFFEE POTS
If an all metal-handle probably made after 1850
1849 Henry Reed used pieces of oyster shell as insulation on handles
Later, ivory or wood insets were used on handles
Spouts are typically long and sometimes arched
Does have a filter inside of spout to keep grounds from the cup when pouring
EPERGNE
Is a large centerpiece
Several bowls for holding flowers, fruits, sweet meats,
Glass became an important component 1860 - 1870
FISH SERVERS
Knife and fork with wide blades
Forks with four prongs
Handles of silver or mother-of-pearl
Knife almost covered with engraved fishing motifs
1890s
GRAVY BOATS
Gray boats have pouring lips at both ends
HOOKS
Hooks were sold in sizes appropriate for both glove and shoe buttons
ICE WATER PITCHERS
Double walled pitchers introduced mid 1850s
Earliest inner lining was made from metal
Second generation liners were porcelain or glass 1860s
Third generation liners were porcelain enameled on hard metal
Tilting water pitchers 1870s
LADY CHATELAINES
Engraved with floral patterns, Moorish designs 1850-1860
Ornamentation with glitter or enamel 1870s
MATCH SAFES
Produced 1890s - 1910
MUSTARD POTS
Late 1760s mustard pots began replacing mustard casters
Used from 1840s to early 1900s
Glass liners prevented discoloration of silver
Lid has an opening for a mustard spoon
NAPKIN RINGS
First produced 1860s
Figural napkin rings are of American Origin
OIL LAMPS, VICTORIAN SILVERPLATE
Decorated glass shades with Silver-plated bases
Whale oil used 1800 - 1845
Early 1850s kerosene lamps
Meriden Britannia Co. produced oil & grease lamps in britannia 1855
Electorliers late 1880s
Rochester lamp introduced 1884
Manufacturers of Silverplate wares dropped out of lamps 1900s
PICKLE CASTORS
Became very popular in 1880s
PORRINGER
A shallow bowel with a single handle
Made from pewter 1700s
Made from Britannia pewter 1800s
Handle designs; Crown, Old English, Flowers, Hearts & Crescents, PA, RI, Scroll
English porringer (Bleeding Bowel) has two handles
SALT CELLARS
Salt cellars are also know as opens salts, salt dishes, or salt dips
Trencher salts are a type of salt-cellar which sit flat on a table, no legs or feet
Cauldron (shaped) salts have a shallow bowl and sit on 3 or 4 short legs
High quality salts have a glass liner or gilded interior to protect against corrosion
American silver plate salts were usually round with a diameter of 2 to 3 inches
Cauldron salts were popular late 18th early 19th centuries
Cauldron, trencher, capstan, and boat shaped salts were popular thru the 1940's
Over-decoration was characteristic of the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901)
In the 2nd half of the 19th century, larger salts were referred to as master salts
SPOON HOLDERS
Vase shaped with two handles 1855 - 1870
Inverted bell shaped, fancier designs 1870s
Combination sugar bowls and spoon racks appeared mid 1870s
Creative designs, spoon boats 1880s
SPOONS
First patented medicine spoon 1852
Also called invalid or "Pap" spoons
Moustache spoon patented 1873
STIRRUP CUPS
Shape of animal heads 1760 -
SWEETMEAT BASKETS
About 6 inches long, shallow baskets with finely pierced rims
After about 1890, pierced work baskets became increasingly flimsy
TOOTHPICK HOLDERS
American, toothpick holders were introduced in 1880s, remained popular until 1920s
The National Toothpick Holder Collectors' Society (NTHCS) is a resource for collectors
Figurals are a unique category of toothpicks holders, highly prized
By the 1880s toothpicks were fashionable, and the need for holders widespread
WAITERS
Trays fit curve of body 1870s - 1880
Other Silver Dating Guides and Information
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