posted 08-07-2009 01:37 PM            

I have attached links to 2 pictures, and can provide this additional information:
It is silverplate
The word "Sheffield" is on the back
The work "hand cased" is on the back
Three marks are on it: profile of a man, maybe an eagle, and the 3rd is not distinguishable.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

posted 08-07-2009 02:05 PM            

I assume you are at work (possible Fedex Kansas) and are too busy to read the Guidelines or the yellow box at the start of this page.

The SSF is not the place to get help with or to do business research.

posted 08-07-2009 02:16 PM            

Thank you for your reply. I am confused, however, as I thought that I was following the guidelines.

I have explained that I am interested in information on this silver service set and am trying to find out more about it. I have attached pictures. I have not asked for values or any business advice.

If you need more information than I have provided, I will explain further: I have been looking for some time at local Estate Sales at Silver Coffee/Tea Service Sets. This will be my first piece(s) to collect. This particular sale is approximately 1.5 hours from my home, so I only have these pictures and information from the homeowner as to the what is on the bottom.

This is a personal purchase and has nothing to do with business or business research. I am not asking for values or anything, just if anyone recognizes this pattern. The homeowner does not know that so I thought I would ask silver experts for any insight they might have.

Thank you, I appreciate your time and any information that you might be able to provide.

posted 08-07-2009 02:30 PM            

Thank you for the explanation. Since this is your first post, it would be best if you were asking questions and discussing your general interests in collecting silver. It would help us to get to know you better.

Wanting to learn the more about the tea set is something our members like to discuss.

It would be best to do this post after the sale has concluded. We do not discuss ongoing sales or auctions.

If you buy the set please post clear images of the marks.

Thanks

posted 08-07-2009 02:40 PM            

Thank you very much for the explanation. I understand now. I am an extreme neophyte when it comes to silver. I think that is why it has taken me so long to buy a Silver Service set. I don't know anything about all of this so was trying to find out anything I can in order to make a knowledgeable decision. In the past hour I have learned that it is "hand chased" not "hand cased" as I stated.

I hope that I can ask this question: are there any tips that you can provide for a newbie buying silver? As I stated, I don't know anything about marks and all that, if they are a good thing or bad thing, etc... What should be looked at when looking over silver sets, either positive or negative aspects?

Thanks again! I appreciate your feedback and your patience with my questions.

posted 08-07-2009 03:11 PM            

I suspect that most of us started with smaller first purchases; like a spoon, cup, single tray or teapot. On the other hand, if a 6 piece tea set hits the “pitty pat” factor and is affordable then any of us could also have made that our first purchase.

posted 08-07-2009 05:19 PM            

I am not an expert on this like some of the others here, but in general Sheffield plate refers to an earlier style of creating silverplating where a sandwich of a two thin sheets of silver are layered above and below a thick sheet of copper and then the sandwich is fused together under pressure. The resulting material is then used by the factory to make a teapot or spoon or whatever. Typically a small silver wire is added to the edge so you do not see the copper layer there like you do on a modern American quarter or dime. The more modern way of making silverplate is to make your object out of a base metal and then dipping it into a bath of water with an electrical current running through it that has a piece of pure silver on one of the wires in the bath. This causes a bit of the silver to dissolve off of the chunk of pure silver and deposit onto the object being plated. The longer you leave it in the bath, the more silver gets deposited. As you can imagine the modern plating technique is less work intensive.

The reference to hand chasing is a marketing ploy by the company that sold the object to give the impression that the object was not just another machine made thing but that it had a bit of hand engraved design added after it came out of the machine manufacturing process.

If you go to the silver plate section of the forum there are many fascinating threads there to learn all manner of things about silverplate.

posted 08-07-2009 06:09 PM            

The set is a department store quality set made sometime after about 1920. Sets like this are still made today. The mark probably does not refer to a maker but to a selling organization. The design was likely owned by a jobber or department store association. Production was put up for bid, and each batch of the tea sets could have been made in different companies. The usual suspects are Poole and Oneida, but almost all the makers took in work in slow seasons.

The small flat bottomed pitcher in the center is a Victorian syrup pitcher, probably in the 1870's or 80's.

The set is a nice useable one with high quality production.

posted 08-07-2009 08:31 PM            

I look forward to learning more...I think my quest and yearning for more is just beginning...

Thanks again,

posted 08-07-2009 08:33 PM            

I had concentrated more on the yellow section than on the green section.

Thank you again for your patience and understanding.

posted 08-09-2009 11:29 PM            

One classical caterer trick to cut down on polishing: use silver nail polish. Others used to heat shrink saranwrap to the trays.