Is early "Plate" really sterling ? - SMP Silver Salon Forums

SM Publications

Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.

SMP | Silver Salon Forums | SSF - Guidelines | SSF - FAQ | Silver Sales

In this Forum we discuss the silver of the United Kingdom, as well as British Colonial silver and Old Sheffield Plate.

Past British - Irish Sterling topics/threads worth a look.

How to Post Photos

Want to be a Moderator?

SMP Silver Salon Forums
tline

British / Irish Sterling
tline3

Is early "Plate" really sterling ?

profile | register | preferences | faq | search

SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone!

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Author	Topic: Is early "Plate" really sterling ?
cbc58 Posts: 341 Registered: Aug 2008	posted 12-05-2021 03:32 PM Can someone explain what the term "plate" means when referring to very old siver? I was looking through early English marks (pre 1750), and many are listed under "London Plate", "Exeter Plate" and "York Plate". Is it really sterling and they just used the term "Plate" for some reason? Also is there a date time frame when it could likely mean something is silverplate? It's a little confusing. Any info appreciated... IP: Logged
PhilO Posts: 166 Registered: Jul 2004	posted 12-05-2021 04:01 PM The word "plate" simply means "silver"; compare the Spanish word for silver, plata. The English silver standard was defined legally so most plate is sterling, 925/1000, except when it is Britannia standard, for example between 1697 and 1720. Phil IP: Logged
cbc58 Posts: 341 Registered: Aug 2008	posted 12-05-2021 08:39 PM Thank you. IP: Logged
ahwt Posts: 2377 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 12-06-2021 08:15 AM John H Buck wrote in Old Plate Ecclesiastical, Decorative and Domestic: Its Makers and Marks: “The designation plate means, strictly speaking, wrought silver, and is derived from the Spanish word plata, although it is frequently wrongly applied to vessels or utensils of gold as well as silver ; hence gold plate is erroneous and silver plate a pleonasm.” To PhilO silver plate is redundant but today, for most, it is perhaps no longer a pleonasm. I must say I do not use the word pleonasm every day. Its origin is mid 16th century: via late Latin from Greek pleonasmos, from pleonazein ‘be superfluous’. I suppose is it always wise not to be pleonazein. Buck’s book is on line in the 1903 edition. The 1888 edition has an interesting cover that I have always liked. [This message has been edited by ahwt (edited 12-06-2021).] IP: Logged

All times are ET	next newest topic \| next oldest topic
Administrative Options: Close Topic \| Archive/Move \| Delete Topic
	Hop to:

Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a

^1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums.
Click here to Register for a Free password

^2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

^3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.

| Home | Order | The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects | The Book of Silver