Superb Early Elkington 4 piece silver plate tea set 1852, Excellent condition
Superb Quality early Elkington and Mason 4 piece silver plated tea/coffee set in excellent condition. Date letter for 1852, Tea pot, Coffee pot, milk jug & sugar bowl. The jug & sugar bowl have been gilded inside, the bowl has been used and the gilding is a little faded but the jug looks as if it has hardly been used. No bumps or dents. The lid hinges are sound. The layer of silver was very thick at this time so it shows no signs of wear. The coffee and teapots have been used and the insides are well stained with tannin. I have always loved Victorian and Edwardian silver plate and appreciated its quality and workmanship. I aimed only to collect things in excellent condition. I have many small items such as Butter knives, jam spoons, sifters etc which are very decorative and make lovely original gifts. Tips on caring for your antique silver plate. Electro silver plating began commercially by Elkington in 1840. Obviously it was designed to rival solid silver but at a cheaper price and the layer of silver was very much thicker on earlier pieces than on items electro plated in more recent times. This means they generally have survived very well even when well used. Every time you clean silver a little is worn away so it makes sense to reduce the amount of cleaning if you can, also it reduces the chore! When your items are not actually in use wrap in acid free tissue or a clean cloth, a piece of old sheeting or pillow case is perfect. Place in a poly bag, remove the air and seal. Stored this way they will emerge as bright and shiny as when you put the in, even if stored for several years. With items such as cutlery that are in constant use it pays to cover them in the drawer with a cloth as this keeps the air off them to some extent and they will last longer between cleans. It is also worth sealing cased items in bags to exclude the air. If pieces have separate handles don’t leave them in very hot water. Don’t leave items with separate handles in direct sunlight of they might crack or become damaged. ALWAYS wash items by hand, not in a dish washer. Antique silver or silver plate does need a little extra care but most of the things made in the Victorian and Edwardian periods are so beautiful and beautifully made with lots of hand engraving and piercing they are well worth it. I aim to describe things as accurately as possible with clear photos.
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