|
Home
>
Worthopedia – Price Guide
>
Metals >
RARE~Antique~Thick Sterling plate hotel~desk~Call Bell
|
Terms and Conditions for using our site |
RARE~Antique~Thick Sterling plate hotel~desk~Call Bell
Sold For:
 or Sign In to see what it's worth.
PLEASE DO NOT BID IF YOU DON'T INTEND ON PAYING! "I COMBINE SHIPPING COSTS TO SAVE YOU MONEY!!!!! " Up for Auction this beautiful antique and extremely rare call bell. It is truely the "creme de la creme" of antique silver, not only for its beautiful workmanship but for its historical background in the technique of its making. This piece was constructed using two very thick sterling silver sheets applied to each side of a base metal. The sterling is very soft and has worn on the bottom edge, the thickness of the three layers is visible. This technique was discovered by a silversmith named Bulsover who worked in Sheffield in the mid- 1700's. In mending a buckle he had occasion to place a piece of copper behind a piece of sterling silver in order to reinforce a break, and when it was red hot he had occasion to tighten the vise which fused the two red hot metals together. The "double sandwich" form of plate was developed around 1770. Used for pieces such as bowls and mugs that had a visible interior, early manufacturers applied a film of solder over the bare edge of copper although such pieces are very rare. Edges of early salvers were hidden by folding them over but from about 1790, borders were applied with a U-shaped pieces of silver wire to conceal the copper which can often be felt as a lip on the underside. Towards the end of the period, solid wire was sometimes used which can be hard to see. This technique was used for approximately 100 years until it was replaced by electro-plating. This type of "sandwich plating is extremely rare and little exists outside museums. In 1840 it was generally replaced with electroplating processes, such as that of Elkington & Co. Electroplating tends to produce a "brilliant" surface with a hard color âe" as it consists of pure rather than sterling silver and it is usually deposited more thinly. Bulsova's plating technique continued to be used for up to a further 100 years for silver plated articles subject to heavy wear, most commonly uniform buttons and tankards. During the 1840-50 period hybrid articles such as sugar bowls were produced with the body being Old Sheffield and complicated small parts such as the feet and handles made from electroplate. These are rare and seldom recognized. Much Old Sheffield seen today may be confused with electroplate. Collectors should be aware that many designs have been reproduced in electroplate, with those from the early 1900s being the hardest to recognize since, like the original items, they seldom have a makers mark. The way to recognize the genuine article is to look for signs that it was soldered from pre-plated metal sheet or wire rather than constructed in base metal and plated afterwards. Sound: This piece has a unbelievable sound, much like one would hear when hitting the edge of a piece of fine crystal. It is a clear, clean and crisp tone that I have not heard in another rival. The top of this piece has a very tiny lattice work and a wave border (this border has been worn over time and is becoming less visible) This degree of wear is expected with a piece of this age. The ringer is a ridged melon shape and is surrounded by an intricate and decorative scroll to each side, leading down to a beautiful raised repousse' foot with a large gadroon border. It measures 5 1/2" tall x 3 5/8". T are several small indentations in the soft edges of he base (they are quite small, like flea bites, and this is typical for its age. This is truely a magnificent and original piece that is probably one of the rarest pieces we have ever come across. We are starting this very LOW WITH No Reserve. (we do not end auctions early for any reason, other than if we have made an error in the listing) We have several rare and unusual pieces up this week from several different estates, so please feel free to take a look at our other auctions. We are alway happy to combine shipping costs to help save you some money...
Items in the Worthopedia are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.
View Similar ItemsMore Items from eBay
|
||||||||||||||||
Joining is free and gives you access to our Community & Forums.
If you are interested in our pricing data or other paid memberships, try our Full 7-day Free Trial Here.
By creating an account you agree to our Terms & Conditions
