Wonderful Antique Bottle Holder "Old Sheffield Plate"

You've discovered a truly remarkable English antique bottle holder! Its appearance perfectly embodies the essence of an authentic antique piece. Based on the seam on the side where the sterling plates would have been joined, it appears to be Old Sheffield Plate from the 1700s. The presence of copper peeking through adds to its wonderful antique charm. The wood insert is slightly loose and wobbles when handled but not if a bottle is in it. Due to its age and wear, there is notable copper showing through the silver.  It has a width of 5.75 inches and an opening measuring 5 inches wide

More on 'Old Sheffield Plate"
In 1743, Thomas Boulsover, a Sheffield cutler, accidentally discovered that silver could be fused onto copper while repairing a knife handle. This led to the creation of Sheffield Plate, a more affordable alternative to silver. Boulsover began producing buttons and other small items, but his business couldn't expand due to funding issues and bad sales agent recommendations. Other manufacturers in Sheffield saw the potential and started their activity around 1762-1765, with Josiah Hancock producing larger items like coffee pots and candlesticks. Different techniques, such as single-lapped, double-lapped, and silver lapped edge, were introduced from 1768 to 1815.

The craft of Sheffield Plate spread from Sheffield to Birmingham and the rest of England, with notable manufacturers including Matthew Boulton, Thomas Bradbury, Samuel Roberts, and Thomas Nicholson. This affordable alternative became immensely popular, allowing the middle class to own items resembling silver, which was previously limited to aristocrats. The popularity of Sheffield Plate continued until the invention of electro-plating in 1838, which eventually led to the decline of Old Sheffield plate production, though some pieces were still made for another 20 years.