Extremely Rare "Old Sheffield Plate" Bottle Cage

“A rare item of Old Sheffield Plate!!,” is what my local silver expert told me when he saw this! It has everything one should look for when identifying this special, historic silver. Rolled edge on the bottom and a seam on the side where the sheets of silver were joined together with a lead applique lining the top. Used to hold bottles of wine for a wealthy family, this elegant piece will be a treasure on your sideboard. The intricate filigree lace design is fabulous, the interior shows the mahogany wood bottom. Underneath is seen the hole in the middle of the wood in  Late 1700's or early 1800's. A valuable collector's piece. 5.25 wide x 5.25 tall. Minor wear but still excellent for a piece almost 200 years old!

'Old Sheffield Plate', an exquisite and rare craftsmanship not to be mistaken for the later and inferior 'SHEFFIELD PLATE' items, stands as a testament to the ingenuity of mid-18th-century British artisans. This unparalleled process involved delicately layering a sheet of lustrous sterling silver over a core of copper, skillfully heating and meticulously rolling it into splendid sheets. These precious sheets were then transformed into an array of opulent table items, ranging from intricate hollow-ware and resplendent trays to elegant candelabras, candlesticks, wine coasters, and, on rare occasions, even exquisite cutlery.