Amazing Specimen of Old Sheffield Plate

“Amazing specimen 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. Lead appliqué on sides. An insert of solid sterling silver was placed in the middle of the plate so it could be engraved. This plate sits on three elegant feet and has a very special engraving. Engraving reads “with heart and hand”  Note the heavy roping and shell edge trim.  Late 1700's or early 1800's.  A valuable collector's piece.  9.5” D.  See the copper wear in the photo.

'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.