Silverplate - General

Silverplating refers to a process by which a thin layer of silver covers another usually less expensive metal that serves as the base. Examples of objects that are frequently silverplated include trays, silverware, candlesticks, pitchers, and tureens. While some silverplate objects are pure silver and others are forged from a variety of different alloys, the most common base is copper.

Thomas Boulsover of the Sheffield Cutlers Company developed the technique of silverplating in 1743. He found that virtually any object that had been manufactured from sterling silver could be replicated using silverplating at a fraction of the cost. Boulsover began by manufacturing buttons that consisted of a paper-thin layer of silver applied to the surface of a copper ingot and eventually expanded into a range of items including trays, tankers, and mugs.

While the Sheffield plating technique is still employed to manufacture objects that are subject to heavy wear and tear, the electroplating process is most commonly used today. This process of silverplating, developed by the legendary silversmith George Elkington, allows the maker to apply an even thinner layer than the Sheffield technique and produces a more lustrous finish. Silverplate allows collectors to enjoy all of the beauty of silver at a much more affordable price point.