Verger's Wand
ca. 1810 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Church officials used this verger’s wand as a symbol of office at ceremonial public events. This particular wand is made of Sheffield plate, a thin layer of silver fused to a copper core that provided a cheaper alternative to sterling silver.
Sheffield plate originated in 1742. A Sheffield cutler, Thomas Boulsover (1704-1788), discovered that silver and copper in unequal proportions could be fused by heating under pressure, rolled into sheets of laminated metal and worked like silver. The Sheffield plate industry flourished for approximately one hundred years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s.
Sheffield plate originated in 1742. A Sheffield cutler, Thomas Boulsover (1704-1788), discovered that silver and copper in unequal proportions could be fused by heating under pressure, rolled into sheets of laminated metal and worked like silver. The Sheffield plate industry flourished for approximately one hundred years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Sheffield plate, a laminate of sterling silver fused on to a copper core. |
| Brief description | Sheffield plate Verger's wand, English, ca. 1810 |
| Physical description | Mace, of Sheffield Plate with turned ebony shaft. The head is cup shaped surmounted by three scrolls and a ball and spike finial rising from a rosette. The shaft is banded with mouldings. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Old Number LOST 61 The verger's wand was a symbol of office used by church officials at ceremonial public events. |
| Summary | Church officials used this verger’s wand as a symbol of office at ceremonial public events. This particular wand is made of Sheffield plate, a thin layer of silver fused to a copper core that provided a cheaper alternative to sterling silver. Sheffield plate originated in 1742. A Sheffield cutler, Thomas Boulsover (1704-1788), discovered that silver and copper in unequal proportions could be fused by heating under pressure, rolled into sheets of laminated metal and worked like silver. The Sheffield plate industry flourished for approximately one hundred years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s. |
| Other number | M.4-2000 - Cancelled number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.4-2000 |
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| Record created | March 16, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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