Argentina Silver
Spoon
1880-1890 (made)
1880-1890 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
“ The substitution of electro-plate for real silver is now so common in households where the latter would be regarded as a superfluous luxury, that the sternest advocate of true principles in art-manufacture would scarcely require an apology for its use.” (Charles Eastlake, Hints on Household Taste, 1878)
George Richard Elkington and his cousin and partner, Henry Elkington successfully developed electroplating, electrotyping and electrogilding processes from earlier experiments and made them commercially viable. The cousins were not inventors but innovators who, by applying the techniques to industry, revolutionized the silver and plating trades all over the world. In the 1840s, licences to make the new products were sold widely in Britain and abroad to firms such as Christofle & Co. in Paris. Electroplate, a cheaper and more durable substitute for silver, replaced Sheffield plate within ten years and challenged the supremacy of silver on the dining tables and in the drawing rooms of Europe.
The power of the machinery and new technology now at the disposal of the silver industry could produce thousands of identical items to a standard formula of design, quality and price. The focus of silver and silver product manufacture moved from London to the new factories of Birmingham and Sheffield.
George Richard Elkington and his cousin and partner, Henry Elkington successfully developed electroplating, electrotyping and electrogilding processes from earlier experiments and made them commercially viable. The cousins were not inventors but innovators who, by applying the techniques to industry, revolutionized the silver and plating trades all over the world. In the 1840s, licences to make the new products were sold widely in Britain and abroad to firms such as Christofle & Co. in Paris. Electroplate, a cheaper and more durable substitute for silver, replaced Sheffield plate within ten years and challenged the supremacy of silver on the dining tables and in the drawing rooms of Europe.
The power of the machinery and new technology now at the disposal of the silver industry could produce thousands of identical items to a standard formula of design, quality and price. The focus of silver and silver product manufacture moved from London to the new factories of Birmingham and Sheffield.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Argentina Silver (manufacturer's title) |
Materials and techniques | Electroplated nickel silver |
Brief description | Tea spoon, electroplated nickel silver trade name 'Argentina Silver' made by Joseph Gilbert and Co. Ltd, England, 1880 - 1890 |
Physical description | Tea Spoon, Fiddle Pattern |
Dimensions |
|
Production type | Mass produced |
Marks and inscriptions | Stamped on the back of the handle in the following sequence; the letter A within a circular shield, the numeral 1 within a chamfered shield, a leopard's head within a chamfered shield, the female symbol (O with a + on the circumference, off centre), the initials J.G within a stamped shield and at right angles to the preceeding, the name ARGENTINA SILVER within a horseshoe encircling the shield. (Stamped on the back of the handle
With the trade marks and initials of Joseph Gilbert of the Sun Works, Birmingham and the trade name ARGENTINA SILVER) |
Gallery label |
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Credit line | Given by Ann Eatwell |
Object history | Gift - Ann Eatwell |
Production | Reason For Production: Retail |
Summary | “ The substitution of electro-plate for real silver is now so common in households where the latter would be regarded as a superfluous luxury, that the sternest advocate of true principles in art-manufacture would scarcely require an apology for its use.” (Charles Eastlake, Hints on Household Taste, 1878) George Richard Elkington and his cousin and partner, Henry Elkington successfully developed electroplating, electrotyping and electrogilding processes from earlier experiments and made them commercially viable. The cousins were not inventors but innovators who, by applying the techniques to industry, revolutionized the silver and plating trades all over the world. In the 1840s, licences to make the new products were sold widely in Britain and abroad to firms such as Christofle & Co. in Paris. Electroplate, a cheaper and more durable substitute for silver, replaced Sheffield plate within ten years and challenged the supremacy of silver on the dining tables and in the drawing rooms of Europe. The power of the machinery and new technology now at the disposal of the silver industry could produce thousands of identical items to a standard formula of design, quality and price. The focus of silver and silver product manufacture moved from London to the new factories of Birmingham and Sheffield. |
Collection | |
Accession number | M.5-1999 |
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Record created | February 16, 2000 |
Record URL |
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