Antique Monumental Victorian Oval Silver Plated Tray 1880 19th Century

This is a monumental antique English Victorian oval silver-plated twin handled tray bearing the makers mark HA for the renowned silversmiths Atkins Brothers circa 1880 in date.

This splendid large tray features beautifully engraved and embossed foliate and floral decoration. The pierced border and twin handles are embellished with high reliefdecoration.

This magnificent tray is one of the finest examples of its type you could hope to acquire.

Condition:

In excellent condition with clear makers marks and no dings or dents. Please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 5 cm x Width 78 cm x Depth 54 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 inches x Width 2 foot, 7 inches x Depth 1 foot, 9 inches

Atkin Brothers business traces his origin to Thomas Law, a silversmith active in Sheffield from c. 1750 to 1775. He was one of the only two firms combining the trades of cutlers and general silversmiths. The business was continued by his sons John and William, and later by Joseph.

In 1824 was entered the mark of Jos. Law, Jn Oxley & Henry Atkin (oddly the mark was "LL", possibly for Law & Law) and in 1829 Henry Atkin and John Oxley, trading as Atkin, Oxley & Co, succeeded to the original firm. They dissolved their partnership c. 1840.

Henry Atkin continued the trade as Henry Atkin & Co at 32 Howard Street, Sheffield. He died in 1853, and his sons Harry Wright Atkin, Edward Thomas Atkin and Frank Shaw Atkin continued the trade under the style Atkin Brothers in their Truro Works, Matilda Street, Sheffield.

The firm opened offices in London, managed by Harry Wright Atkin, and in 1925 became a limited liability company as Atkin Brothers (Silversmiths) Ltd.

Atkin Brothers manufactured a wide range of electroplate, Britannia Metal, silver and plated cutlery supplied to Thornhill & Co - London, Barraclough & Sons - Leeds, Ollivant & Botsford - Manchester, James Crichton & Co - Edinburgh, Hall & co - Manchester, Fairfax & Roberts - Sydney and many other firms in the United Kingdom and in the Colonies.

Chronology:

Thomas Law (& Co.) ca. 1750-1775

John Law (& Sons) 1775-1824

Joseph Law, John Oxley and Henry Atkin 1824-1829

Atkin, Oxley & Co. 1829-1840

Henry Atkin & Co. 1840-1853

Atkin Brothers 1853-1925

Atkin Brothers Ltd. 1925

purchased Thomas Bradbury & Sons c. 1940

acquired by C.J. Vander of London 1958

Our reference: A4275