Antique Victorian Silver Plated Punch Bowl W Briggs Sheffield 19th C

This is a gorgeous antique Victorian silver plated punch bowl bearing the makers mark of the renowned silversmiths W.Briggs & Co of Sheffield, England, Circa 1880 in date.

This exquisite punch bowl has beautiful and incredibly detailed scroll-cast rim with embossed half fluted decoration and raised on a pedestal foot.

This is truly a special item and it will attract the maximum amount of attention, the quality and craftsmanship are undeniable.

Condition:

In excellent condition. As an antique item, the bowl shows signs of use commensurate with age, these minor condition issues are mentioned for accuracy and, as seen in the accompanying photographs, it displays beautifully.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 21 x Width 26.5 x Depth 26.5

Dimensions in inches:

Height 8 inches x Width 10 inches x Depth 10 inches

According to the Census, William Marriott Briggs (1845-1934) was born at Chesterfield. He was the son of William Briggs; his mother was Sarah Marriott Briggs.

In 1871, aged 25, he was enumerated in the Census as an ‘electro-plate manufacturer’, living with his parents at Brocco Bank. An establishment date of 1845 appeared in a trade advertisement, which ties in with Briggs’s apparent birth date. In 1873, William Briggs & Co registered a silver mark from Andrew Street, Wicker. Briggs had taken over the Britannia metal and electro-plate enterprise of James Allan, who remained at Briggs’s firm until he retired in 1889.

In 1900, W. Briggs & Co became a private limited company, capitalised at £20,000. By 1911, Briggs had retired and was living at Maltby Grange, Rotherham. His son, William Henry Briggs (1878-1950), became the manager, though William Marriott remained the senior partner. In 1922, the firm was re-registered as a limited company, with William Henry and William Marriott (now living at Bawtry, near Doncaster) as directors. Evidently, the firm was struggling and capital had been reduced to £2,000. In 1923, the stock, machinery, and goodwill were offered for sale (Sheffield Daily Independent, 24 February 1923). The buyer was Samuel Viner (Crusade Cutlery).

William M. Briggs, of Willingham House, Willingham-by-Stow, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, died on 10 January 1934. He left £5,491.

Our reference: A2900