Art Deco Drinks Platter
An art deco drinks platter brings geometric glamour and polished metal to modern hospitality, serving cocktails with period style.
Art Deco Drinks Platter
An art deco drinks platter is a functional serving piece designed for entertaining, appearing primarily as silver-plated trays, serving trays, and mirrored wine or cocktail trays. These items originate predominantly from the 1920s and 1930s, reflecting the sleek, modernist design principles of the period.
The most common examples encountered on this page combine silver plate or chrome with glass and mirrored surfaces. Forms range from round and diamond-shaped serving trays to specialised cocktail trays equipped with handles and decorative borders.
Beyond standard silver plating, variations include items incorporating cobalt blue mirror glass, novelty barware depictions, and exotic woods such as Macassar. These pieces serve equally as functional hospitality items and decorative interior objects.
What varies in quality
The distinction between standard production and top-tier execution lies in the weight of the metal and the precision of the manufacturing. Maker attribution significantly influences the standing of a piece, with recognised silversmiths and firms demonstrating superior gauge and finish.
Material combination and decorative complexity also determine quality levels. Items featuring integrated cut Venetian glass, specialised cobalt mirror panels, or complex engine-turned detailing represent the more accomplished end of the spectrum compared to plain metal surfaces.
Keith Murray For Mappin & Webb·J B Chatterley & Sons·Hukin & Heath·James Dixon & Sons·Roberts & Dore·Asprey, London·Elkington·Roberts & Belk·Atkin Brothers
The Art Deco Drinks Platter Glossary
- EPNS
- Electroplated Nickel Silver. A common base metal process where a layer of silver is deposited onto a nickel silver alloy substrate.
- Engine turning
- A mechanical decoration technique. It produces precise geometric patterns cut into metal surfaces by a specialised lathe.
- Venetian mirror
- A type of glass mirror. These panels often feature decorative bevelling and surface etching typical of Italian manufacture.
- Salver
- A formal serving tray. Usually manufactured in silver or silver plate with a raised edge or feet.
Art Deco Drinks Platter: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an art deco drinks platter used for?
These trays were originally designed for serving cocktails, wine, and spirits during the height of 1920s and 1930s entertaining.
Today, owners utilise them both for serving drinks and as decorative display surfaces on sideboards or coffee tables.
How do I clean a silver plated tray?
Silver-plated items require gentle cleaning with a specialised silver polish and a soft cloth to avoid abrading the plated surface.
Mirrored or glass base inserts should be wiped separately with a standard glass cleaner, taking care not to let moisture seep beneath the mirror backing.
How can I tell a 1920s tray from a 1930s one?
Trays from the 1920s frequently exhibit intricate borders, shell motifs, or Venetian mirror work reflecting the transition from earlier decorative styles.
By the 1930s, designs often embraced starker modernist lines, streamlined handles, and industrial materials like chrome.
Are these trays suitable for daily use?
Most silver-plated and mirrored trays withstand careful everyday hospitality use when handled with reasonable care.
Antique mirrored surfaces require protection from prolonged exposure to moisture to preserve the silvered backing.