Art Deco Silver Table Centrepiece
An art deco silver table centrepiece anchors a dining room with geometric balance and polished shine, capturing the bold modernity of the interwar years.
Art Deco Silver Table Centrepiece
An art deco silver table centrepiece comprises a range of dining table ornaments, including tazzas, fruit baskets, and mirror plateaus designed to command attention in the middle of a room. These forms stem primarily from the nineteen-thirties, bringing together the sleek lines of the period with functional display surfaces for fruit, sweets, or floral arrangements.
Buyers will encounter several distinct variations on this page, spanning sterling silver, silver plate, chrome, and polished metal constructions. Many examples incorporate glass liners or etched mirror bases, reflecting the era's fascination with reflective surfaces and contrasting textures.
Origins stretch from British workshops to French studios, capturing both domestic hallmarked output and continental modernist designs. Forms such as candlesticks and candelabra also appear, offering matching height and illumination to complete a formal dining arrangement.
How they were made
Maker's methods rely heavily on traditional silversmithing techniques combined with emerging industrial materials of the interwar period. Artisans shaped sterling silver and silver plate through hand-wrought forming or spinning, while newer items utilised chrome and polished metal for starker, modern finishes.
The integration of secondary materials defines many pieces, pairing metals with cut glass liners or heavy mirror plates. Etching on glass and mirror components added delicate decorative contrast to the otherwise geometric and unadorned surfaces of the style.
Art Deco Silver Table Centrepiece Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for art deco silver table centrepiece among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings feature items spanning the decades from nineteen-ten to nineteen-fifty, dominated by pieces dated nineteen-thirty.
What varies in quality
Quality separates pieces by the crispness of their geometric detailing and the integrity of their construction. Superior examples display substantial weight in the metal and precise execution of handles, rims, and feet without clumsy joints.
The condition of secondary elements such as original glass liners and undamaged mirror plates marks the distinction between ordinary items and those retained in complete, original state.
Charles Boyton·Viners·Brille Paris·Robert Edgar Stone·Elkington
The Art Deco Silver Table Centrepiece Glossary
- Tazza
- A shallow bowl or dish raised on a stem and foot, used traditionally for serving fruit or small cakes at the centre of a table.
- Mirror plateau
- A low mirrored tray placed in the centre of a dining table, designed to hold candlesticks, centrepieces, or figures while reflecting candlelight.
- Comport
- A large stand or dish raised on a foot, functioning primarily as a centrepiece for fruit or confectionery.
- Bonbon bowl
- A small open vessel intended for holding sweets or confectionary, frequently produced in matched pairs during the deco period.
- Silver plate
- A base metal coated with a thin layer of silver, allowing makers to produce large decorative items at a lower cost than solid sterling.
Art Deco Silver Table Centrepiece: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an art deco silver table centrepiece used for?
These pieces serve as the focal point of a dining table, holding fruit, bread, or decorative items during meals.
They were also utilised to elevate floral displays or anchor matching sets of candlesticks and candelabra.
How do I clean sterling silver and silver plate?
Maintenance requires specialised silver polish and a soft cloth to remove tarnish without abrading the metal surface.
Care must be taken around glass liners and mirror plates to prevent harsh liquids from seeping beneath the backing.
What materials are common in art deco centrepieces?
Construction materials range from solid sterling silver and traditional silver plate to chrome, polished metal, and wood.
Many designs incorporate glass liners, etched mirror plateaus, and contrasting metal finishes characteristic of the period.
How can I tell French art deco from British pieces?
French items frequently embrace bolder modernist chrome and plated metal forms, such as large comports and fruit baskets.
British examples often feature formal sterling silver hallmarks from assay offices like Sheffield alongside traditional tazza and bowl designs.