Edwardian Silver Figures
Edwardian silver figures bring whimsical animal models, novelty pin cushions and detailed menu holders from the early twentieth century into your home.
Edwardian Silver Figures
When you search for edwardian silver figures, you discover small sculptural objects and functional desk accessories created primarily during the Edwardian period. The selection on this page centres on animal models, novelty pin cushions shaped like birds and beasts, and decorative menu holders.
Makers of this era delighted in naturalistic depictions of wildlife alongside playful novelty forms. Alongside sterling silver figures, the evidence shows related items incorporating glass, velvet and oak from overlapping periods including the Victorian era and the nineteen twenties.
How they were made
Silversmiths utilised solid sterling silver and silver plate, often casting figures in detailed animal and character shapes. Many pieces combine silver work with contrasting materials such as glass bowls, velvet pin cushion inserts or carved wooden bases.
Edwardian Silver Figures Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for edwardian silver figures 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.
A policeman pin cushion stands ready to guard your sewing pins alongside a menagerie of silver ducks, lions and pigs.
What varies in quality
The integration of secondary materials, such as fitted glass inserts or well-preserved velvet pads, influences the integrity of each piece. Maker marks and clear hallmarks also distinguish finer studio outputs from simpler unmarked items.
Deakin and Francis·Boaz Moses·WMF
The Edwardian Silver Figures Glossary
- Sterling silver
- A silver alloy containing ninety-two point five percent pure silver by mass, forming the primary metal standard for these figures.
- Pin cushion
- A small padded object, frequently fashioned here as an animal or novelty figure, designed to hold sewing pins.
- Menu holder
- A small upright desk or table accessory featuring a decorative figure designed to display a meal card.
- Hallmark
- An official stamp applied to precious metals indicating the standard of purity, assay office and year of testing.
- Silver-gilt
- Sterling silver that has been coated with a thin layer of gold on its surface.
Edwardian Silver Figures: Frequently Asked Questions
What were silver figures used for?
Many of these silver items served practical daily functions on desks and dining tables as menu holders, inkstands and pin cushions.
Others functioned purely as decorative animal models or paperweights designed to sit on a shelf or desk.
How do I identify Edwardian pieces?
Edwardian items date from the reign of King Edward the Seventh between nineteen hundred and nineteen ten, often confirmed by date letters in the hallmarks.
Stylistically, these pieces frequently reflect naturalistic animal subjects and playful novelty designs characteristic of the period.
Are these figures solid silver?
The listings include pieces made from solid sterling silver alongside items described as silver plate or pewter.
Checking the hallmarks and item description reveals whether a piece is solid metal or plated over a base material.
How do I care for silver figures?
Silver figures require gentle cleaning with a soft cloth to remove dust without harming delicate chased details or attached materials like velvet.
Avoiding harsh chemical polishes preserves the original patina and any recessed dark highlights applied by the silversmith.