Elkington and Co Silverware
Elkington and co silverware brings substantial Victorian and twentieth-century dining grandeur straight to the table.
What Elkington and Co Silverware Is
Elkington and co silverware covers substantive dining and display pieces from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including substantial candelabra, coffee and liqueur services, and wine coolers. These items reflect the high industrial standards of major British manufacturing history, moving from mid-nineteenth-century grandeur to later Art Deco simplicity.
The most common items found in this group range from matched pairs of candlesticks to silver-plated serveware fitted with contrasting materials like ebony handles or porcelain inserts. Pieces bear the hallmarks and marks of a firm that pioneered commercial electroplating, making plated wares accessible on a grand scale.
How Elkington and Co Silverware Was Made
Production relies on durable base metals finished with silver plate or electroplated nickel silver (EPNS), applied to achieve an even, lustrous surface across complex decorative forms. Metalworking techniques involve casting, chasing, and mounting, creating robust structures designed for heavy household use.
Makers integrated mixed media directly into the metal framework, combining silver plate with porcelain, glass, ebony handles, and mirror glass surfaces. These secondary materials require specialist joining methods to secure organic and brittle elements firmly to heavy plated mounts.
Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical UK retail prices for elkington and co silverware, calculated from the Sellingantiques database of over a million retail prices indexed since 2003. This retail price guide relies exclusively on Sellingantiques data; no external sources or auction records are used, so the figures do not describe the wider market.
Current listings span the Victorian, Art Deco, and Neo-Georgian periods, featuring silver plate, EPNS, porcelain, glass, and ebony.
What Varies in Quality
Quality rests upon the crispness of the chased ornament and the structural integrity of the underlying metalwork, where finer pieces maintain sharp cast details without softening from wear or over-polishing. The thickness of the original plating layer dictates how well the surface survives centuries of cleaning.
Design ambition separates standard functional serveware from monumental display pieces, such as oversized candelabra or complex mirror plateaus. The integration of secondary materials like carved ebony or fitted glass also distinguishes standard production runs from more elaborate commissions.
Elkington and Co
The Elkington and Co Silverware Glossary
- Silver Plate
- A thin layer of silver bonded to a base metal core through various manufacturing methods. This technique allowed makers to produce large dining services at a fraction of the cost of solid silver.
- EPNS
- Electroplated nickel silver, a strong alloy base coated with silver using an electrical current. It provides a durable foundation for nineteenth and twentieth-century tableware.
- Mirror Plateau
- A decorative tabletop tray featuring a central mirror glass panel surrounded by a silver-plated frame. These pieces sit in the centre of dining tables to reflect candlelight and display ornaments.
- Candelabra
- A branched candlestick holding multiple lights from a single central stem. Larger examples form heavy centrepieces for formal dining rooms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean antique silver plate?
Use a gentle silver cream applied with a soft cloth, avoiding harsh abrasive dips that strip the thin metallic surface.
Rinse thoroughly in warm water and dry immediately with a clean cotton cloth to prevent water spots on the vintage finish.
Can I use these silver items daily?
Most pieces function well for regular dining or display, provided you handle items with mixed materials like ebony carefully.
Hand washing is essential for objects containing wood, porcelain, or glass components to protect historical adhesives and mountings.
What is electroplated nickel silver?
It is a tough alloy base composed of copper, nickel, and zinc that receives a coating of pure silver through an electrical bath.
This method created sturdy, resilient tableware that resisted denting and wear better than earlier fused plating techniques.
How do I date Elkington items?
Examine the stamped manufacturer marks and date letters located on the underside or rim of the object.
Matching these specific symbols against standard Birmingham assay records reveals the exact year of production and registration.