Sheffield Silver Mug
A sheffield silver mug brings solid weight and bright historical character to a desk or display shelf.
Sheffield Silver Mug
A sheffield silver mug encompasses heavy drinking vessels, pint tankards, and small children's christening cups produced across several centuries. The selection ranges from robust Georgian Old Sheffield Plate pieces to later Victorian and mid-twentieth-century sterling silver examples.
Buyers encounter substantial lidded tankards alongside diminutive child's mugs intended for gifting or family milestones. These items function as practical barware, decorative drinkware, and tangible records of British silversmithing traditions.
How they were made
Old Sheffield Plate pieces utilise a fusion technique where a thin layer of silver is fused to a thicker copper core under intense heat. Makers then shaped this composite metal into tankards, often applying gold gilt to the interior surfaces.
Solid sterling silver items rely on traditional silversmithing methods involving hammering, spinning, and soldering. Hallmarks stamped directly into the metal record the assay office and year of creation.
The listings combine 18th-century and 19th-century Old Sheffield Plate alongside Victorian and George V sterling silver pieces.
What varies in quality
The degree of original silver remaining on Old Sheffield Plate pieces distinguishes superior examples from heavily worn ones. Where the underlying copper shows through extensively, the visual contrast changes the character of the piece.
Crispness in applied handles, rims, and repoussé decoration determines the overall finesse of a mug. Substantial metal gauge and clear hallmarks on sterling silver items indicate higher production standards.
Richard Morton·Fenton Brothers·Lee & Wigfull·Atkin Bros·Mappin & Webb
The Sheffield Silver Mug Glossary
- Old Sheffield Plate
- A composite material formed by fusing a sheet of silver to a copper ingot. This method predates modern electroplating.
- Tankard
- A tall, cylindrical drinking vessel with a single handle, frequently fitted with a hinged lid in larger quart sizes.
- Christening Mug
- A small presentation cup produced to mark the birth or baptism of a child. These often feature engraved presentation inscriptions.
- Gilding
- A thin layer of gold applied to the interior surface of a silver or plated vessel. This prevented the metallic taste of silver when consuming acidic beverages.
- Hallmark
- A series of official stamps applied to precious metal items indicating the maker, purity, assay office, and year of testing.
Sheffield Silver Mug: Frequently Asked Questions
What is Old Sheffield Plate?
Old Sheffield Plate is an early composite material created by melting a thin sheet of silver onto a copper ingot before rolling them together into sheets.
This technique produced durable drinking vessels that combined the appearance of solid silver with a sturdy copper foundation.
How were christening mugs used?
Christening mugs served as traditional gifts for newborns or infants to mark significant family milestones.
While occasionally used for small drinks, many survived in excellent condition because families kept them primarily as decorative keepsakes.
How do I tell sterling silver from plate?
Sterling silver items bear official hallmarks including a lion passant indicating silver purity, alongside assay office marks.
Old Sheffield Plate pieces lack these silver hallmarks and may show copper bleeding through the surface where the top silver layer has thinned.
What is the difference between a mug and a tankard?
Tankards are generally larger drinking vessels that frequently include a hinged lid to keep drinks covered.
Mugs are smaller, open-topped vessels suitable for everyday use or presentation purposes.