Silver Lidded Entree Dish
A silver lidded entree dish brings traditional dining elegance to the table, designed to keep food warm and present it with style.
Silver Lidded Entree Dish
A silver lidded entree dish serves meals at the table while keeping courses hot beneath a fitted cover. You encounter these serving dishes primarily in Edwardian and nineteenth-century forms, shaped as rectangles, ovals, and sauce tureens.
The selection ranges from Georgian Old Sheffield Plate warming dishes and toasted cheese dishes to Victorian double rollover dishes and Art Deco covered serving dishes. Many pieces arrive as matched pairs, suitable for formal dining arrangements.
Makers stamp their work or apply crests, connecting these tablewares to specific silversmiths and workshops from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
How they were made
Silversmiths constructed these serving pieces using silver plate, electroplated nickel silver, and solid silver over copper bases, often employing Old Sheffield Plate techniques. Workshops shaped copper and nickel silver before applying layers of silver or fusing thin silver sheets to base metals.
Craftsmen formed intricate handles, detachable lids, and decorative borders, sometimes incorporating wooden elements for insulation. Makers such as Elkington, Walker and Hall, and William Hutton and Sons utilised specialised plating and stamping methods.
Listings feature items spanning the Georgian period, Victorian era, Edwardian years, and Art Deco 1930s.
What varies in quality
The weight of the metal and the thickness of the silver plating dictate the durability and longevity of each serving dish. Substantial copper bases and well-preserved Old Sheffield Plate show superior underlying construction.
Crispness in cast crests, smooth operation of double rollover mechanisms, and balanced proportions distinguish finer pieces from standard production tableware. Complete pairs and pieces bearing clear maker marks hold greater interest for collectors.
Hamilton and Inches·Walker and Hall·Elkington·Matthew Linwood·William Hutton and Sons·Cresswick·Christofle
The Silver Lidded Entree Dish Glossary
- Old Sheffield Plate
- A method of fusing a thin sheet of silver to a thicker copper base before rolling and shaping. This technique creates distinct edge lines where the copper shows.
- Electroplated Nickel Silver
- A base metal alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc coated with an electrolytic layer of silver. This process became widespread during the Victorian era.
- Entree dish
- A covered serving vessel designed for holding main courses or side dishes at the dining table. They frequently feature removable lids that double as secondary serving trays.
- Tureen
- A deep serving bowl with a lid, used for soups, sauces, or stews. Sauce tureens represent a smaller scale version designed for table condiments.
- Double rollover dish
- A serving vessel with lids that roll back on mechanical hinges to reveal the contents from either side. This design allows access without removing the covers entirely.
Silver Lidded Entree Dish: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean a silver plated entree dish?
Wash the dish gently in warm soapy water using a soft cloth, avoiding abrasive cleaners that wear away the thin silver layer.
Dry the metal thoroughly with a lint-free cloth to prevent water spots and tarnishing.
What is Old Sheffield Plate?
Old Sheffield Plate involves fusing silver to a copper core before rolling it into sheets for smithing.
This early technique predates electroplating and often reveals a subtle copper line along edges and wear points.
Can I use these for daily dining?
These serving pieces function well for modern meals, provided you handle them with care and avoid harsh detergents.
Hand washing preserves the plating and any engraved crests or maker marks over years of use.
How do I date an entree dish?
Examine the style, manufacturing technique, and any maker stamps or registry marks stamped into the metal base.
Georgian and Victorian pieces display different weight distributions and plating methods compared to Edwardian or Art Deco designs.