Silver Menu Clips
Silver menu clips anchor a well-set dining table, holding cards upright to show guests the courses ahead.
Silver Menu Clips
Silver menu clips belong to the formal dining traditions of the Victorian, Edwardian and later periods, serving as small supports for cards listing the meal. Tableware accessories of this type appear frequently in Edwardian and 1930s designs, spanning forms like single holders and matched pairs.
Makers shaped sterling silver into figures, animals and motifs including owls, swans, monkeys and characters from Alice in Wonderland and Robin Hood. Pieces range from simple clips to elaborate figural castings that double as place card holders.
Materials and construction
Silversmiths utilised sterling silver alongside base metals for plated versions, sometimes adding enamel to flag designs or velvet and leather for fitted presentation cases. Glass and silk also appear within the wider inventory of associated pieces.
Makers cast figures in three dimensions or stamped thin silver sheets to form spring clips and weighted bases, hallmarking many examples with city assay marks and maker's stamps.
Silver Menu Clips Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for silver menu clips 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 span the Victorian era, Edwardian period, 1920s, 1930s and mid-century modern production.
Judging execution and detail
Matched sets and cased pairs maintain higher standing than single survivors, particularly when bearing marks from noted makers and provincial assay offices.
Sampson Mordan·Levi & Salaman·A. Wilcox·Grey & Co.·Asprey
The Silver Menu Clips Glossary
- Sterling silver
- A silver alloy containing 92.5 percent pure silver by mass, standard for quality British tableware. Assay offices stamped these items to guarantee the metal standard.
- Hallmark
- A set of official marks stamped on items to show the metal standard, the assay office, and the date letter. Chester, Birmingham and London offices appear frequently on these clips.
- Assay office
- An organisation that tested precious metals and stamped hallmarks. Towns such as Birmingham and Chester operated prominent offices during the periods represented here.
- Place card holder
- A small desk or table accessory designed to hold a name card rather than a menu. Many examples on this page served both functions interchangeably.
Silver Menu Clips: Frequently Asked Questions
How were silver menu clips used?
Hosts placed them along dining tables to display the printed menu or guest names for each course.
They kept cards visible and upright among the glassware and silverware during formal dinners.
Can these hold modern cards?
Most clips accommodate thin card stock easily, though older cards were typically smaller than modern ones.
Heavier card stock may not fit securely into spring-loaded clips designed for thin Edwardian paper.
How do I identify the date?
Assay office date letters stamped on the sterling silver provide the exact year of manufacture.
Stylistic cues such as Art Nouveau maidens or military motifs also point toward Edwardian or 1930s production.
Are they sold as sets?
Makers produced both individual clips and matched pairs, with occasional larger sets intended for larger tables.
Pairs and complete sets of four remain sought after for balanced table settings.