Silver Name Card Clips
Silver name card clips are smart table accessories designed to hold menus and place cards.
Silver Name Card Clips
When you search for silver name card clips, you find small table accessories created to hold menus, place cards and table numbers during formal dining. These pieces include menu holders, place card holders and tableware accessories originating from periods such as the Edwardian era, the 1930s, the 1920s, the 1950s and the 19th century.
The most common forms on this page take the shape of detailed animals, figures and birds, alongside structural mounts designed for grand dining tables. Examples range from Edwardian sterling silver owl and swan designs to Art Nouveau maiden figures, military motifs and Art Deco geometric or mid-century pieces.
How they were made
These items are constructed primarily from sterling silver or silver plate, utilising metals formed through casting, stamping and silversmithing techniques. Many examples incorporate intricate detailing, such as hinged or fixed display clips and weighted bases designed to keep menus upright on the dining table.
Selected pieces feature applied decoration using enamel and guilloche enamel, while internal linings and presentation cases utilise silk, velvet and leather. These supplementary materials provide protective housings or contrasting backgrounds for the polished metalwork.
The listings span multiple periods including the Edwardian era, the 1930s, the 1920s, the 1950s and the 19th century, utilising materials such as sterling silver, enamel, velvet, leather and silk.
What varies in quality
The presence of specialised decorative techniques, such as hand-applied enamel or complex regional silversmithing like Madras and Anglo-Indian work, separates standard production items from more distinctive examples.
Levi & Salaman·A. Wilcox·Sampson Mordan·Asprey
The Silver Name Card Clips Glossary
- Sterling silver
- A silver alloy containing 92.5 percent pure silver and 7.5 percent other metals, usually copper, ensuring durability for functional table items.
- Guilloche enamel
- A decorative technique where precise patterns are engraved beneath translucent enamel, adding depth and colour to the metal surface.
- Menu holder
- A small desk or table stand designed to display printed menu cards upright beside individual settings or along a shared dining table.
- Place card holder
- A diminutive clip or stand intended to hold a guest's name card at a formal dinner setting.
- Silver plate
- A base metal coated with a thin layer of silver, offering the appearance of solid silver at a different scale of production.
Silver Name Card Clips: Frequently Asked Questions
What are silver name card clips used for?
These pieces serve as functional table accessories to hold printed menus, place cards and table numbers upright during formal meals.
They help guests identify their seats and read the evening's courses while adding decorative detail to the dining table arrangement.
How do I date a silver menu holder?
Dating relies heavily on hallmarks stamped onto the sterling silver, which indicate the assay office, date letter and maker's mark.
Stylistic elements such as Edwardian naturalism, Art Nouveau curves or Art Deco lines also point to the specific manufacturing period.
Were these items sold individually or in sets?
They appear both as single pieces and in matched pairs, with larger gatherings including sets of four or more for larger dining tables.
Cased sets often include original presentation boxes lined with silk or velvet to protect the items when not in use.
How should I clean silver table accessories?
Maintenance requires gentle cleaning with a specialised silver cloth to preserve the polished finish without damaging delicate details.
Enamelled or velvet-lined pieces need extra care to prevent moisture or harsh cleaning agents from harming the secondary materials.