Silver Plate Entree Dish
A silver plate entree dish brings formal dining history to the modern table, offering deep covers and substantial serving vessels for shared meals.
Silver Plate Entree Dish
A silver plate entree dish is a covered serving vessel designed to keep food warm at the dining table, taking rectangular, oval, circular or double rollover forms across the centuries. Buyers browsing this selection encounter numerous Edwardian examples alongside Victorian, Georgian, and Art Deco pieces.
The objects span simpler serving dishes and tureens to complex warming vessels equipped with original stands, spirit burners, and chafing heat mechanisms.
Materials and construction methods
Makers formed these pieces utilising silver plate, electroplated nickel silver, copper, and Old Sheffield Plate, often combining nickel silver or copper bases with applied silver layers.
Early 19th-century pieces frequently utilise Old Sheffield Plate fused methods, whereas later Victorian and Edwardian items rely on electroplating techniques over base metals.
Listings span Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco periods, utilising materials such as Old Sheffield Plate, copper, and electroplated nickel silver.
Distinguishing quality across periods
Quality rests in the weight of the metal, the crispness of chased or applied borders, and the structural integrity of hinged or revolving mechanisms.
Pieces bearing maker marks from renowned workshops generally display superior handle casting and heavier gauge plating compared to unmarked utilitarian items.
Hamilton and Inches·Mappin and Webb·Walker and Hall·Elkington·Cresswick·Dan Holy·Christofle Gallia·Asprey·James Dixon and Sons·Hawksworth Eyre and Co·Martin Hall and Co·Frank Cobb and Co
The Silver Plate Entree Dish Glossary
- Old Sheffield Plate
- A fused composite material made by melting a sheet of silver to a thicker copper ingot before rolling them together.
- Electroplated Nickel Silver
- A base alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc coated with a layer of pure silver through an electrolytic process.
- Entree Dish
- A covered vessel specifically intended for serving main courses or side dishes at formal meals.
- Double Rollover Dish
- A specialised serving dish design featuring a lid that rolls back completely on a mechanism to reveal the contents.
- Tureen
- A deep covered bowl designed for serving soups, sauces, or stews.
- Spirit Burner
- A small under-heater fueled by alcohol to keep food warm during service.
Silver Plate Entree Dish: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an entree dish used for?
These dishes held warm courses at the dining table, keeping food hot beneath fitted covers before serving.
They functioned as central serving vessels for meats, vegetables, and pre-dinner courses in formal households.
How do I clean a silver plated dish?
Wash the item gently using warm water, mild soap, and a soft cloth to protect the underlying metal plating.
Avoid harsh abrasive cleaners and store the piece dry to prevent tarnishing and wear on the silver surface.
What is Old Sheffield Plate?
Old Sheffield Plate is an early composite material created by fusing silver to a copper core before rolling.
Pieces made this way often show a thin line of copper where the edge is exposed through wear.
How do I date an entree dish?
Stylistic clues such as Regency curves, Victorian scrollwork, or Art Deco geometric lines help determine the period.
Maker marks, registration numbers, and plating methods stamped on the base provide further chronological evidence.