Silver Table Card Clips
Silver table card clips are table accessories designed to hold menus and place cards, and collectors seek them for their miniature sculptural detail.
Silver Table Card Clips
Silver table card clips appear on this page primarily as menu holders and place card holders from the Edwardian period onwards. These small tableware accessories sit on dining tables to indicate seats or display menus for guests.
The selections span figures of animals, birds, and literary characters alongside geometric or military forms. Edwardian examples dominate the listings, sitting alongside later pieces from the 1930s and mid-century.
Materials and construction
Sterling silver forms the primary body of these table card clips, often paired with vitreous enamel for added colour and detail. Velvet, silk, leather, and glass also appear in the wider construction of fitted cases or backing elements.
Silversmiths utilise casting and stamping techniques to shape intricate subjects such as owls, foxes, monkeys, and maidens. Working with these metals requires precise manipulation to form a spring or clip mechanism capable of holding paper securely.
Listings feature Edwardian, 1930s, and mid-century items fashioned from sterling silver, enamel, and leather across menu and place card holders.
Quality distinctions
Completeness alters the standing of a set, particularly when items survive in their original fitted presentation boxes. Pairs and matched sets demonstrate higher desirability than single orphans.
Levi & Salaman·A. Wilcox·Grey & Co.·Sampson Mordan·Asprey
The Silver Table Card Clips Glossary
- Menu Holder
- A small weighted stand with a clip designed to keep dining menus upright on a table. These pieces double as decorative table ornaments.
- Place Card Holder
- A miniature clip that secures a guest name card next to a table setting. They correspond stylistically with the menu holders of the same period.
- Sterling Silver
- An alloy consisting of pure silver and other metals, usually copper, to increase durability. British items commonly bear hallmarks confirming this standard.
- Enamel
- A glassy substance fused to metal through firing to add coloured decoration. It frequently highlights flags, birds, or seasonal motifs on the clips.
Silver Table Card Clips: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you use them today?
Modern collectors utilise these clips during dinner parties to hold place names or small celebration menus. They sit securely on dining tables without taking up significant space.
Beyond dining use, many collectors display them in cabinets to appreciate the intricate silversmithing. They also serve to hold small photographs or recipe cards on a desk.
When were these pieces made?
The pieces on this page span from the nineteenth century through to the mid-twentieth century. Edwardian examples from the early 1900s form a large portion of the selection.
Later items extend into the 1930s and 1950s, reflecting changing artistic tastes from Art Nouveau and Art Deco to mid-century modern designs.
How do I identify the maker?
Makers leave stamped hallmarks on the silver body, including sponsor's marks, assay office symbols, and date letters. These tiny punches reveal where and when the piece was tested and registered.
Prominent silversmiths such as Sampson Mordan or Asprey stamped their specific firm marks onto the base or reverse of the clip. Consulting hallmark reference books decodes these official stamps.