Sell silver-plated ware & holloware in the UK.
Maker identified. Quality assessed. Honest valuation.

What we buy

We buy quality silver-plated ware and holloware across a wide range of forms. The key factors are maker, age, weight, and condition — not whether it is silver plate rather than sterling.

• Tea sets and coffee services — three-piece, four-piece, and five-piece sets by named makers
• Trays and salvers — gallery trays, butler's trays, card trays, and large serving trays
• Candelabra and candlesticks — pairs and sets, particularly Georgian and Victorian patterns
• Entrée dishes and tureens — with covers, detachable handles, and warming stands
• Salvers and cake stands — footed salvers, comports, and tiered cake stands
• Tankards and goblets — presentation pieces, trophy cups, and decorative tankards
• Rose bowls and centrepieces — ornate Victorian and Edwardian decorative pieces
• Cocktail shakers and bar ware — Art Deco pieces are particularly sought
• Flatware and serving pieces — quality EPNS cutlery by named makers

Named makers that command premiums

Not all silver plate is equal. The maker is the single most important factor in determining whether a piece has collector value or is worth only its decorative appeal. These names consistently command premiums:

• Walker & Hall — Sheffield manufacturer, prolific from the 1840s. Quality heavy-gauge plate, often with ornate Victorian decoration.
• Mappin & Webb — still trading today. Victorian and Edwardian pieces in quality plate are actively collected.
• Elkington & Co. — pioneers of commercial electroplating (1840s). Early Elkington pieces are historically significant and collectable.
• James Dixon & Sons — Sheffield maker known for quality Britannia metal and EPNS holloware.
• Philip Ashberry & Sons — Sheffield maker of quality plate and Britannia metal.
• Atkin Brothers — Sheffield silversmiths who also produced quality plate.

We identify the maker's mark as part of every assessment. Unmarked or anonymous plate is worth substantially less than marked pieces by known makers.

Sheffield Plate vs electroplate — an important distinction

There are two fundamentally different types of silver plate, and the distinction matters enormously for value:

Old Sheffield Plate (fused plate, pre-1840) is made by fusing a sheet of silver to a copper ingot and then rolling and shaping. It was the dominant method before electroplating was invented. Genuine Old Sheffield Plate is highly collectable — often more valuable than equivalent sterling pieces. Look for copper showing through at edges and seams; this is a sign of authenticity, not damage.

Electroplate (EPNS, post-1840) is made by depositing a thin layer of silver onto a base metal (usually nickel silver) using an electric current. This is what most people mean by “silver plate.” Quality varies enormously — from heavy Victorian hotel plate to thin modern reproductions.

We distinguish between the two and value accordingly. If you have pieces with copper showing at the edges, do not assume they are worthless — they may be genuine Old Sheffield Plate.

What is NOT worth selling

We are honest about what has limited value. Sending these items will likely result in a return rather than an offer:

• Mass-produced modern plate — unmarked or no-name electroplate from the last 50 years has very little resale value
• Badly worn plate — where copper or nickel shows through extensively across the body (not just edges), the piece has lost its decorative appeal
• Damaged or dented holloware — significant dents, broken handles, or missing parts reduce value below the cost of repair
• EPNS with no maker's mark — anonymous plate without a recognised manufacturer has limited collector interest

If you are unsure, email us photographs before sending. We will tell you honestly whether your pieces are worth the postage.

Four steps to your silver plate valuation