Pair of Old Sheffield Plate candelabra
Pair of Old Sheffield Plate candelabra
2554
Fine pair of 18th-century Old Sheffield Plate candelabra with round candlesticks and removable two-light arms made by Matthew Boulton (1728-1809), a polymath and one of the most famous industrialists of his age who was also recognised for his production of highly prized gold and silver objects.
This elegant pair of Old Sheffield Plate retains its original silver plate with some characteristic copper showing on the highlights; a characteristic feature of Old Sheffield Plate.
Old Sheffield Plate (or OSP) was developed by Thomas Boulsover in the 1740s, a fusion of copper and sterling silver which could be made into a range of items normally made in solid silver. The material rapidly gained popularity as a substitute for solid silver, as it was much cheaper to produce. The identifying feature of OSP is the bleeding of the copper base on points of wear, plus a subtle difference in colour from the pure silver of electroplating to the very faintly bluish lustre of OSP. The material remained popular until being replaced by the electroplate process in the 1840s.
Dimensions:
c1790
Sheffield
Excellent
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, a polymath and one of the most famous industrialists of his age who was also recognised for his production of highly prized gold and silver objects. This elegant pair of Old Sheffield Plate retains its original silver plate with some characteristic copper showing on the highlights; a characteristic feature of Old Sheffield Plate.Old Sheffield Plate (or OSP) was developed by Thomas Boulsover in the 1740s, a fusion of copper and sterling silver which could be made into a range of items normally made in solid silver. The material rapidly gained popularity as a substitute for solid silver, as it was much cheaper to produce. The identifying feature of OSP is the bleeding of the copper base on points of wear, plus a subtle difference in colour from the pure silver of electroplating to the very faintly bluish lustre of OSP. The material remained popular until being replaced by the electroplate process in the 1840s.){kind=link}