Mappin & Webb - Bread basket - Silverplated - Prince's Plate

This boat-shaped silver bread tray is a piece from the renowned British silversmith Mappin & Webb. Known for their high-quality craftsmanship, Mappin & Webb has held Royal Warrants since 1897, serving five successive British monarchs.

Material: Made of Prince's Plate (a high-grade silver plate proprietary to Mappin & Webb).

Design & Origin: This "boat" or "oval" shape was popular for serving bread or fruit in formal settings. Pieces like this were often produced in their Sheffield or London workshops during the late 19th to early 20th centuries.

Monogram: The central crest or monogram is a custom engraving, likely belonging to the original private owner or a specific institution like a shipping line or hotel.

The markings on the underside provide several key details:

Prince's Plate: This was a trademark introduced in the late 19th century (c. 1887) and used into the 1930s. It is high-quality electroplating on nickel silver designed to mimic the appearance and durability of sterling silver.

Triple Deposit: This indicates a superior quality of plating, where three layers of silver were deposited onto the base metal to ensure it would endure heavy wear.

London & Sheffield: These names represent the locations of Mappin & Webb's primary factories.

Date Letter: The letter "n" (appearing in a lowercase serif font within a shield) is a date code. While Mappin & Webb's specific plating date charts are not as universally documented as sterling silver hallmarks, researchers have linked similar lowercase sequences to the early 20th century. Based on similar pattern codes and letter sequences, this piece likely dates to approximately 1910–1920.

Dimensions: Length 28.50 cm, Width 20.50 cm, Height 7 cm, Weight 650 g
Condition: Fair condition. Scratches.

The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by registered and insured post with a track and trace number. It can also be collected from Amsterdam, The Netherlands.