Greetings everyone, I visited a few of my local stores and no luck on sterling, but I did pick up this dish for next to nothing. I've seen some very different prices on these, so I'm curious if anyone here has experience on the topic. The item has a menorah mark on the bottom and it says "England." This appears to be made by Ellis and Barker. Does anyone have a good rule about whether these are valuable or not?
It's hard to assess the size from photo, but it may be a butter dish, without the pierced tray that would sit over ice on the bottom and without the lid.
There's nothing about the menorah mark that makes it more valuable than any other piece, if that's your question. It's silverplate, made sometime after Nov 1912 (but how much after that date it could be is unclear.)
There's a rather long list of the kinds of items for which they used the menorah mark. Several include the term "frame." Does this come apart?
Is there a place for a warming light in that bottom piece? And while I'm asking questions - It may be a reflection, but do I see a place around the inside to accommodate an insert (like glass or ceramic?)
I was half thinking chafing dish, but then when Bakers said the possibility of a glass insert I started to picture a nice bowl full of shrimp sitting in a dish on top of ice underneath.....
Thank you everyone for the input, I love hearing you all make educated guesses at what it might have been used for. You think of things I never would have!
No place for a warming light, and yes it does appear like it might have accommodated an insert (or perhaps this was just part of the design to have shape).
So how’d you end up doing on this one Nate? I just acquired a piece by this firm in a very Nate esque bulk buy. Was googling it when this post popped up towards top of results. Their work seems to being good prices vs. majority of plated goods. The asking prices for much if it are insane but at the end of the day it does seem to do better than most. Their output looks a cut above so it makes sense.
I tried to sell it for two years and then stopped. Not great but that’s what you learn along the way.
Interesting. Out of curiosity do you recall what the lowest price point was you had it at? What do you then do? Throw it in storage or sell in bulk to scrapper? I’ve sold bulk lots of plated goods that had negligible individual values. I guess despite the fact that it was a handsome piece, if no one knows what to do with it they won’t want it.
Another resurrection! I found a roller top silver plated butter dish about a year ago. It sold very quickly and fetched about £30. Looking online the asking price for these is pretty high. I also sold a four piece silver plate tea/coffee set recently for £35. Some slight marking on it. I think condition is key with plate. if it is immaculate it is attractive and desirable. As soon as it's worn or jaded though, its on he scrap heap.
