Featured Aesthetic Owl Calling Card Tray

Friends-Looking for yr pro recommendations on cleaning this Derby Quadrupleplate Silver Calling Card Tray.The piece originally had the normal silver-plate w/a gold wash applied to certain sections of the design.
In polishing this piece I'd like to retain as much of the original gold wash as possible (prob impossible,but worth a try). All suggestions appreciated.
The engraving is from the 1883 Derby Catalog.This model was issued with a square & round base-same model number.
The Motto says-'Should Owl'd Aquaintance Be Forgot'
Height is 5 3/4".
*PS-I normally avoid S.Plate like the plague (beat-up & generally worthless),but occasionally a piece just 'bites me' with it's eccentric Victorian weirdness.

 

Am I reading Should Owld Acquaintance be Forgot & is that the first 2 bars of the tune on the tray? Surprised the flowers aren't forget-me-nots. (This piece would probably have forget-me-knots.)

 

That's the tune Bronwen-'auld lang syne',and forget-me-nots would be more fitting.What kind of flowers are those ?
PS-Here's the original 1883 Catalog Illustration:

 

The idea that owls would be singing Auld Lang Syne or any other tune is one more way this piece is a shaggy dog story in silver plate. I'm not sure the flowers are anything from nature.

 

Oops, you said so. My eye jumped after 'square base.'

 

I'd say the Motto is a very silly Victorian Pun-they did have a sense of humor in those days.

 

Use whatever cream silver polish you would use for any other silver item. Wright's, Hagerty's, for example. Be gentle in it's application and be sure to rinse well and dry thoroughly.

 

Is it the angle of the picture or my imagination that the tray part appears to slant downward toward the owls?

 

Ouch! A pun! As Charles Lamb wrote... A pistol let off in the ear.

Debora

 

Thanks Bakers for polishing advice-I want to start out gently with this piece to see if I can retain some of the gold wash (fruitless,but gotta try).
Yes the tray tilts back towards the Owls and is slightly curved.I've seen flat versions,curved & bowed versions of this piece,plus round & square bases (both with the same #3522 model number). I'm also surprised they charged $7.50 for it in 1883,seems darn expensive.
God,I wish to heck it was Sterling,but it is what it is.

 

here's how i wished it looked...lots more gold.

 

As far as polishing goes, don't be surprised that its current state is as good as it's going to be. Many of these quad plate items have lost all of their silver after so long and so many polishings. If for resale, buyers usually don't care too much that the silver is gone, but of course, it would be better if it was all intact. I really like this piece, especially if I had a home like @Ghopper1924 but can the tray be straightened out? It seems like eventually all the cards would slide off. (Not that anyone leaves them these days, lol)

 

Love this piece, and thanks for the shout-out @ola402!

If you can find a skillful silversmith you could get it replated with new gold wash applied. Worth it IMO, but then again I think this piece is fantastic and worth every penny.

Failing that, @Bakersgma has it right, with Wright's. With patient application it should show a good part of its former glory!

 

Ola & Ghopper- Thanks ! Ola- I immediately thought of Ghopper's incredible home when I found this (true !).I may check out a few silversmiths & see if getting it restored is even possible.

 

Quote Ola-' but can the tray be straightened out? It seems like eventually all the cards would slide off.'
Ola-The metal is fairly malleable & could be straightened-but I've seen several different versions of the tray part-some flat,some curved ? The only model I can go with is the 1883 Derby Catalog Page (see above). The model may have changed thru the years (round/square base)-all models being correct factory issue.

 

I love all the work in that plate!!!! JUST BEAUTIFUL!!!!

 

The flowers are probably daisies or sunflowers in miniature. These are near-universal symbols of the Aesthetic Movement, recognizing the art and beauty of the every day. Remember that Oscar Wilde was credited with carrying a sunflower during a speaking tour. No traditional roses for these guys!

 

That's right-there's famous caricatures of Oscar holding a sunflower.A brilliant complex man.The top image called 'The Messiah' was published in The Wasp Magazine 1882 (same Pat year as the tray).I beleive it celebrates His San Francisco Tour of that year.

 

Gold on silver Aesthetic Ice Cream Spoons (Seller listed as 'Belgian')-WOW...'Honey,can We take out just a small mortgage on the house ?'.

 

Wonderful piece.