Small Handled SP tray Use?

>Bobbitt...<

ROF-LOL!

I haven't any help on the purpose of this tray, but think I have seen others. For the life of me I can't remember their purpose. As to being marked quadruple plate, this does not mean it has 4 layers of silverplate. It means the plate content was 4 times more than standard plate. Quadruple plate was a very high grade of plating. It was the highest quality of plate! This high quality of electroplating has become more and more collectible. I can't remember the exact decade that silver companies stopped stamping the words "quadruple plate" on their items. I think Meriden Britannia stopped around 1896 and the other companies around 1910?

http://www.abesilverman.com/What_IS_Quadruple_Silver_Plate.html

--- Susan

 

I had to do some Googling, but I finally got it!!!! Unbelievable!

 

As to Bobbitt, I could go on and on and on and on with the humor, but will refrain from being booted off the forum.

I think this is a celery serving tray/stand! Most celery stands are a tall flared glass goblet-like inserted onto a silver stand; however, many were made as narrow rectangles with rounded bottom serving trays/baskets. I'm having a hard time finding one now. There are a couple pictured in Rainwater's American Silverplate, p. 319. Rainwater says "... Celery stands and baskets are of two general types - the tall stands and low rectangular trays of cut glass set in footed silverplated frames. The tall stands outnumbered the low trays by about seventeen to one in the early catalogs consulted. In later ones the ratio was five to three..."

--- Susan

Following is a scan of one of the baskets/trays from Rainwater's American Silverplate, p. 319 - for educational purposes only.

 

Given the awkward height and angle of the handles, as already suggested, it most likely had a glass liner (would guess cut glass or EAPG with a base or foot that the curvature accommodated), the sturdiness of those handles suggest it was probably intended for table service. Can look through some catalogs when I get home, but at that size, too small for a bread tray, and seems a bit small for a celery too, perhaps a small berry dish, bon-bon, or maybe even a spoon tray - dating is probably 1880s-90s.

Regarding 'Quadruple Plate', it was supposed to be heavy plating, but the reason so many companies stopped using the term was that some manufacturers didn't actually bother with leaving it in the bath for the extra time, those pieces showed wear quickly and the term developed a bad reputation. Somewhere in my files, have an old article with the statement International made when announcing that their companies would cease use of the term, believe Rainwater stated somewhere that it wasn't really used after 1912, and that's probably a fair generalization, but I've found records indicating that several companies continued well after that, and have found examples of 'Quadruple Plate' in later advertising and on articles made by companies not in existence until the mid 20th century...

~Cheryl

 

Thanks all for replies! The interior would be even smaller allowing for a glass insert. Does the above illustration has a glass insert? No insert does limit the serving possibilities.

 

An insert would be taller and likely flared out over the base, would actually give a bit larger capacity...

~Cheryl

 

okay. lol I am dimensionally challenged I just can't pictured it.

 

Hehe - will see if I can find some visual aids later...

~Cheryl

 

Doesn't appear to be long enough Af!!!!

 

More than long enough in many cases...

~Cheryl

 

Well the bobbitt thought got me thinking.

Maybe asparagus?

 

Was home for a little bit, checked a few references - these quick cell phone shots might give you an idea of the way an insert might look...

From 1886 Meriden catalog, berry dishes and fruit dishes:





From an 1890 Acme catalog, preserve/berry dish and jelly dish:



~Cheryl

 

I see it now! Thanks for the illustrations.