A BROS. CANADIAN VINTAGE SILVER PLATE TEA SERVICE, C. 1930

This Vintage Silverplate 3-Piece Tea Service or Set was manufactured by A. BROS., of Toronto, Ontario during the 1930's. It is electroplated on a nickel silver base. Each piece stands on four feet.

Measurements:

(1) Tea Pot: (from handle to spout) 11"; its Diameter is 6" and it stands 5 1/4" High;

(2) Creamer: (from handle to lip) 5 1/2"; the Diameter is 3 5/8" by 2 3/4" High; and

(3) Sugar: (from handle to handle) 6 5/8"; the Diameter measures 4 3/8" by 2 3/4" High.

COMMENT: This Elegant Tea Service is "Queen Anne" Style and is done in the typical English flavor of the old 'Sterling' shapes. The tea pot has a lovely bakelite handle. The whole set has a beautiful Art Deco flavour/influence and has very delicate scalloped edges that are flanged. Indeed a very elegant and affordable little tea service suitable for a quaint afternoon tea with a special friend!

CONDITION: This attractive silverplate tea service is in very fine condition.

SILVERPLATE CONDITION NOTE:

Some minor conditional problems that are a common occurrence or commonplace with "antique and vintage" silverplate pieces which are considered acceptable and by general standards considered as "patina" are minor or light surface scratching and slight wear or minor bleeding of the base metal which is generally copper, brass or Britannica metal.

• Teapots, Coffee pots and Jugs generally show some interior discoloration and pitting due to the chemical interaction of the tea, coffee or other beverages with the various base metals if left sitting for long time periods and not properly cleaned after each usage. Teapots almost always have discoloration on the "interior" bottom.
  
• Trays normally have light surface scratching and bleeding of the base metal. Antique and Vintage Trays almost always show surface wear on the reverse side (back side).
• Flatware, for example forks, knives, spoons, etc., because of their usage, will on many occasions exhibit some light surface scratching.
• Candlesticks, at the insert top section, sometimes will exhibit slight discoloration where the candle burns too low; also sometimes on the underneath side of the base, wear will show.

"Antique and Vintage Silverplate" are not "new" items and therefore will almost always exhibit slight wear (bleeding) and light surface scratching. Normally if there is any relief work, that is embossing or floral, many times it will show slight bleeding of the base metal.

Many Victorian Art Nouveau and Edwardian pieces of silverplate will almost always show bleeding and sometimes need re-silvering. Re-silvering is frowned upon and is not always recommended by purists, especially when it comes to Georgian and Early Victorian silverplate. Re-silvering of really early pieces, Georgian to Mid-Victorian, can devalue pieces. Generally speaking, "re-silvering" is a personal matter of choice.