Cavendish Vintage Canadian Silverplate Well & Tree Tray

This Large Vintage Silverplate Oval Well & Tree Tray was manufactured either in Canada or England. The name “Cavendish” is incised on back of this silverplate platter. It is electroplated on a copper base and measures a grand size of 18 1/2" Length by a Width of 14”.  The design is that of the popular and very collectible “Grape or Vintage” design or motif. 

If this piece was produced in England it would have been made by the Vinery Ltd., Silversmiths of Sheffield, England. If made in Canada, it probably would have been made by Birks Jewellers & Silversmiths of Montreal. The possibility of the International Silver Company having made it is just as great. Regardless of the manufacturer, it is still a great quality “Well & Tree” Tray. 

COMMENT: A Marvelous Silverplate Well & Tree Platter For Any Festive Occasion!

CONDITION: This Gorgeous Silverplate Well & Tree Platter is in very fine condition. Unfortunately many of these well & tree trays have met the terrible fate of a carving knife and fork which is definitely not the case for this terrific silverplate platter.

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 at the bottom 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.
• Entree Dishes, if not accompanied with glass liners, will also sometimes have interior bottom surface scratches resulting from utensils having been used while serving.

"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.