Busacca Gallery

Description:

These are two beautiful little plates with graceful and elegant sterling silver overlay in both concentric circles and flowing fronds. It is certainly Art Nouveau in style, although I am not sure of it's age. Clearly it is post 1900. This plate is 4 3/8" diameter. Condition is good: some minor loss to the silver. The bottom overlay is glass. It has been years since I have had a pair of silver overlay plates – just not out there anymore. They are in good condition for age and type – NO damage to the glass; almost all of the sterling is intact – there is a missing tendril here and there on a couple; there is some wear to the edges of the rims, as shown. Some light utensil marks in centres, consistent with table use. The sterling has been carefully and thoroughly cleaned, and they are ready for immediate use.

Reference:

www.ascasonline.org/newsDICE32.html

SILVER OVERLAY GLASS Silver has been used to decorate bronze, copper, and earthenware for ages. Silver on glass, however, started to come into its own a little over a century ago. In 1889 Oscar Pierre Erard of Birmingham, England, developed an effective method of electroplating silver on glass and porcelain. Although beautiful on the outside, it shared an important shorcoming with its predecessors. The reverse side of the silver design, the side next to the glass would tarnish and turn dark. In clear plates, bowls, dishes and glasses this unsightly result was hardly condusive to a hearty appetite. In 1893, an American from New Jersey by the name of John H. Scharling patented a method no less simple or beautiful than Erard's creation, but with a distinct advantage. The reverse side of the design was snow white and it stayed that way indefinitely. Like Erard's method, Sharling's designs utilized electroplating. He shared his new process with all, both domestic and European. By 1895, the Czechs, Italians, French, English and Austrians were producing exciting glassware with sterling deposit and overlay.