Antique 18th Century Sheffield Plate Tureen & Domed Cover, Set of 2

This is a magnificent large antique English Old Sheffield silver plate tureen with the original domed cover, circa 1790 in date. It bears the crosskeys mark for I.E stands for John Edwards III, This stunning tureen is oval in shape and features an exquisite foliate border with a domed lid surmounted by a decorative acanthus leaf handle. It stands on four wonderful elegant acanthus leaf shaped feet. It is of the highest quality and is in excellent condition, this wonderful tureen with domed cover is ready to grace your dining table. It is a striking piece which will be the highlight of your Sunday lunch. Condition: In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation of condition. Dimensions in cm: Height 30 x Width 42 x Depth 30 Dimensions in inches: Height 1 foot x Width 1 foot, 4 inches x Depth 1 foot Old Sheffield Plate Thomas Boulsover, a Sheffield cutler, invented the process which became called Sheffield plate Circa 1740. The date is uncertain because no patent was taken out. The next known manufacturer was Joseph Hancock, in 1755, but others also began and in 1784 the Sheffield Plate makers obtained an Act of the Parliament legalizing a mark consisting of the full name of the maker and an associated device. In Sheffield plate a sheet of silver is fused on to a thicker one of copper and the compound billet rolled, both metals expanding equally, become a thin sheet of copper coated with a layer of silver. About 1840 the Electroplate process superseded Sheffield Plate and it’s production ceased about 1860. A2355