Existing alongside the cutlery industry in 18th century Sheffield, was the small but flourishing silversmithing trade. It was here in the mid-18th Century that Thomas Bolsover discovered the technique of fuse plating, later known as Sheffield Plate.
The silver industry sent its wares to either York or London, but with the joint representation of Birmingham, the Sheffield Assay Office opened its doors in 1773.
The vast majority of Sheffield marked flatware dates from the late 19th century onwards, and is a result of mass production in conjunction with the cutlery trade. However, small numbers of interesting pieces prior to this mass production do exist and are highly collectable.
