Improved manufacturing techniques continued during the 1700's and more competition to London as the prime place of silver manufacture is evident. Birmingham and Sheffield being such centres.
In the early 1740's, Thomas Boulsover from Sheffield, discovered the technique of silver plating by fusing a thin sheet of silver to a thicker one of copper. This produced a product much cheaper than sterling silver but still of fine quality and appearance.
Wine Charms In Bulk
Around 1755, Joseph Hancock used this new product to manufacture candlesticks, coffee pots, saucepans and other domestic items. Matthew Boulton had a virtual monopoly of silver plate manufacture in the 1760's. During this period stamping machines and others were invented and this enabled the era of mass production to begin. The volume of goods produced by Sheffield and Birmingham led to the establishment of their own assay offices.
Many commissioned articles were still produced by hand using traditional methods.
The rococo ornamentation quickly disappeared. A great interest in the study of ancient Greece and the Roman ruins in Italy become very popular. English travellers and artists visited these areas and brought back items and ideas which then influenced the designs produced in England.
Robert Adam, architect and designer, visited Italy in 1754-58, he was appointed architect to George III and this influential position had it's effect on the architectural design of buildings and down to the furnishings and decoration therein. Hepplewhite, Adam and Sheraton furniture sets the style of the day. Two handled cups and covers became items of decoration rather than for general use and mainly in the Neo-Classical shape, a deep bowl tapering to it's junction with the stem, handles of S scrolls and bowls embossed with acanthus leaves.
Tankards and mugs are less popular, wine becoming more popular and hence the wine cooler is more popular. Wine Labels and Bottle Tickets that were hung from the neck of a bottle became popular. Tea services came to be designed as a set, rather than a collection of similar individual items. Large quantities of tea services were made consisting of a teapot, sugar bowl, milk jug, water jug and sometimes a tray were produced. Most typical tea pots had vertical sides with the spout starting from the bottom of the vessel and with opposing ebony handle with thumb grip.
Jugs, tea caddies, coffee pots, sugar bowls, baskets and trays can be found.
Candlesticks and candelabra are produced in two main forms. One being the pillar with Corinthian or ornamental capital and base raised on a square embossed pedestal, designed to resemble a classical altar. The second having a circular foot or base, surmounted by a tall slender vase shape with the top resembling a goblet.
Inkstands tend to be a tray to hold glass bottles with silver mounts.
All the normal salt cellars, castors, flat plate, mustard pots and other domestic pieces were produced in the new Neo-Classical style.