Antique Harrods Silver Plate Oval Serving Tray, English

I bought this large oval serving tray in Belgium, though the mark on the back tells you where it started: Harrods of London, stamped in the store's cloud-shaped cartouche. Harrods sold it through their silver department in the Edwardian years, sourcing the actual plate from one of the Sheffield makers who supplied the store. It is a proper twin-handled tray, twenty-four inches across the handles, with a rope-twist gadroon rim and open loop handles set on shaped mounts. The center is plain and bright, the kind of tray meant to carry a full tea or drinks service and still look like the best thing on the table.

[d]Dimensions | 24 in W (handle to handle) x 14 in D x 1.5 in H

[d]Surface | Silver plate, bright polished, honest light wear, not replated

[d]Material | Silver plate on base metal

[d]Period | Edwardian

[d]Date | Circa 1900 to 1915

[d]Origin | England

[d]Retailer | Retailed by Harrods, London, marked to the underside

[d]Style | Edwardian, George III taste

[d]Also Known As | twin-handled serving tray, butler's tray

[d]Border | Rope-twist gadroon rim

[d]Handles | Cast open loop handles on shaped shield mounts

[d]Markings | Underside marked HARRODS LONDON S.W. with number 9393

[condition]

The tray is in good antique condition with honest wear from use. The plate is bright and largely intact across the surface, with light scratching throughout the well and a few small stains and spots, all shown in the photos. The gadroon rim is crisp with only minor high-point wear. Both cast handles are firm and secure on their mounts. The form is true with no dents, warping, or structural problems. The underside carries the Harrods London S.W. retailer's mark and the number 9393. No maker's mark is present, which is normal for store-retailed plate. Sold as silver plate retailed by Harrods, English, dated from the retailer's mark and styling.

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