When Sheffield silver first made its mark – 1773

As York silver becomes both too hard-to-find and too expensive to buy, there is increasing interest in early wares from the Sheffield assay office. The manufacture of silver in Sheffield did not begin until the second half of the 18th century – a direct offshoot to the Old Sheffield Plate and the cutlery industry.

Early production in the 1760s was almost exclusively confined to the die-stamping of knife handles –…

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