{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O25252"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O25252/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG7318/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG7318/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AG7318","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O25252","accessionNumber":"M.10-1999","objectType":"Fork","titles":[{"title":"Brisbane Silver","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"“ The substitution of electro-plate for real silver is now so common in households where the latter would be regarded as a superfluous luxury, that the sternest advocate of true principles in art-manufacture would scarcely require an apology for its use.”   (Charles Eastlake, Hints on Household Taste, 1878)\r\n\r\nGeorge Richard Elkington and his cousin and partner, Henry Elkington successfully developed electroplating, electrotyping and electrogilding processes from earlier experiments and made them commercially viable. The cousins were not inventors but innovators who, by applying the techniques to industry, revolutionized the silver and plating trades all over the world. In the 1840s, licences to make the new products were sold widely in Britain and abroad to firms such as Christofle & Co. in Paris. Electroplate, a cheaper and more durable substitute for silver, replaced Sheffield plate within ten years and challenged the supremacy of silver on the dining tables and in the drawing rooms of Europe.\r\n\r\nThe power of the machinery and new technology now at the disposal of the silver industry could produce thousands of identical items to a standard formula of design, quality and price. The focus of silver and silver product manufacture moved from London to the new factories of Birmingham and Sheffield.","physicalDescription":"Fiddle thread pattern (with hard shoulders)","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"James Deakin & Sons Ltd.","id":"A9897"},"association":{"text":"manufacturers","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"nickel silver","id":"AAT242125"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Nickel silver","categories":[{"text":"Eating","id":"THES48963"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Tableware & cutlery","id":"THES48888"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AG7318"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"67","id":"THES49731"},"free":"","case":"17","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"fork","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Sheffield","id":"x29138"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1890","earliest":"1885-01-01","latest":"1894-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs Ena Eatwell","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"15.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"202","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"1.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"\"BRISBANE\" within a rectangular lozenge with chamfered corners, \"S, a pair of crossed arrows, F\" within an oval shield, \"SILVER\" within a rectangular shield with chamfered corners,\"JD\" within an oval shiles, \"&\" within an hexagonal shield, \"S\" within a circular shield,  \"BP\" within an oval shield (at right angles to the main string), and a device within an heraldic shield.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"Along the centre of the back of the stem","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Along the centre of the back of the stem\r\n\r\nMarked on the shaft with the trade name Brisbane SILVER separated by a crossed arrows, and on the handle with the maker’s marks of James Deakin and Son of Sheffield"}],"objectHistory":"Gift - Ena Eatwell","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Fork, electroplated nickel silver fork, trade name 'Brisbane Silver' made by James Deakin & Sons Ltd., Sheffield, ca. 1890","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"John Culme <font -u>The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths, Jewellers and Allied Traders 1838-1914, From the London Assay Office Registers</font>, Vol.1, Woodbridge, Antique Collectors' Club, 1987, pp114-15  ISBN 1851490698"}],"production":"Reason For Production: Retail","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"22. FORK\r\nNickel silver\r\nSheffield, around 1890\r\nJames Deakin and Son\r\nMarked on the shaft with the trade name BRISBANE SILVER separated by a crossed arrows, and on the handle with the sponsor's marks of James Deakin and Son of Sheffield.\r\nE. Eatwell Gift\r\nM.10-1999","date":{"text":"20/01/2000","earliest":"2000-01-20","latest":"2000-01-20"}}],"partNumbers":["M.10-1999"],"accessionNumberNum":"10","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1999,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-11","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-16","availableToBook":false}}