{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O25256"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O25256/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG7317/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG7317/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AG7317","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O25256","accessionNumber":"M.14-1999","objectType":"Fork","titles":[{"title":"Walkeroid","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":"Old English pattern","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Walker & Hall Ltd.","id":"A3004"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":"possibly"}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"nickel silver","id":"AAT242125"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Electroplated nickel silver","categories":[{"text":"Eating","id":"THES48963"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Tableware & cutlery","id":"THES48888"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AG7317"],"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. 1880-1900","earliest":"1875-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs Ena Eatwell","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"17.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"2.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"1.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"\"WALKEROID\" and the letters\"NS\" within a rectangular. framed lozenge.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"Along the centre line of the back of the stem.","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Along the centre line of the back of the stem.\r\n\r\nMarked on the handle with the tradename, WALKEROID and NS for nickel silver. Walkeroid may have been one of the names used by Walker and Hall."}],"objectHistory":"Gift - Ena Eatwell","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Fork, electroplated nickel silver, trade marked 'Walkeroid', Sheffield, England, ca.1880-1900","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"John Culme <font -u>The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths, Jeeweelers & Allied Traders, From the London Assay Office Registers</font>, Woodbridge, Antique Collectors' Club Ltd., 1987,  Vol.1 p.463 ISBN 1851490698"}],"production":"\"Walkeroid\" is a possible trademark for Walker and Hall, Sheffield.\r\n\r\nSilver load date: made ca. 1880\n\nReason 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":"21. FORK\r\nNickel silver\r\nBritish, around 1880\r\nPossibly Walker and Hall\r\nMarked on the handle with the tradename WALKEROID and NS for nickel silver. Walkeroid may have been one of the names used by Walker and Hall.\r\nE. Eatwell Gift\r\nM.14-1999","date":{"text":"20/01/2000","earliest":"2000-01-20","latest":"2000-01-20"}}],"partNumbers":["M.14-1999"],"accessionNumberNum":"14","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1999,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-11","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-16","availableToBook":false}}