{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O25262"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O25262/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG7314/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG7314/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AG7314","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O25262","accessionNumber":"M.19-1999","objectType":"Fork","titles":[{"title":"Victoria Plate","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":"J. Derby and Sons Ltd.","id":"A3140"},"association":{"text":"manufacturers","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""}],"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":["2006AG7314"],"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":"19.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"2.4","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":"J.DERBY &SONS LTD / SHEFFIELD and in a fan shaped spread; VICTORIA / PLATE / EPNS","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"On the back of the stem","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"On the back of the stem\r\n\r\nThe handle is stamped: J.DERBY & SONS LTD, SHEFFIELD, VICTORIA PLATE, E.P.N.S.  for electroplated nickel silver."}],"objectHistory":"Gift - Ena Eatwell","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Fork, electroplated nickel silver fork, stamped with the trade name 'Victoria Plate', made by J. Derby and Sons Ltd., Sheffield  ca. 1890","bibliographicReferences":[],"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":"20. FORK\r\nElectroplated nickel silver\r\nSheffield, around 1890\r\nJohn Derby and Sons\r\nThe handle is stamped: J.DERBY & SONS LTD, SHEFFIELD, VICTORIA PLATE, E.P.N.S. (for electroplated nickel silver).\r\nE. Eatwell Gift\r\nM.19-1999","date":{"text":"20/01/2000","earliest":"2000-01-20","latest":"2000-01-20"}}],"partNumbers":["M.19-1999"],"accessionNumberNum":"19","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1999,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-11","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-16","availableToBook":false}}