Large Old Sheffield Plate Meat Cover

This very large, good quality Old Sheffield Plate meat cover carries some very ornate and detailed cast decoration in the form of the handle and the skirt. It also has a family's insignia engraved to the front showing a looped belt bearing the motto "Semper Idem" which translates as "Always the same". The letter H is encircled by the belt, and beneath the belt are the initials D H. These engravings are done on a block of silver inset into the cover so that you can get nice deep engravings without revealing the copper core of the cover. Before the invention of electroplating, Old Sheffield Plate was a way for the budget conscious to obtain the look of silver without the cost of solid silver. This is also shown in the inside of the cover which has been tinned to cover the copper. This cover measures 573 mm (22.5 inches) in width, 455 mm (18 inches) in depth, stands 280 mm (11 inches) high and weighs an impressive 5.2 kgs (11.5 lbs). It is in very good condition with only a few small areas where the silver has been lost. The black mark in the photo to the right of the insignia is a reflection of my camera lens and not a defect. The cover is unmarked and would date from the period 1820-30.