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Trays

Sterling Silver Salvers & Trays — from small ‘waiters’ to two-handled tea trays.
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Large silver trays are genuinely unusual in solid sterling silver, since making one strong enough to actually carry things on takes a real quantity of silver — before global bullion supplies increased in the mid-to-late eighteenth century, pieces this large were rarely made outside royal or aristocratic households. Far more common historically is the small salver, sometimes called a ‘waiter,’ used to present a single glass or a calling card. Two-handled tea trays emerged alongside the English tea ceremony in the late eighteenth century and stayed popular until the mid-nineteenth, when electroplated versions began to take over. Every solid silver piece is hallmarked, guaranteeing the silver content under UK law.

At a Glance

Large solid silver trays are genuinely rare, due to the silver required
Small salvers (‘waiters’) are the more traditionally common piece
Two-handled tea trays emerged with the English tea ceremony, late 18th century
Electroplated versions took over from the mid-19th century
Some of the most inventive late-Victorian designs are electroplate, not solid silver

Style & Maker History

Large sterling silver trays only became more widely available once global bullion supplies increased in the mid-to-late eighteenth century — before that, pieces of this size were largely restricted to royal and aristocratic households. Two-handled tea trays emerged alongside the English tea ceremony in the same period, and stayed fashionable until the mid-nineteenth century, when electroplated versions increasingly took their place. Some of the most inventive tray designs of the whole Victorian period — the Aesthetic movement and Chinoiserie Revival styles in particular — were made in electroplate rather than solid silver.

Buyer's Guide

If you want a genuinely large tray, it’s worth knowing solid sterling silver examples are rare specifically because of how much silver a strong one requires — a smaller salver or ‘waiter’ is the more traditionally available piece. Silver-plated trays are a legitimate alternative for a large piece, not just a cheaper one: the nickel base makes them genuinely strong, and some of the most interesting late-Victorian designs — the Aesthetic and Chinoiserie Revival styles particularly — were made in electroplate rather than solid silver.

A few things to know

Any item which is guaranteed to be over 100 years old.
Sterling Silver is guaranteed by the UK Hallmarking Act. Each piece is independently verified and assayed for the purity of silver content.
Yes, all of the items shown on our website are available to view at our showroom in The London Silver Vaults.
Looking after your silverware is a simple process. We have put together a guide at https://johnsurtees.co.uk/knowledge/how-to-clean-silver-care-guide/