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EPNS Pierced Bonbon Dish
EPNS Pierced Bonbon Dish
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This elegant, silver-plated bonbon dish features a beautifully detailed pierced (reticulated) scroll design and a classic pedestal base. Marked EPNS (Electro-Plated Nickel Silver), it is a high-quality piece with a bright finish that highlights the intricate metalwork.
The open-work bowl sits on a tapered stem, making it an ideal choice for serving chocolates, small confections, or simply as a decorative accent in a curated interior.
Dimensions
Dimensions
- Height: 5.8 cm
- Diameter: 9.6 cm
Condition
Condition
- Excellent - Excellent vintage condition. Please note very faint "bleeding" on one side of the bowl where the silver plating has softened with age to reveal the base metal—a common characteristic of genuine antique silver plate that adds to its historic character.
Special Characteristics
Special Characteristics
1. Design & Features
- The dish features a reticulated (pierced) design, showcasing a series of scrolled, foliate cut-outs that run the circumference of the bowl.
- This open-work style was designed to provide a sense of lightness and airiness, preventing the silver from looking too heavy on a set table.
- The scalloped rim follows the flow of the scrollwork, while the bowl is supported by a solid, stepped pedestal base that provides excellent stability and a formal silhouette.
2. Craftsmanship
- As an EPNS (Electro-Plated Nickel Silver) piece, this dish represents the refined industrial craftsmanship of the late 19th or early 20th century.
- The piercing would have been achieved using a fly-press or hand-punching method, requiring a high degree of precision to ensure the symmetry of the pattern.
- The silver layer has been expertly bonded to a nickel-brass alloy base, creating a durable item with the lustrous appearance of solid sterling silver but with added structural strength.
3. Uses & Versatility
While traditionally intended for bonbons, sugared almonds, or petit fours, this piece is remarkably versatile for a contemporary home:
- Dining: Use it to serve truffles after a dinner party.
- Jewellery: Its size makes it a perfect "catch-all" or trinket dish for a dressing table to hold rings and earrings.
- Decor: The pierced walls allow light to pass through, making it an effective tea light holder (with a glass insert) or a vessel for a small amount of dried lavender.
- Styling: Because it provides height (5.8 cm), it is a useful tool for "layering" a shelf or a sideboard display, helping to break up flat surfaces.
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