Overview
A classic 19th-century cylindrical biscuit jar featuring elaborate Rococo-style chasing and a decorative finial.
1Identify
Preliminary identification
Victorian Silver-Plated Biscuit Barrel by Thomas Otley & Sons, c.1880
Photo reference
4 uploaded photos
Story
In the 1880s, the British afternoon tea was a social theater where every object on the table communicated the host's status and taste.
Maker / Origin
Thomas Otley & Sons was a prominent Sheffield firm established around 1848, specializing in Britannia metal and electroplated nickel silver.
Condition & Value
The piece shows a heavy, authentic patina with some 'bleeding' where the base metal is beginning to show through the silver layer—a common sign of age known as 'shabby… Value is driven by the maker's reputation and the integrity of the silver plating.
Research
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