Overview
The maker's mark (knight's helmet and K. S. Co) definitively identifies the piece as Knickerbocker Silver Co., active 1894-1936. The 'EPNS' stamp confirms the material as electroplated nickel silver.
Identification
Knickerbocker Silver Co. EPNS Art Deco Octagonal Tray, Model C17
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Story
Knickerbocker Silver Co. was an American silver manufacturer operating out of Port Jervis, New York, from 1894 until its closure in 1936. They were known for producing a wide range of commercial silverplated hollowware and novelties. This specific piece, with its stepped octagonal rim, is a textbook example of the streamlined Art Deco aesthetic popularized in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Maker / Origin
Knickerbocker Silver Co.
Condition & Value
The tray exhibits heavy overall tarnish and significant surface scratching consistent with decades of use. Because the base metal is Electroplated Nickel Silver (EPNS)—a silvery-white alloy—minor plate loss is less visually jarring than on copper-based pieces, but heavy scratching still depresses the value.
Full Research
See what it's actually worth.
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Market Analysis
The secondary market for early 20th-century American commercial silverplate is highly saturated and generally soft, with most pieces trading as accessible decorative items rather than collector investments. Buyers are typically looking for specific geometric Art Deco forms to use as barware, vanity trays, or catchalls. While pristine, large-scale pieces by premium makers can command hundreds, standard commercial trays by makers like Knickerbocker move reliably only in the sub-$50 range.
Value Drivers
▲ Clear Knickerbocker Silver Co. maker's mark and C17 model number confirm authenticity and period.
▲ Classic stepped octagonal form strongly aligns with current interior design demand for Art Deco barware.
▲ EPNS (nickel silver) base metal provides a silvery-white undertone that masks minor plate wear better than copper.
Concerns
▼ Unverified exact dimensions — if the tray is smaller than 10 inches, it falls into the lower-priced trinket dish tier.
▼ Unverified plate integrity — heavy scratching and tarnish may hide permanent plate loss, which would drop the value to the $15 floor.
Best Venue
List on a broad online marketplace like eBay or Etsy as an 'Art Deco Vanity/Bar Tray. ' Before photographing for sale, apply a gentle silver polish to remove the heavy tarnish; if it shines up well, price at the top of the range ($45-$50) with 'OBO' (Or Best Offer). If the plating is permanently worn, bundle it with other vintage vanity items or list for a fast sale at $15.
Upside Potential
If the tray is exceptionally large (over 18 inches in length) and polishes to a brilliant, mirror-like finish with zero plate loss, it could appeal to dedicated Art Deco barware collectors and push toward the $75-$100 range.
▾Also found — market-range context
Related comps outside the valuation band· 6 comps
Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.
Also found — market-range context
Related comps outside the valuation band· 6 comps
- eBayKs & Co Knickerbocker Silver Co Silver Plated 12 3/8" Platter Glass Insert 1894-Platter with glass insert, different form and era.$50
- EtsyKs & Co Knickerbocker Silver Co Silver Plated 12 3/8" Platter Glass Insert 1894-Platter with glass insert, different form.$50
- eBayKnickerbocker Silver Co. Art Deco Silverplate Covered Serving Dish MonoCovered serving dish, different form.$30
- EtsyVintage Silver Boat Dish: Knickerbocker EPNS Candy DishBoat/candy dish, different form.$29
- NM Estate Auctions· 2025-01-15Vintage Knickerbocker Silver Co. Grape Motif Silver-Plated Beverage SetBeverage set, not a tray or dish.$25
- EtsyVintage Knickerbocker Silver Co Gravy Boat, Silverplate Sauce Server with Art Deco Square Handle and Beaded Rim, Retro ThanksgivingGravy boat, different form.$25