Silver Electrotype Cup, 1845

Electricity introduced strange new possibilities into the decorative arts world. The silversmithing firm Elkington & Co. began experimenting in the 1840s with a technique to produce perfect reproductions of complex decoration. By using an electrochemical process to deposit silver ions on a conductive mold, they discovered they could quickly produce (and reproduce) design elements that would have been difficult or impossible to make "by hand".

Danish designer Benjamin Schlick, under contract with Elkington during this period, led the firm's experimentation in this field by creating and copying classical motifs. This cup, designed by him, was one of the earliest production models, dating to 1845. While created using the same technique as electroplating, this cup is pure solid silver.

Compare this example in the collection of the Minneapolis Museum of Art.

Provenance:
Bonhams, London, 20 – 22 October 2022, Lot 179