Sugar Basin Silver Appraisal

Late Victorian Silver-Plated Scalloped Sugar Bowl

This is a small, double-handled open sugar bowl likely dating to the late 19th or early 20th century. The vessel features a distinctive lobed or scalloped body construction, with vertical ribs that create a wavy perimeter. The exterior is decorated with an intricate acid-etched or engraved lace-like pattern along the upper edge of each panel, reminiscent of draped textile motifs common in Neo-Renaissance or Victorian Aesthetic movement designs. The two recurved 'C' scroll handles are attached via soldering to the sides, each topped with a small thumb-rest or spur. In terms of materials, the item appears to be silver-plated over a base metal (likely nickel silver or brass). The condition shows significant age-related wear, characterized by a heavy, dark tarnish and 'bleeding' where the silver plating has worn thin, particularly on the interior and along the high points of the lobed panels and handles. There are no visible maker's marks from this angle, but the craftsmanship suggests a mass-produced yet high-quality decorative tableware item from the industrial era. The interior appears darkened, possibly from oxidation or remnants of use.