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Conservation Report - "Roe Ewer"

The Roe Ewer, circa 1860 was given to me to repair the leaking bottom of the vessel. This "silver" vessel was heavily oxidized (black) and leaking badly. It had also been cleaned over the years with "Silvo" or similar type products which caused a build up of the cleaning paste in all crevices and indentations. On investigation, there had been many repairs carried out on the vessel which had been done with lead solder and later, two pack epoxy. After cleaning, it was observed that deterioration of the epoxy repairs was allowing the fluids to leak out. Areas with cleaning paste build-up were corroded and pitted.

I first thoroughly cleaned the exterior of the ewer, by gently removing all tarnish, oxides and metal-cleaning pastes, with jeweller"s tripoli applied with a rag. I also removed all epoxy resin from the bottom of the vessel. Traditionally in the silver industry, plaster of paris was used to adhere unlike surfaces together (ie: glass to metal) and after the removal of the epoxy resin, this was found to be true. This particular ewer was a little unusual because of its glass bottom. Glass bottoms in vessels are more common in tankards and beer steins.

The glass insert was thoroughly cleaned and a clear silicone was applied to all joints. The clear silicone was of a similar type used in bathrooms, swimming pools and aquariums where metal and glass meet and need to have a complete seal. After allowing to dry for 72 hours, the vessel was tested for leaks. Unfortunately, many of the other seams on the ewer leaked. Not badly and only visible over a period of hours.

With this information to hand, I then used the silicone to seal all inside joints I could reach. And with further testing, slowly eliminated all leakage points. I have now put an acrylic insert into the base to give a more tidy presentation.

While working with the vessel, I found that all silver marks on the base had been eliminated (filled in) by lead solder, so identification was not possible. On the exterior of the vessel, under much accumulated tarnish and dirty, I found the name "Elkington" stamped into the foot. On examination, I also found that the vessel was silver plated, which could be "Sheffield Plate". This fact was established on areas of the vessel, where the silver plating had worn away and the base metal could be observed.

The interior of the vessel, although clean is badly pitted and in poor condition. This would have been caused by the use of wine and the wine"s acidity corroding the base metal over this long period of time. Perhaps wine had been stored in the ewer and/or the ewer was not thoroughly washed after use. This type of deterioration would be normal with wine stored in metal.

Future use of the Rowe Ewer

To the best of my ability, I believe that the ewer can continue to be used, although, being old, more deterioration may occur with use over a period of time.

When used, I suggest that the wine be removed directly after the service and the ewer flushed out with clean water. Don"t let the wine stand in the vessel. If left for several hours before use, the wine may acquire a metallic taste. After use and thoroughly rinsed with clean water, a solution of fresh water and baking power (bi-carbonate of soda) - 1 tablespoon to 1 litre of water be used to neutralize the interior. This will keep the ewer fresh for the next service.

Do not use silver cleaning pastes or solutions on the interior nor the exterior as chemicals in these products will also attack the metal over time. The exterior washed in warm soapy water should suffice.

History of the Roe Ewer

Elkington and Company are still producing silver plate and cutlery. There are over 80,000 references to the Company on the internet - both historical, current merchandise for sale and antique companies offering old and not so old goods for sale. On ebay, and through the internet antique dealers, there are items for sale for a few dollars to pieces for many thousands of dollars.

Elkington silver is in museums throughout the world. The Victoria and Albert in England is noted and in Australia, the Power House Museum in Sydney has a collection. In 1888 Elkington made the "Melbourne Cup".

The originators of silver-plating were George Richards Elkington and Henry Elkington who began their research in times of the industrial revolution. In 1815 George Richards Elkington was apprenticed to the family owned silver manufacturing business in Birmingham which he eventually inherited. The firm originally made spectacle frames, snuff boxes and silver-gilt toys and bottle mounts.

Between 1829 and 1836 he was in partnership with his cousin Henry which was during a period of much interest in electrometallurgy. G.R. Elkington hired a metallurgist, Alexander Parks and patronized chemists in the attempt to develop the electrogilding and electroplating of base metal articles for commercial production.

Between 1836 to 1838 they patented their processes and 1840 saw the technique of electro-plating brought to perfection. In 1840, John Wright a Birmingham surgeon, discovered the valuable properties of a solution of cyanide, silver and potassium for electroplating purposes. The Elkington"s purchased and patented Wright"s process. Subsequently the Elkingtons acquired the rights of other processes and improvements.

The Elkingtons opened a new electroplating works in Newhall Street, in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham in 1841, and the following year, Josiah Mason, a pen manufacturer, joined the firm and encouraged the Elkingtons to diversity their output, adding more affordable electroplated jewellery and cutlery to the large pieces the company had been producing. Electroplated wares became very successful in the Victorian market and by 1880 the company employed 1,000 people at the Newhall Street site and had a further six factories.

In 1868, Queen Victoria permitted much of the royal plate to be copied by Elkington and after that a convention was entered into by "several Princes of the reigning families of Europe" whereby they agreed mutually to assist the company in allowing copies of their own national objects for the process of art.

For its excellence in artistic quality and fine design, during the early years, the company received the highest possible awards at the Great International Exhibitions. Elkington and Company was granted many other awards and Royal Warrants. Elkington were the suppliers of flatware to the luxury dining sections on board the Titanic and other ships in the White Star Line fleet. The British Royal Yacht Britannia also used Elkington cutlery.

In 1963 Elkington and Company became a division of British Silverware Ltd.