Things You'll Need:
- Silver platter
- Silver pattern research directories or online research sites
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Step 1
Ask the company. Although Wallace has absorbed several other companies and is now part of a larger company, Wallace welcomes specific questions by telephone or email.
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Step 2
Check research directories for Wallace silver brand marks. Over years these have changed, from R.W. and a stag's head to spelled-out company names. Identifying the mark on your tray will help to date it within a span of years.
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Step 3
Consult research directories or websites that include table utensils. Most of Wallace's work included a wide variety of pieces made in a single pattern, from full coffee service to olive forks. Silver replacement and collectible sites have mined old catalogs and publish dates for many popular patterns. Platters made in a specific pattern will contain identifiable design elements in handles and trim. You may or may not find a picture of your platter, but comparing knife handles with tray handles often gives you just the clues you need to identify and date your pattern.
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Step 4
Explore silver collectibles websites for specific questions. You may find a correspondent who recognizes your pattern and has a story to tell about it.
