FB Rogers Silver-Plate Round Serving Tray

Mid 20th Century/United States

Silver-plated hollowware became a staple of middle-class dining and entertaining throughout the mid-20th century, offering the luxurious look of solid sterling silver at a fraction of the cost. Manufacturers such as the F.B. Rogers Silver Company produced extensive lines of trays, tea sets, and bowls utilizing durable base metals electroplated with a fine layer of silver. These pieces often featured traditional decorative styles, borrowing heavily from 18th-century English rococo and Chippendale designs.

The elaborate floral chasing and scrolled borders seen on these trays were typically applied using mechanical rolling presses combined with hand-chasing to create intricate relief patterns. As domestic entertaining shifted toward casual dining in the late decades of the century, the popularity of heavy silver-plated serving trays waned, leaving many of these once-cherished wedding gifts and formal dining accessories to the secondary market.