Vintage Viners of Sheffield alpha plate candlestick – a nice, well-made item with a velvet-lined base, highly decorated with some age-related wear. 14 cm tall and 14 cm round at the base
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Viners, a Sheffield-based company, had a long and significant history in the British silverware and cutlery industry. They began as silversmiths and evolved into a leading manufacturer of cutlery and other metal goods, including Alpha Plate, a line of electroplated silverware.
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Here's a more detailed look at their history:
Early Years and Growth:
1901:
Adolphe Viener and his sons, also silversmiths, established the company, initially working in traditional workshops.
1908:
Viners established their first manufacturing business in Sheffield, specialising in plated hollowware and introducing new production techniques.
Post-World War I:
Viners diversified into cutlery production and became a leading cutler in the UK, employing marketing strategies like designed packaging and advertising campaigns.
1930s:
Viners received a Royal Warrant as Cutlers and Silversmiths to King George V.
1960s:
The company thrived, with a modern factory in Sheffield and subsidiaries in other countries.
Alpha Plate and the Decline:
Alpha Plate: This was a line of electroplated silverware produced by Viners, known for its quality and craftsmanship.
Post-War Decline: The cutlery industry in Sheffield, and Viners specifically, experienced a decline from 1945, accelerated by East Asian imports and the collapse of other industries.
1985: Viners went bust due to crippling loans for expansion.
Legacy:
Viners is still remembered for its innovative designs, like the Studio range, and its impact on the cutlery industry in the UK.
The company's Alpha Plate items, particularly those with distinctive chased designs, are still sought after by collectors.
Viners' history reflects the broader story of the Sheffield cutlery industry, its decline, and its enduring legacy.