Electroplating Collection

Elkington & Co. Manufacture, Royal Visit 1874
Royal visit by Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) to Elkington factory in Birmingham, where electro and silver plating where made. Date: 1874

Royal visit by Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) to Elkington factory in Birmingham, where electro and silver plating where made. Date: 1874

Moritz of Jacobi
2757972 Moritz of Jacobi. by French School, (19th century); (add.info.: Sciences. Galvanoplastie. Coll. Part. Science. Electroplating)

Portrait of Charles Christofle
865142 Portrait of Charles Christofle by French School, (19th century); (add.info.: Charles Christofle (1805-1863) French silversmith

Richard Elkington
2757974 Richard Elkington. by French School, (19th century); (add.info.: Sciences. Galvanoplastie. Coll. Part. Science. Electroplating)

Coffee pot or teapot, 1870 / 73. Creator: Webster Manufacturing Company
Coffee pot or teapot, 1870/73

Tureen with Cover, Birmingham, c. 1880. Creator: Christopher Dresser
Tureen with Cover, Birmingham, c. 1880

Ladle, Birmingham, c. 1880. Creator: Christopher Dresser
Ladle, Birmingham, c. 1880

Messrs Elkington and Cos Electro-Plate Works (engraving)
6010322 Messrs Elkington and Cos Electro-Plate Works (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Messrs Elkington and Cos electro-plate works)

Statuette moulee en gutta-percha et prete a recevoir la carcasse de platine, procede Lenoir (engraving)
5992647 Statuette moulee en gutta-percha et prete a recevoir la carcasse de platine, procede Lenoir (engraving) by European School

Jacobi decouvre la plasticite du cuivre precipite par la pile (engraving)
5992651 Jacobi decouvre la plasticite du cuivre precipite par la pile (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Bain de galvanoplastie pour la reproduction des gravures sur bois (engraving)
5992653 Bain de galvanoplastie pour la reproduction des gravures sur bois (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Objets d orfevrerie executes en cuivre, dores et argentes par la pile, par MM Christofle (engraving)
5992649 Objets d orfevrerie executes en cuivre, dores et argentes par la pile, par MM Christofle (engraving) by European School

Messrs Elkington and Cos Electro-Plate Works (engraving)
6010315 Messrs Elkington and Cos Electro-Plate Works (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Messrs Elkington and Cos Electro-Plate Works)

Electroplating (colour litho)
3099327 Electroplating (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Electroplating. Illustration for Lecons De Choses Illustrees (Imagerie D Epinal, Pellerin)

Advert for Mappin & Brothers cutlery 1891
Advertisement for Mappin & Brothers, showing the exterior of the factory in Sheffield, where you can buy your cutlery at the manufactures direct or have it repaired, replated and re-bladed ect. 1891

The Sultan of Zanzibar visiting Messers Elkingtons Factory at Birmingham (engraving)
1621196 The Sultan of Zanzibar visiting Messers Elkingtons Factory at Birmingham (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

L Aurore, piece d orfevrerie electro-chimique de MM Elkington, de Birmingham
5992648 L Aurore, piece d orfevrerie electro-chimique de MM Elkington, de Birmingham, Exposition universelle de Paris en 1867 (engraving) by European School

Electroplating, 1837 (chromolitho)
977402 Electroplating, 1837 (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Electroplating, 1837)

Groupe decoratif destine a la facade du nouvel Opera de Paris, execute en cuivre galvanoplastique par MM Christofle
5992662 Groupe decoratif destine a la facade du nouvel Opera de Paris, execute en cuivre galvanoplastique par MM Christofle (engraving) by European School

Carcasse de platine pour la reproduction des statues et statuettes, procede Lenoir (engraving)
5992642 Carcasse de platine pour la reproduction des statues et statuettes, procede Lenoir (engraving) by European School

Vase, c. 1890-1930 (glazed earthenware & electroplated nickel)
3084441 Vase, c.1890-1930 (glazed earthenware & electroplated nickel) by German School; height: 23 cm; The Geffrye Museum of the Home, London

Buildings and Industries of Sheffield (engraving)
1053252 Buildings and Industries of Sheffield (engraving) by Brewer, Henry William (fl.1858-d.1903); Private Collection; (add.info.: Buildings and Industries of Sheffield)

Les Saisons, piece d orfevrerie electro-chimique de MM Elkington, de Birmingham
5992641 Les Saisons, piece d orfevrerie electro-chimique de MM Elkington, de Birmingham, Exposition universelle de Paris en 1867 (engraving) by European School

Le Crepuscule, piece d orfevrerie electro-chimique de MM Elkington, de Birmingham
5992645 Le Crepuscule, piece d orfevrerie electro-chimique de MM Elkington, de Birmingham, Exposition universelle de Paris en 1867 (engraving) by European School

George Richards Elkington, from Les Merveilles de la Science, published c
2619116 George Richards Elkington, from Les Merveilles de la Science, published c.1870 (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Elkington & Co, Electro-Plate Works, Birmingham 1844 Elkington & Co
Scenes from Elkington & Co, Electro-Plate Works, Birmingham, woman worker, burnishing. Date: 1844

Elkingtons Electro-plate Factory, Birmingham 1844
The silver deposit room at Elkingtons Electro-plate Factory, Birmingham. The objects to be plated are connected to an electrical cable (routed across the ceiling)

An Electroplating Outfit, c1917. From How It is Made, by Archibald Williams. [Thomas Nelson and Sons, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and New York]

2619119; out of copyright

2619118; out of copyright

Charles Christofle (1805-1863) French silversmith and founder of the largest firm of electroplate manufacturers in France. Engraving from Les Merveilles de la Science by Louis Figuier (Paris, c1870)

Battery connected to a copper pipe and a key in copper sulphate solution, copper plating

Electroplating factory C017 / 9413
Electroplating factory. Worker operating a crane to remove copper electrodes from a hydroelectric bath in a metallurgical plant. Photographed in Sverdlov Region, Russia

HOUSEWARES AD, 1890. English newspaper advertisement for Mappin & Webbs silver plated products, 1890

ELKINGTON & CO. LTD. 1895. English newspaper advertisement for Elkington & Co. Ltd. housewares, 1895

Electric galvanising of steel
Galvanising steel. A roll of sheet steel at a galvanising station at a steel plant. Galvanisation is a process in which steel is coated with zinc to prevent corrosion

Electroplating, 19th century
Electroplating. Artwork showing an inspection of a workers skill in the technique of electroplating. The electroplated object is being examined

Grammes dynamo-electrical machine
Engraving by W. Bazzett Murray showing Grammes direct-current dynamo. Zenobe Theophile Gramme (1826-1901) built the first successful dynamo in 1869

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

In 1874, the Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) embarked on a royal visit to Elkington & Co. Manufacture in Birmingham, where the fascinating world unfolded before their eyes. This innovative process, pioneered by Moritz Jacobi, had revolutionized the art of silver plating. As they entered the Elkington factory, they were greeted with awe-inspiring displays showcasing the intricate craftsmanship involved in electroplating. Among them was a stunning portrait of Charles Christofle, an influential figure in this field. Richard Elkington himself guided the royal couple through his remarkable creations. A magnificent coffee pot or teapot caught their attention - a masterpiece crafted by Webster Manufacturing Company between 1870 and 1873. Moving further into the factory, they marveled at Christopher Dresser's exquisite tureen with cover and ladle from around 1880. These pieces showcased Dresser's unique design aesthetic combined with Elkington's exceptional electroplating techniques. The visit also included a glimpse into Messrs Elkington and Cos Electro-Plate Works through an enchanting engraving that captured its grandeur. The image portrayed a bustling hive of activity where skilled artisans meticulously transformed ordinary objects into works of art using electroplating methods. The royals were then introduced to another groundbreaking application - statuette moulee en gutta-percha et prete a recevoir la carcasse de platine (a statuette made from gutta-percha ready to receive its platinum casing), as depicted in an intriguing engraving. This technique demonstrated how galvanoplasty could be used for reproducing wood engravings with astonishing precision. Jacobi's discovery regarding copper's malleability when precipitated by electric current was also highlighted during this enlightening tour. An engrossing engraving illustrated Jacobi uncovering this phenomenon - revealing yet another fascinating aspect of electroplating.