Name/Title
Biscuit BoxContext
On the lamp table beside the northwest window of the Neill-Cochran House Museum's back parlor sits a Sheffield silver oval biscuit box made in England, c. 1900. The box has a hinged cover and an urn finial on an oval footed tray. It is decorated on the top and sides with etchings of summer foliage.
The bottom of the box bears the hallmark of the Atkins Brothers' silver business in Sheffield. We can see the letters "HA EA FA" for Harry Wright Atkin, Edward Thomas Atkin, and Frank Shaw Atkin respectively. The Atkin Brothers inherited the business from their father, renowned Sheffield silversmith Henry Atkin, and continued production into the mid-20th century.
Sheffield silver plate is formed with thin sheets of silver and copper annealed together under pressure before being made into the required object. It was very popular because it could be used to produce items at a fraction of the cost of the solid silver equivalent. Sheffild silver pieces like our biscuit box were very popular at the turn of the last century for use at parties.
You can see all of our glittering artifacts at the Neill-Cochran House Museum, Wed-Sun 11-4pm.Acquisition
Accession
nd.009Source or Donor
Mrs. George Thomas Abell (Gladys Hanger)Acquisition Method
Gift