EPNS | Teaspoon Set with Sugar Tongs | Seven Pieces | Original Presentation Case | Made in England | Mid-20th Century

A tea table set complete in its original case is a less common survival than the individual pieces suggest — cases and their contents tend to part company over time.

Electroplated nickel silver flatware of this kind was produced in considerable volume by English manufacturers throughout the mid-twentieth century, particularly in Birmingham and Sheffield, and was sold both under maker’s names and as unmarked trade goods through department stores and gift retailers. EPNS — electroplated nickel silver — refers to a base alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel coated with a layer of silver by electrolytic process, producing the appearance of sterling at a more accessible cost.

Cased sets of six teaspoons with matching sugar tongs were a standard gift form from the 1930s through the 1960s, and the fitted presentation case seen here — leatherette exterior, silk-lined lid and velvet base — is entirely characteristic of that period.

The set comprises six matching teaspoons and a pair of sugar tongs, each piece sharing the same decorative scheme. The spoons are formed with oval bowls and tapering stems, bordered with fine engraving and terminating in an oval cartouche within a scrolled and feathered surround. The sugar tongs repeat this decorative language, creating a cohesive set. The silvered surface remains bright, with the soft warmth typical of well-maintained electroplate.

The presentation case is finished in brown leatherette with brass corner mounts and clasp, opening to an ivory silk-lined lid and a dark navy velvet-lined base with fitted recesses for each piece.

The set is in very good condition. The plating remains sound across all pieces with only light, even wear consistent with age and use. The case shows general exterior scuffing and wear to the leatherette; the interior lining is clean and intact.

Key Details

• Material: Electroplated nickel silver (EPNS)
• Set: Six teaspoons and sugar tongs
• Origin: England
• Period: Mid-20th century
• Case: Original leatherette presentation case with silk and velvet lining
• Dimensions (case): 19.6 cm × 13.6 cm × 2.5 cm
• Weight (including case): 231 g
• Condition: Very good; light age-related wear; case exterior worn, interior intact

Collector Appeal

Complete cased sets remain consistently saleable, particularly where the original tongs are still present — a detail often lost over time. While not tied to a named maker, the integrity of the set and its presentation make it an attractive entry-level collectible and an easy decorative or gifting piece.

The gift box outlasting the occasion it marked is a small, persistent act of optimism on the part of whoever made it.