Se denomina platería el trabajo artesanal de la plata con fines ornamentales. La función principal de la platería es la ornamentación de los edificios, tanto sagrados como profanos y de las habitaciones particulares, especialmente en los momentos de solemnidad y recepción. Para los edificios sagrados fabrica la platería, como dice el monje Theophilo en su Diversarum Artum Schedula [Ensayo sobre diversas artes], obra que pertenece cuando menos al siglo XIII: los cálices, candelabros, incensarios, vasos para los Santos óleos, vinajeras, relicarios, cruces, misales y otros objetos que una útil necesidad reclama para los usos de la Iglesia, sin los cuales no podrían llenarse ni los misterios divinos ni el servicio de los altares. Para el adorno de los palacios y otros edificios, la platería fabrica vasos, copas, candelabros, espejos, canastillas que se regalan a las novias, vajillas con piedras, cubiertos, mangos de cuchillos, fruteros, teleras, fuentes, jarrones y otros muchos objetos destinados al servicio de la mesa. Todas las piezas de plata u otro metal noble que se venden como joya es obligatorio que se indique su grado de pureza mediante un contraste.

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Household silver or silverware (the silver, the plate, or silver service) includes tableware, cutlery and other household items made of sterling silver, Britannia silver or Sheffield plate silver. Silver is sometimes bought in sets or combined to form sets, such as a set of silver candlesticks or a silver tea set. Historically, silverware was divided into table silver, for eating, and dressing silver for bedrooms and dressing rooms. The grandest form of the latter was the toilet service, typically of 10-30 pieces, often silver-gilt, which was especially a feature of the period from 1650 to about 1780. Silver requires a good deal of care, as it tarnishes and must be hand polished, since careless or machine polishing ruins the patina and can completely erode the silver layer in Sheffield plate. A silverman or silver butler has expertise and professional knowledge of the management, secure storage, use and cleaning of all silverware, associated tableware and other paraphernalia for use at military and other special functions. This expertise covers the maintenance, cleaning, proper use and presentation of these assets to create aesthetically correct layouts for effective ambience at such splendid occasions. The role of silverman tends now to be restricted to some private houses and large organizations, in particular the military. \n* Sterling silver candlestick, One of a pair of candlesticks made for the 5th Earl of Bath's widow. Marks for silversmith Robert Cooper, London, and 1679. They bear the arms of the widow of the 5th Earl of Bath. \n* \n* Mark of Robert Cooper \n* De Lamerie \n* Pair of salts, salver and cream jug bearing arms of family of Beachcroft. (Arms granted 12 Nov. 1717: Bendy of siz argent and gules three stags heads cabossed or. Crest: A beech tree proper behind six park pales argent.) \n* Seven salvers (c. 1735–1750). (Arms of Bisse (granted Ireland 25 May 1637): Sable three escalops in pale argent a canton ermine and a crescent for difference or. Crest: On a mount vert two snakes or, interlaced respecting each other.) \n* A c. 1770 hot-water jug, Dublin \n* Paul Storr \n* GS & WF canteen laid out \n* Coburg pattern canteen \n* Detail of a teapot \n* Detail of GS & WF forks. George Smith III and William Fearn

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