Broggi of Milan — large oval platter with gallery Mid-Century

Two centuries of Milanese silver, ready for your next aperitif! Polished. Elegant. Pleasantly heavy! Some trays carry drinks. This one carries two centuries of Milanese history. In 1818, Gaetano Broggi opened his first workshop on Via dei Mercanti d'Oro, the street of gold merchants (subtle, they were not). In 1872, King Victor Emmanuel II granted Broggi the right to hang the royal coat of arms above the door as the official supplier to the Royal House. The 20th century further raised the bar. Broggi employed over 500 artisans and dressed the tables of Europe's reigning houses, grand hotels, and legendary ocean liners. Even Gio Ponti, the godfather of Italian design, created pieces for the house. In short, this tray comes from a family that has long been making dinners glamorous. Now, a word about silver. This is not the ultra-thin plating found on so many current decorations, the kind that gives way after a few enthusiastic polishings. This is vintage Italian silver-plated metal in the hotel tradition: a sturdy metal base, most likely brass or alpaca, dressed in silver and designed to withstand years of champagne service, clinking glasses, and hurried servers. That explains the weight. Pick it up and you'll feel it right away. It has character! Craftsmanship from an era when things were made to last, not to be replaced the following season. This vintage silver-plated beauty measures almost half a meter of pure Milanese assurance. The design is that of classic Italian hospitality and bar at its most elegant: a smooth oval gallery, a sharp edge, and two cut-out handles that make every entry choreographed. Load it with crystal decanters, a bowl of olives, and an excellent glass, and your bar cart has a new star! Signed BROGGI on the underside, where light swirls and marks tell decades of service. Proof that it has lived well. Che bello! A little note on photographing silver. Silver is a diva in front of the camera. It reflects everything: the room, the lights, and, if we're not careful, our surprised faces looking back at us (not the desired look). To keep the focus on the piece, we photograph with large screens around to control reflections. But all this shine has a side effect: fine scratches, small dings, and slight signs of wear can hide in the gleam and be hard to see in photos. We always do our best to show each piece as honestly as possible. Before any departure, we hand-polish it, so that what arrives at your home is always a beautiful heavy piece, with the gentle patina of an object used for decades and still loved today. Dimensions: L 49 cm X W 35 cm X H 8 cm. Materials and techniques: silver-plated metal. Provenance: Broggi, Milan. Period: Italy, mid to late 20th century|1950s-1970s. Condition: the original plating has a soft and pleasant patina. A few fine scratches are visible, but overall it is in good vintage condition. A hand-polishing is performed before shipping.