Golden Era Antiques Antique Silver Information Page
Antique Silver (on going project) The designs of silver changed dramatically from the 17th century, famed for its' austerity, to the elaborate and highly decorative Victorian period although the majority of the early silver was sadly recycled as nobody thought to protect it for prosperity. Much of it was turned into coin or melted down and made into new items. Collecting antique silver started in earnest around the mid 19th Century. Today with the advent of the Internet, it's much easier to find sources of antique silver than ever before, and starting a collection can be done for relatively little cost. A good starting point when collecting antique silver is firstly to gain understanding of the terms you may read in a catalogue description or magazine article. or hear bandied about at auctions or collectors fairs. To this end follows a small glossary of such terminology and additional material to include some silversmiths of note, a list of monarchs from 1603 ((any silver prior to this date is extremely rare), a list of useful books on the subject and other resources/links to help with your research. This information is provided more as a pointer than a full blown course on the subject.
Glossary of Terms Acanthus Stylised leaf decoration based on the leaves of the Acanthus
plant.
Adam Style Robert Adam Neo classical style decoration.
Alloy An amalgam made from two or more metals.
Annealing Process of heating and cooling in water to return the
malleability to metals made brittle by hammering, especially silver.
Anthemion Stylised decoration based on the Honeysuckle flower.
Applied Work Pieces made independently and attached to the main body
of an object.
Armorial Engraved coat of arms, crest etc.
Assay The testing of metal to establish a level of purity.
Baluster A decorative pillar or stem containing a bulbous section.
Beading Decorative edging made up of a line of beads which could be
applied or embossed.
Bright Cut The forming of facets in a manner which reflects light in
a more pronounced way.
Britannia Metal An alloy with an appearance resembling silver or
polished pewter.
Britannia Standard A purity of silver containing 958 parts pure
silver per 1000. Used from 1697 to 1720.
Burnishing The creation of a lustre on metal by rubbing the surface
with a smooth hard agate (or similar) tool.
Cartouche An area designed to contain an armorial. Usually a smooth
section with a scrolled or decorative perimeter.
Chasing The striking of metal using hammers and punches to create
relief or indented work with no loss of metal.
Chinoiserie Fashionable in the late 1600's and mid 1700's oriental
style decoration produced in Europe.
Cut-card Decoration Usually flat shapes applied as decoration and
also to add strength.
Die stamp Device used to shape or decorate a sheet of silver by
trapping, then compressing between complimentary shaped dies.
Electro Plating Method of adding a very thin layer (usually silver)
to the surface of another metal by means of electric current.
Engraving Removal of metal using a sharp tool to create a design.
Filigree Silver or gold wire panels used in the creation of openwork
articles such as
baskets.
Finial Usually decorative terminal such as a knob an the top of teapot
lids or at the end of a spoon.
Flat Chasing Punch applied decoration which leaves an impression on
the reverse side.
Flatware Generally taken to mean cutlery.
Fluting Parallel and vertical line pattern usually created by cutting
grooves.
Gadrooning Border pattern usually made with a series of alternating
flutes and lobes.
Gilding The application of a gold finish on top of silver.
Hallmarks Markings on silver and gold to show that the item has
passed the assay.
Knop Decorative knob usually found on lids.
Lacquering Application of a coat of lacquer to items that are fragile
or difficult to clean.
Moulding Casting silver in a mould to create an entire object or
piece to be applied later.
Nickel White alloys of copper, zinc and nickel used as base metal to
be electroplated.
Niello Firing an applied compound of lead, sulphur, silver and copper
to produce a black shiny decoration.
Patina The naturally produced sheen on silver.
Piercing Cut-through work using fretsaw or chisel.
Raising Process of hammering flat sheet and slowly forming the raised
up shape.
Rat’s Tail Ridge of strengthening silver applied across the rear of a
spoon bowl and handle joint.
Repousse Relief decoration produced by hammering to the reverse and
chasing to the front surface.
Rolled Edge Rolled over edge of fused or Sheffield plate to conceal
copper edges.
Sconce Candle socket into which candle is placed.
Scroll Curved decoration usually of handles.
Sheffield Plate Fusion of copper and silver sheet originally produced
in the first half of the 18th Century.
Sterling Silver Silver purity of 925 parts per 1000.
Swag Festoon of foliage, fruit, flowers etc as decoration.
Vermeil French equivalent of silver gilt (see gilding)
White Metal (see nickel)
Some British and American Silversmiths of Note
Robert Abercrombie (reg 1731)
Charles Robert Ashbee (1863-1942)
Asprey & Co (1781-present)
Hester Bateman (1709-1794)
John Cafe (or case) (active 1740-1757)
Courtauld Family (1708-1807)
Christopher Dresser (1834-1904)
Jeremiah Drummer (1645-1718)
Elkington & Co (1801-65)
Andrew Fogelberg (1732-93)
Robert Garrard (active 1818)
Eliza Godfrey (active 1741)
Gorham Mfg Co (1818-present)
The Hennell family (from 1736)
Archibald Knox (1854 -1933)
Paul de Lamerie (1688-1751)
Pierre Platel (active 1699-1719)
Omar Ramsden (1873-1939)
Paul Revere jnr (1735-1818)
Rundell, Bridge & Rundell (1788-1842)
Robert Sanderson (1608-93)
Benjamin Smith (b 1764)
Paul Storr (1771-1844)
Tiffany & Co (1837-present)
Rebecca Emes and Edward Barnard (active 1808 - 1829)
Charles Fox (active 1822 - 1840's)
Note: Over 5,000 quality silversmiths recorded in Europe and America
since the 17th Century.
Monarchs from 1603
James I 1603 - 1625
Charles I 1625 - 1649
Commonwealth 1649 - 1660
Charles II 1660 - 1685
James II 1685 - 1688
William & Mary 1688 - 1694
William III 1694 - 1702
Anne 1702 - 1714
George I 1714 - 1727
George II 1727 - 1760
George III 1760 - 1820
George IV 1820 - 1830
William IV 1830 - 1837
Victoria 1837 - 1901
Edward VII 1901 - 1910
George V 1910 - 1936
Edward VIII 1936 - 1936
George VI 1936 - 1952
Elizabeth II 1952 -
Recommended Books on Collecting Antique Silver
Jacksons Silver & Gold Marks of England Scotland & Ireland (hardback) - Edited
by Ian Pickford
Jacksons Silver & Gold Marks of England Scotland & Ireland (pocket edition) - as
above
Silver, A Practical Guide to Collecting Silverware and Identifying Hallmarks -
Joel Langford
A Connoisseur’s Guide to Antique Silver - Ronald Pearsall
The History of Silver - Claude Blair (General Editor)
The Arthur Negus Guide to British Silver - Brand Inglis
Miller’s Silver & Plate - John Wilson
Miller’s Silver & Sheffield Plate Marks - John Bly
Silver For Collectors - Eleanor Hughes
Miller’s Collecting Silver - Jill Bace
Russian Silver, Mid 19th Century - Beginning of the 20th Century - Published by
Beresta
Silver Boxes - Eric Delieb
A Collectors Guide to Tea Silver - Elizabeth de Castres
Silver & Jewellery Prices at UK Auctions - Editor John Ainsley for Antique
Information Services
Other Resources
Information from the BBC on all aspects of antiques in general including
silver
www.bbc.co.uk/antiques
The Online Encyclopaedia of silver marks
www.925-1000.com
Assay information from the British Hallmarking Council
www.britishhallmarkingcouncil.gov.uk
Home Art Glass Antique Silver About Us Contact Us Shipping Please Read Silver Info Glass Info