Silver & Silver-plated items

This pair of Wiener Werkstӓtte hand-hammered silver vases from c.1918, designed by Josef Hoffmann, will feature in the early 20th century Design sale held by Rago of Lambertville, New Jersey on January 21.

Though prolific in many mediums, Pablo Picasso created silver platters in only 24 designs throughout his entire career, creating an even smaller number of pieces in gold.

The name William Beilby (1740-1819) is typically associated with the best of English glass and particularly the enamelling workshop operated from Amen Corner in Newcastle in the 1760s-70s.

Four early pieces of Newcastle plate and a selection of other silver rarities sold at auction this autumn

With the defeat of Catholic attempts against the Protestant monarchy in the 17th and 18th centuries, penal laws were imposed in Ireland.

A rare Charles II commemorative silver thimble sold for £980 at Bleasdales (20% buyer’s premium).

Small Britannia standard silver bowls are the signature pieces the Scottish silversmith Michael Lloyd (c.1950).

This early 17th century silver vervel or hawking ring includes in italic script Kyng James and the quartered arms of the Stuart kings.

As hugely personal items and of relatively small melt value, spoons represent the great majority of English domestic silver items surviving from the pre-civil war period.

Forget the high street or ‘not-on-the-high street’ – for those looking for an original gift, a carefully chosen antique will never disappoint. Many upcoming UK auctions of silver and jewellery are assembled with the season of gift-giving in mind. Here ATG provides a selection of ‘more affordable’ and portable items, all for sale this month

Lots of souvenirs were produced referencing the Battle of Culloden on April 16, 1746 – the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745 and the last pitched battle fought on British soil.

Graham Leishman Stewart, who died in Edinburgh on October 28, is widely regarded as one of the finest silversmiths of his generation.

In family ownership for several generations, this 27oz Charles II sugar box was described by Nottingham auction house Mellors & Kirk (24% buyer’s premium) as “in an exceptional state of preservation, with hardly any sign of wear and no damage or repair worthy of note”.

This 4in (10cm) silver snuff box offered for sale at Veilinghuis de Jager in Goes, Zeeland was the subject of a learned article in the January-February Ghendtsche Tydingen, the magazine of the Ghent history society.

This George III Sheffield plated tea machine from c.1790 comprises a hot water urn with a domed cover and a telescoping finial with steam vent, as well as a pair of tea urns, all engraved with the Clan Colville crest and motto 'Oblier ne puis'.

This George I provincial silver coffee pot c.1720, offered by Elstob & Elstob (22% buyer’s premium) in Ripon on August 20, is a great rarity.

Delay due to lockdown turns out to be a blessing in disguise in terms of consignments

Once the second city in the kingdom, Norwich had its own silver assay office during three periods between 1565 and 1702.

MADAM – Just to add to the provenance of the newly discovered Scottish disc-end spoon in your most recent edition (Pick of the week, ATG No 2456, sold at Lyon & Turnbull for £21,000).