Silver & Silver-plated items

Barkentin and Krall chalice

Barkentin and Krall chalice - £27,500 at JS Auctions.

When it comes to antique silverware, the size and weight of objects does not always determine value. Grand works by the likes of London-based Huguenot Paul de Lamerie or the Germain family in Paris have acquired huge status and value, while small objects such as nutmeg graters, early spoons or vesta cases can command high sums as they have a strong specialist collecting base.

The system of silver hallmarks serves as a quality control, giving an official stamp from showing the metal is of requisite purity, but the marks (or punches) also reveal the year, the place of origin and the identity of the maker, providing pieces of silverware with their own stamped passport of information.


img_22-1.jpg

Rebels who became royal favourites: stand-out lots among property from the Earls of Airlie

08 September 2025

Jacobite highlights from the Scottish Collected sale held by Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh

img_23-3.jpg

Scottish silver and Wemyss pottery put under the spotlight

08 September 2025

The markets for Scottish provincial silver and Wemyss pottery both offer great opportunities for new collectors ready to take the plunge.

img_44-2.jpg

Tiffany Japonesque test: four mixed metal lots on offer

08 September 2025

The market for Tiffany’s Japonesque style demonstrated its strength at Heritage Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).

George III Masonic deacon’s jewel

Rare Freemasonry relic brings demand as collar jewel fetches over 50 times estimate

03 September 2025

Following disagreements over ritual and governance, two rival Freemasonry grand lodges – the Antients and Moderns – had emerged in the 1750s.

Silver snuffbox

Snuffbox relating to famed shipwreck rescue emerges at Gloucestershire auction

01 September 2025

A silver snuffbox presented as a token of gratitude to a ship captain involved in the rescue of passengers from one of the most significant maritime disasters of the 19th century is on offer at The Cotswold Auction Company in Cirencester.

img_38-1.jpg

Backstory boosts simple silver snuffbox at US auction

01 September 2025

Piece produced by jobbing London silversmith Simmons was owned by one of Washington’s favourites

img_29-2.jpg

Claret jug is toast of both Cincinnati and Stourbridge

25 August 2025

A claret jug combining the talents of Stevens & Williams of Stourbridge in the UK and US firm Duhme & Co from Cincinnati crushed its $2000-3000 guide to hammer for $35,000 (£25,890).

img_15-1.jpg

Medals tell tale of Hong Kong police scandal

11 August 2025

It’s not often that a group of medals offered at auction includes two that were in fact officially revoked. However, a lot that appeared at an East Yorkshire auction house on June 27 reflected a notorious tale of colonial corruption.

img_18-1.jpg

Bridehead revisited: Dorset home delivers a ‘textbook’ bumper country house sale

11 August 2025

Auctions like this don’t come along often these days.

img_12-1.jpg

Titus rises: Another Roman antiquity success at Essex saleroom

04 August 2025

Bust once thought to be 18th century reassessed as 1st century AD after auction house’s research

Most Read.jpg

Top stories this week including the sale of the first tranche of the Michael Baggott collection

27 July 2025

The most viewed stories on this website over the last week included news of Woolley & Wallis selling the first part of the late silver specialist Michael Baggott's collection

Libertas Americana silver medal

Rare Libertas Americana silver medal sells at Newcastle auction

24 July 2025

A fine example of the Libertas Americana silver medal sold for £63,000 at Anderson & Garland’s Fine Silver and Objects of Vertu auction in Newcastle this week.

Silver dealer Michael Baggott

First part of the Michael Baggott silver collection raises nearly £100,000 at auction

17 July 2025

Woolley & Wallis sold the first tranche of the private collection and stock of silver specialist Michael Baggott (1973-2025) on July 16.

Silver inkwell

Pick of the week: Renowned collector Dailey adds ear of a war horse to his purchases

14 July 2025

The latest Homes & Interiors sale at Sworders included an extraordinary and highly personal relic from the Waterloo battlefield: a silver-mounted inkwell made from the ear of a war horse.

Libertas Americana silver medal

France protects US from the British lion

07 July 2025

A fine example of the Libertas Americana silver medal is estimated to fetch between £50,000-80,000 at Anderson & Garland’s Fine Silver and Objects of Vertu auction in Newcastle on July 22.

Cape silver coffee pot

Cape silver collection on sale in South Africa

30 June 2025

A substantial collection of 18th and 19th century Cape silver, made by European silversmiths practising in South Africa, is coming for sale at Strauss & Co in Johannesberg.

img_14-2.jpg

Silver that tells many stories: the Peter Cameron collection comes to the saleroom

30 June 2025

Stock of retiring dealer offered at auction includes items with fascinating backgrounds

img_34-1.jpg

Hidden chest discovered during demolition of a medieval house revealed silver treasures

30 June 2025

The workers who were given the task in 1869 of demolishing a medieval patrician house in the Bavarian city of Regensburg found much more than they had expected.

Stags at Bradgate Park

National Trust buys 'lost' Victorian silver centrepiece discovered by London dealer

26 June 2025

A Victorian silver centrepiece sculpted by Alfred Brown for Hunt & Roskell has returned to its ancestral home after more than 120 years.

Candlesticks

Candlesticks with Austen link light up auction

23 June 2025

A handsome pair of Regency period Egyptian Revival silver candlesticks with a Jane Austen connection sold well above hopes at Lacy Scott & Knight in Bury St Edmunds.

Categories

News