Silver & Objects of Vertu in 2018 – A Year in Review
17th January 2019
The Silver & Vertu department at Chiswick Auctions has seen considerable growth in 2018, continuing to offer a broad selection of silver for all aspects of the market. Here we will look at a selection of objects that have performed well throughout this year across many categories within the field.

Lot 45. An early 19th century German gold and enamel snuff box of an Allegory of Time, probably Hanau circa 1810-30. Realised £15,000 incl. premium, February 2018
Canteens
This year has been a particularly successful year for canteens or table services of flatware, the desire for complete sets or rare patterns pays testimony to the difficulty in finding such examples anymore, the trailing vine canteen is presently the only recorded example of a complete canteen in this most rare of patterns.
- Lot 83. Marie Pattern – An Elizabeth II modern sterling silver canteen/table service of flatware, London 1975 by Garrards. Realised: £4750 incl. premium, February 2018
- Lot 86. Trailing Vine Pattern – An extremely rare George IV antique sterling silver canteen / table service of flatware, London 1827 by Jonanthon Hayne. Realised: £3,625 incl. premium, February 2018
- Lot 74. Princess Number One Pattern – A Victorian antique sterling silver straight canteen / table service of flatware, London 1857/8 by John Whiting. Realised: £6,250 incl. premium, October 2018
Soup tureen
The soup tureen has been an object of much desire this year, a large and impactful item of silverware. Not only does the soup tureen make for a significant investment and sculptural display item but lends itself to traditional cuisine as well as more modern foods such as Asian noodle-based dishes or punches.
- Lot 362. A George III sterling silver soup tureen, London 1789 by John Scofield. Realised: £5,000 incl. premium, October 2018
- Lot 410. A George III sterling silver soup tureen, London 1810 by Thomas Robins. Realised: £5,000 incl. premium, June 2018
- Lot 265. A George III sterling silver soup tureen, London 1790, by William Pitts & Joseph Preedy. Realised: £5,000 incl. premium, February 2018
Celtic silver
Celtic silver has continued to prove its consistent collectability, a premium is found for good examples of Irish and Scottish silver from notable makers such as the James Le Bas coffee pot or very rare provincial pieces such as Aberdeen or Limerick.
- Lot 286. A George III Scottish provincial silver teapot, Aberdeen circa 1800-20 by George Booth. Realised: £1,625 incl. premium, June 2018
- Lot 354. A George IV Irish sterling silver coffee pot, Dublin 1821 by James Le Bas. Realised: £2,500 incl.premium, October 2018
- Lot 287. A George III Scottish sterling silver teapot, Edinburgh 1777 by William and John Taylor. Realised: £750 incl. premium, June 2018
Heraldic engraving
An important aspect of this year’s sales has been the attention given to the heraldic engraving upon items of silver, this has allowed us to unlock the history of ownership of these objects or link them to other silver owned by the family such as items that once formed part of much larger services.
- Lot 408. A pair of George III sterling silver meat dishes, London 1768, by John Jacob, for Grace Charlotte Menzies. Realised: £1875 incl. premium, June 2018
- Lot 420. A George II sterling silver tea urn, London 1759 by Benjamin Gignac for Sir Henry Bridgeman and Elizabeth Simpson. Realised: £3,875 incl. premium, June 2018
- Lot 378. A pair of early Victorian sterling silver entrée dishes, London 1838 by Paul Storr for Geoffrey Jospeh Shakerley and Ellen Maria Webster. Realised: £3,375 incl. premium, October 2018
Candlesticks
Candlesticks continue to prove popular as the must have silver objects, ranging over the centuries and in design from enamel Art Nouveau examples to the fantastic and rare set of four examples from 18th century Dublin.
- Lot 287. A pair of Edwardian Art Nouveau sterling silver and enamel candlesticks, London 1904 by William Hutton & Sons. Realised: £1,375 incl. premium, October 2018
- Lot 297. A rare set of four George III Irish antique sterling silver candlesticks, Dublin circa 1770 by Richard Williams. Realised:£8,750 incl. premium, October 2018
- Lot 311. A pair of George II sterling silver harlequin tapersticks, London 1751, by John Café. Realised: £3,750 incl. premium, February 2018
Judaica & silver
In the recent sale the importance of Judaica and silver belonging to prominent Jewish families saw great success and will be something we continue to offer. A pair of Torah Finials or Rimonim from the demolished Dalston Synagogue and an important soup tureen from the marriage of Benjamin Cohen and Justina Montefiore, sister to the famed Sir Moses Montefiore both attracted considerable attention.
- Lot 347. Jewish London Interest – A George V sterling silver pair of torah finials (rimonim), London 1910 by Abraham Benelisha. Realised: £5,000 incl. premium, October 2018
- Lot 369. Jewish Interest – A George IV antique sterling silver soup tureen, London 1823 by Paul Storr. Realised: £10,400 incl. premium, October 2018
- Lot 348. Judaica – A fine Victorian parcel-gilt sterling silver torah breastplate (hoshen mishpat), London 1900 by Hieman Silverman (reg 1899)Realised: £6,250 incl. premium, October 2018