Roseberys' November Silver sale offers a carefully curated selection of silver spanning more than four centuries and a range of stylistic genres. Alongside an offering of fine British silverware, the sale boasts works that have found their way to us from across the world, including Russia, America, Ethiopia, France, Guernsey, Iran (Persia), and India.
In addition to individual stand-out lots of Contemporary and antique silver, two fantastic private collections will be offered in this sale. The first (Lots 37-128) comprises over ninety lots of superb Queen Anne, Georgian, Victorian and later silverware including interesting and quality pieces by makers such as Paul Storr, John Bridge (of Rundell, Bridge and Rundell) and Paul Crespin. The second very special offering is a private collection of Georgian picture-back teaspoons, featuring a number of rare and unusual sets seldom seen on the market. A particular highlight among these spoons is Lot 300, a very rare set of ‘Teapot’ picture-back spoons which research suggests may be connected to the ‘Boston Tea Party’ of 1773. This was an act of protest that saw an entire shipment of tea thrown into Boston Harbour in protest at the British Parliament’s tax on tea. The spoons were purchased at Christie’s in 2006 and carry an estimate of £1,500-£2,500.
Lot 37: A Queen Anne Britannia silver footed salver. Alice Sheene, London, 1712.
Further highlights of this sale include a pair of Victorian silver gilt dessert stands by R. & S. Garrard & Co. (Lot 6, Estimate £3,000-£5,000), which exemplify the quality and expert craftsmanship for which this firm is known, an impressive George V silver gilt cup and cover by Skinner & Co. (estimate £5,000-£8,000), and a pair of silver gilt leaf-form dishes by Robert Gainsford (Lot 5, estimate £2,000-£4,000).
Lot 6: A pair of Victorian silver gilt dessert stands. R. & S. Garrard & Co., London, 1853.
Among the many interesting items of Georgian silverware are an 18th century Channel Islands silver beaker by Guillaume Henry of Guernsey (Lot 46), a Scottish provincial silver quaich by Charles Blair (Lot 38) and a provincial Irish silver sauce boat by Daniel McCarthy of Cork (Lot 54). Collectors of Georgian silverware will be able to pick from a selection of the very best names in silversmithing, from Paul Storr and John Bridge (of Rundell, Bridge and Rundell), to Paul Crespin, Heter Bateman, Thomas Heming, and Daniel Smith & Robert Sharp.
Lot 38: An early 18th century Scottish silver quaich. Mark of Charles Blair, Edinburgh.
Silverware with interesting historical provenance continues to perform well at auction, so Lot 19, a silver plated stuffing spoon relating to the daring rescue by Grace Darling, is expected to generate interest. Grace Darling, daughter of the keeper of the Longstone lighthouse on the Farne Islands, became a national celebrity when she rowed out with her father to rescue the 13 surviving passengers and crew from the stricken Steam Ship Forfarshire. This silver plated stuffing spoon appears to be the only one recorded outside the Grace Darling museum in Alnmouth. A 19th century American ‘Coin’ silver water pitcher by Gorham (Lot 2) is also expected to draw interest. It is engraved with a presentation inscription for the Franklin County Agricultural Society in Massachusetts and was made in 1860 during the ‘era of great silver presentation pieces’. The quality, size and ambition of these presentation works make them among the most interesting and important of all the objects made by Gorham.
Alongside the varied selection of antique silver, Roseberys are please to be offering a number of striking Contemporary pieces. These include a silver bowl by Ndidi Ekubia (Lot 15) and three separate lots by Patrick Mavros, comprising two giraffes and a candelabra designed as an Acacia tree, which could either be purchased to form a set (Lots 10, 11 and 12), creating a striking centrepiece, or as individual items to add to a collection. A pair of novelty Victorian silver table lighters modelled as elephants by John Aldwinckle & Thomas Slater (Lot 9) are also expected to appeal to buyers and are estimated at £1200-1800.
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