Always glamorous, silverware can offer superb craftsmanship at what many consider to be a historically bargain price.

Ever since it was discovered, silver — like gold — has been converted into gleaming artefacts of great opulence and beauty. Such symbols of power and wealth are collected for their superb craftsmanship, but smaller, less ornate pieces also have a unique attraction. This is in part because silver has long been a precious metal. Today silver bullion is cheaper than ever in real terms, but nobody knows whether or for how long this will continue. (more…)

Before the objects were placed in the vat they were generally made by the usual methods of silversmithing. Some of the earlier items were first cast in German silver or Britannia metal. Progress in stamping later hastened and cheapened production. When the vessel had been hammered up from the flat, spun or cast, its ancillary parts previously stamped out and joined by solder, it was ready for decorating. This might be achieved by the ancient method of hand-engraving, by the mechanical means of a lathe such as engine-turning, or by the technique of etching which emulated hand-engraving. Other types of decoration included piercing, usually punched automatically, speedily and cheaply. When all decoration was completed the object would be placed in the plating vat for electro-deposition. (more…)

I put these together because they can look so well together, the shining gold of one helping so much to bring out the rich tones of the other. Here, your collection will depend upon how much room you have. A large dresser full of glowing copper and brass can be a magnificent sight, and will take such things as the fine big round and square copper kettles, not forgetting the charming conical Devon kettle, a shape followed by modern makers for electric ones. Other shapes in copper are provided by fine ewers (see front cover), coffee pots, beer mullers, funnels, coolers (see back cover, bottom left), jelly moulds (front cover), in all kinds of patterns. (more…)