William Walter Antiques

Our founder, William Walter, gained his experience of silver by working for prestigious silver retailers when he left the army after the First World War. After acquiring the necessary experience, he then opened his own antique silver company in the 1930s with a showroom in King Street in the West End of London –  close to Christie’s, the famous auction house.

During the Second World War, the showroom suffered wartime bombing and he was forced to close the business and store his valuable silver stocks in the safe deposit in Chancery Lane. He then worked for the Inland Revenue valuation department on war damage valuations. At the end of the war, he was keen to re-establish his own business and decided that the safe deposit premises would make a very suitable and secure showroom.

William Walter was, in fact, one of the first silver dealers to set up showrooms in what is now known as the London Silver Vaults; which has become the centre of the antique silver trade. His son, Raymond, joined his father in the early fifties, where he gained a wealth of knowledge and experience which he has passed on to his son, John. John began his connection with the company following university in the early eighties, so William Walter Antiques is very much a family business. John is an expert in his field with an encyclopaedic knowledge of Georgian silversmiths and their marks. The company is proud to have been members of the British Antique Dealers Association BADA since 1953  and is pleased to be a member of LAPADA.

The staff at William Walter Antiques also have many years of experience in the business and can always be relied on for their helpfulness and efficiency.  Riguey is based in the showroom and is experienced in helping clients build their collections and has just been joined by Busra . Our packing department is headed by Bill, who is in charge of shipping worldwide. Elizabeth has been with us since the early 1990s and is responsible for all the administration, finances and stock control; she will be your first contact for any internet enquiries.

If you want to visit us we are located at vaults 3 and 5 in the London Silver Vaults.