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Silver Drinkware

“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria” - Benjamin Franklin

From the mid-16th century, antique sterling silver tankards were made. From then to the present-day, people have been enjoying drinks from wonderful vessels. We have a vast stock from lidded tankards to mugs. We also supply tumbler cups, which are perfect Christening gifts or an innovative way to serve champagne. We can provide all the accoutrements for the wine connoisseur such as decanters, wine coasters and funnels - plus so much more.

Son of William Brind late of Highworth in the County of Wiltshire innholder deceased (and so brother to Henry) apprenticed to John Raynes 7 October 1736 on payment of £25.00 Turned over to his brother Henry July 1742 (soon after the latter’s entry of his mark).
Free 8 November 1743.  Livery, March 1758. Mark entered as largeworker, 7 February 1749, Address: Foster Lane, Second Mark (two sizes), 31 August 17(51?). Third mark, 11 October 1757. Same address, without category, in the Parl. Report list 1773. Fourth mark as plateworker, 26 February 1781, Address: 34 Foster Lane, where Heal records him till 1796.
William, son of Walter and Ann Brind, was born 20 September, baptized 18th October 1749 at Christchurch, Newgate and apprenticed to his father, 7 December 1763. Another son, Henry, aged nine, ‘son of Walter Brind silversmith in Foster Lane ‘was admitted a scholar of St Paul’s School, 16 May 1764 and apprenticed to his father 5th April 1769.
Third son, Thomas was apprenticed to him 4 May 1774 and turned ever 1777 to Thomas Clements of Gutter Lane ribbon weaver. (Presumably the Thomas Brind, Prime Warden 1813).
Fourth son, Walter, also apprenticed to him 4th February 1778 and turned over 1780 to George Jackson weaver. (He is presumably the Walter Brind, Prime Warden of 1820) The baptism of three daughters is also recorded at Christchurch, Newgate from 1750 to 1752. Mrs Brind, wife of Walter Brind, goldsmith, Foster Lane, died 11 January 1791 (The Gentleman’s Magazine). He died between 1795 and 1801.

Walter Brind

Antique Silver George II Brandy Warmer made in 1757

Antique Silver George III  Brandy Pan made in 1767

Anton Michelsen (1809-1877), born in Odense, Denmark, established one of the most important Danish jewelry families. In 1830, after completing his education in Odense, he moved to Copenhagen where, during the next eleven years, he worked for various young masters.

Michelsen acted as a journeyman for Jørgen Balthasar Dalhoff from 1834-35 while also taking courses at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. With assistance from Dalhoff, Michelsen received The Travelling Scholarship of the Reisersen Foundation. He then goes to Berlin and during the late 1830's works in several workshops including Mention &amp; Wagner, a large, contemporary silver and gold works whose primary shop is in Paris. While working for Mention &amp; Wagner, he learned enamelling.

In 1841 Anton Michelsen opened his workshop in Gothersgade in Copenhagen and in 1848 was officially appointed to the Royal Danish Court as "Court Goldsmith and Maker of Orders".

Anton Michelsen died in 1877 and his son Carl Michelsen took over the firm. Carl became court jeweler in 1880 obtaining important commissions from Danish Court.

At the beginning of the 20th century Michelsen specialised and refined the art of enamelwork starting in 1910 the production of the well-known annual Christmas spoons.

In this period Thorvald Bindesboll, Harald Slott-Moller, Georg Thylstrup, Johan Rhode and Svend Hammershoj collaborated with their designs to Michelsen workshop activity.

At least since 1950 Michelsen firm acknowledged its designers by stamping their signatures on each piece. Designers of the mid and late 20th century include Karen Strand, Gertrud Engel, Eigil Jensen, Nanna &amp; Jørgen Ditzel, Knud V Andersen, Else Alfelt and Jens Windfeld Hansen.

For four generations, the company made high quality silver and jewelry having, thanks to the royal court connection, the opportunities to produce spectacular, distinctive silverware. The Michelsen "dynasty" made much of the everyday silverware owned by the Royal family. Several of these items have been given to the Amalienborg Museum.

In 1968 Royal Copenhagen bought A.Michelsen factory and its silver activity was gradually merged with that of Jensen branch. Today only the annual forks and spoons bear the Michelsen name.

Anton Michelsen

Large Art Deco Period Danish Sterling Silver Cocktail Shaker made in 1932 Anton Michelsen

Hester Bateman (1708 - 1794) known as "the Queen of British Silversmiths" was an English silversmith based in London. After the death of her silversmith husband, she successfully ran the family business for 30 years before passing it on to her sons. They in turn passed it on to their sons and the business continued with Batemans at the helm until the mid-19th century.

Hester married John Bateman in 1732 and had six children. When John died of tuberculosis in 1760, he left his tools to his wife and the business. She registered her first mark in 1761 as “HB” in script. Not much appears with her mark up until 1771/2, as it is likely she was supplying other silversmiths who over stamped her mark with their own.

Around 1774, Hester was joined by her sons, John and Peter, and they worked to build up a business in Bunhill Row in London. They first started to produce spoons in the early 1770s (with the odd fork which are very rare from Hester's workshop) and they expanded their range to produce neoclassical style household silverware, which included many items popular in the 18th century such as teaware, wine labels, jugs, salvers, salt cellars, trays and inkwells. There were certain items that she didn’t make such as candlesticks and candelabra - although I think one or two pairs are known!

The Bateman style is known for its bright-cut engraving, piercing and beading around edges. Hester retired in 1790 and her sons continued the business.

Hester Bateman

Antique Silver George III Mug made in I779

Originally Grinsell &amp; Bourne, the business took on this name in 1871 after the original partnership dissolved. They were manufacturing silversmiths based in Birmingham.

John Grinsell went into business with his four sons in 1871, and they had manufacturing workshops in Birmingham, as well as show rooms in Holborn Circus, London and in Glasgow. They made a range of silver-mounted glass and stoneware, including lock-up liquor frames, biscuit boxes, butter dishes, cups, cruet frames, flagons, and salad bowls.

They registered their trademark a "Cupid standing on a scroll" in 1879. Around 1905, they registered as a limited company under the name John Grinsell &amp; Sons Ltd. They were later bought by Barker Ellis &amp; Co. Ltd which finally went into administration in 1992.

John Grinsell &amp; Sons

Antique Silver George V Claret Jug made in 1911

George Smith II and Thomas Hayter (Grimwade p. 909) had workshops and a retail shop at 4 Huggin Lane, Wood Street in the Parish of St. Michael, London. They were in partnership from 1792 to 1805.

Employed in the shop were three shop men headed by Hayter. Henry Thomas Jennings was one of the shop men.

Hayter was a careful man with concerns about being robbed and would spend hours applying secret marks to gold rings etc. prior to them coming up for sale so that they could be identified as his in the event of a robbery. If a suspicious person entered the shop, Hayter would say "take the spoons upstairs" - this would be a secret signal for one of the shop men to go to the rear workshops and alert the journeymen, he would then go and fetch the constable (who was probably on a retainer to be close by).

George Smith II &amp; Thomas Hayter

Antique Silver George III Goblet made in 1798

A London silversmith firm whose origins go back to 1791, when John Lias began business as a buckle maker.

In 1818, he took as his partner his son, Henry Lias I, and they were joined from 1823 to 1837 by another son, Charles.

The Lias brothers were known for producing quality flatware. Henry Lias I and his son Henry Lias II were partners from 1850. In 1879, Henry Lias II formed a firm with James Wakely.

In 1884, the firm consisted of James Wakely and Frank Wheeler, becoming Wakely &amp; Wheeler in 1909.

In 1957, the business was acquired by Padgett &amp; Braham Ltd.

Lias Brothers

Antique Silver Victorian Goblet made in 1871

No record of apprenticeship or freedom, First mark entered as Gold &amp; Silver Worker, 16 October 1820. address 6 Sloane Terrace, Sloane Street. Second mark, 1 September 1821. Third mark ., 2 August 1822. Fourth , 9 December 1822. Fifth , 20 January 1823. Sixth, 8 November 1823. Seventh 20 July 1825. Except for Daniel Fueter, for the brief in the Kings Road, Chelsea, James Daniel appears to be the most westerly address recorded in the registers.

James Henry Daniel

Antique Silver George IV Goblet made in 1830

The firm was established in 1843 at 26 1/2 Seckforde Street, Clerkenwell by George John Richards (c. 1817 - 1876), son of William Richards (silversmith, Citizen and Goldsmith).

George John Richards obtained his freedom of the Goldsmiths' Company by Patrimony in 1839 and entered his first mark on 16 May 1844. In 1850, he moved to 35 Whiskin Street and in 1853 to 20 Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell.

In 1857, George J. Richards entered in partnership with Edward Charles Brown registering a conjoined mark on 13 July 1857. Edward C. Brown was an apprentice (1845) of George J. Richards who obtained his freedom by Service in 1852. Another apprentice was William Comyns (1849) who obtained his freedom in 1856. George J. Richards retired in 1867 and Edward Charles Brown continued the activity trading as Richards &amp; Brown. Edward C. Brown retired in 1882 and the activity was continued by John William Johnson and Alfred Springthorpe.

The new partners entered their mark in 1882 maintaining the address of 20 Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell, where the firm continued to operate as John William Johnson (after the retirement of Alfred Springthorpe: 1885), John Johnson and Matthew White (1886) and Johnson &amp; White (after the retirement of John Johnson: 1887 - 1889).

Other relatives of George John Richards obtained their freedom by Patrimony. They were William Henry Richards (brother) in 1837, Charles Edwin Richards (brother) in 1847, Matthew Wilks Richards (son) in 1877. Also the sons of Edward Charles Brown obtained their freedom by Patrimony in 1898. They were Edward Charles Brown and Spencer Douglas Brown.

Edward Charles Brown

Antique Silver Victorian Goblet made in 1868

From then to the present-day, people have been enjoying drinks from wonderful vessels. We have a vast stock from lidded tankards to mugs.

Silver Drinkware

Silver Drinkware

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