Leading Modern British Silversmiths exhibition (c) London Silver Vaults (p) GoUK.com
What
Leading Modern British Silversmiths
When
28 May to 29 September 2012
Where
The London Silver Vaults, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1QS
The Fanfare
The London Silver Vaults, in London’s legal district, has the world’s largest retail collection of fine antique silver, and this year will feature outstanding examples from recent decades in the Post-War Winners: Leading Modern British Silversmiths exhibition which runs from 28 May to 29 September.
The Vaults’ selling exhibition this summer will be Post-War Winners: Leading Modern British Silversmiths.
Work by British silversmiths Stuart Devlin, Gerald Benney, Christopher Lawrence, Eric Clements and Robert Welch will be on view and on sale, as well as typical styles from leading silver retailers Mappin & Webb, Asprey and Garrard.
Silver goods have been regulated since the 14th century.
Every new object made in silver must be sent to the Assay Office for testing to ensure that its silver is of the required standard.
The law imposed on silver hallmarking is very strict and if the standard does not comply the article will not be hallmarked and probably destroyed.
A false hallmark has always been treated with the utmost severity within the law.
Historically, a silversmith was pilloried for their first offence and pelted with rotten fruit and vegetables.
If they offended again, a limb would be cut off and, until the 1720s, persistent offenders were sentenced to death.
The London Silver Vaults first opened in 1876 as strong rooms for the rich to rent to safeguard their household silver, jewellery and personal documents.
For over 50 years the shops at the Vaults have supplied silver to the public.
Today it is possible for visitors to find anything from a silver champagne swizzle stick to a full-size silver armchair.
Although much of the silver on sale is English, the Vaults also have silver specialists who deal in silver from all over the world, in every period and style.
The London Silver Vaults are open 9am–5.30pm Mon–Fri, 9am–1pm Sat, admission free.
Post-War Winners: Leading Modern British Silversmiths runs from 28 May to 29 September 2012.
The London Silver Vaults, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1QS
Tel: +44 20 7242 3844
Website: www.thesilvervaults.com
Blog: Silver Tipster
Follow :: Facebook | Twitter | Email | RSS
