Winning silver: cutlery, claret jugs and soup tureens under the hammer

The production of silver cutlery was such an important industry in England that in the 1940s a passenger train service from Sheffield to London St Pancras was called the Master Cutler. Sheffield was famous for the production of cutlery since the 17th century, and its name remains synonymous with cutlery to this day.

Knives, forks and spoons first appeared together on tables in the Georgian era, and canteens of silver cutlery became very fashionable in Victorian times.

“Owning a large canteen of cutlery was a mark of refinement, hospitality and wealth,” says John Weldon, whose next auction, on Tuesday, May 27th, in his auction rooms in Temple Bar, Dublin, features a large canteen of silver cutlery. This canteen, with a total silver weight of 6,312g, has tablespoons, dessert spoons, forks, soup ladles all made of solid silver as well as some additional non-silver knives (€2,500-€3,500).

Collectors of silver will notice that some of the cutlery has different hallmarks, dating from London, 1861-1862, to Sheffield 1925.

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“It’s not uncommon for antique canteens to have a few pieces from slightly different dates,” says Weldon.

Newcomers to purchasing silver will quickly learn that solid silver is much more sought after and much more expensive than silver-plated pieces. For example, there is a 76-piece canteen of silver-plated cutlery in the Great Irish Interiors auction at Sheppard‘s auction in Durrow, Co Laois on May 27th and 28th, with an estimate of €200-€300. And a table-mounted canteen of Sheffield silver-plated cutlery with more than 120 pieces for sale in Dolan’s Important Irish Art auction carries an estimate of €500-€700.

Canteens of Newbridge cutlery were popular wedding gifts in the past, but Weldon says that because they are silver-plated rather than silver, they don’t increase in value over time.

“In fact, as patterns and styles change, they tend to be less valuable,” says Weldon. “We have sold canteens of Newbridge cutlery for less than €30 at auction. Solid silver, on the other hand, especially older and more unique pieces, can appreciate in value over time.”

There are plenty of silver pieces to choose from in Sheppard‘s auction. Michael Sheppard points to a few of note: a sold silver soup tureen (estimate €1,400-€1,800); a 19th-century Japanese silver bowl (€1,500-€2,500); and a crystal claret jug with a silver neck and lid (€150-€200).

A 19th-century Japanese silver bowl (€1,500-€2,500)

A sold silver soup tureen (estimate €1,400-€1,800)

Late-20th-century glass claret jug in the form of a rooster with silver plated adornments (€200-€300)

“Silver claret jugs are very fashionable now among wine buffs who like nice tableware,” says Sheppard. The late-20th-century glass claret jug in the form of a rooster with silver-plated adornments (€200-€300) is a more whimsical item, which may draw interest.

Crystal claret jug with a silver neck and lid (€150-€200)

Generally speaking, all experts agree that 18th-century Irish silver remains the most sought after among collectors of silver.

“This was a time of flourishing silversmiths in Ireland, and collectors are particularly interested in rare pieces of provincial silver made in Cork, Galway or Limerick,” says Sheppard. “You can have a series of spoons with an estimate of €100-€150, which then goes for thousands of euro.”

Provincial Irish silver features quite strongly in Hegarty Antiques online auction on Wednesday, May 27th, from 11am. A rare silver sugar castor made by Daniel McCarthy in Cork (circa 1770) with an estimate of €2,200- €3,200, is one piece collectors will have their eye on. The Hegarty auction also has a very rare set of 10 silver dessert spoons made by Patrick Connell in Limerick (circa 1785), with an estimate of €4,000-€5,000.

A rare silver sugar castor made by Daniel McCarthy in Cork (circa 1770)

Meanwhile, Niall Dolan of Dolan’s Art Auction House in Carnmore, Co Galway, is excited about a Jack B Yeats oil painting, Man Running (1947), and two Paul Henry oil paintings – Incoming Tide (€90,000-€130,000) and Road to Clifden (€45,000-€75,000).

“None of these paintings have been seen in public for 35-40 years,” says Dolan.

Paul Henry: Incoming Tide (€90,000-€130,000)

Paul Henry, who famously tore up his return train ticket to Dublin once he arrived on Achill Island, spent many years painting the rural west of Ireland landscape. “I’m so enamoured with the place that I don’t think I will ever leave,” Henry said. “I pine for Achill every day.”

With his wife, Grace, Paul Henry arrived in Achill from London in 1910 and settled in the village of Keel. He later wrote about having no money at the time and having to rely on the generosity of others for his food, lodgings and even his artist materials. Paul and Grace Henry subsequently moved back to Dublin in 1920 where, with other painters, they founded the Society of Dublin Painters.

The auction ends on Monday, May 26th.

Finally, Hibernian Antiques and Fine Arts Fairs is back in Cork tomorrow after a five year absence. Robin O’Donnell has found a new venue – The Corrin Event Centre just of the M8 Motorway between the village of Rathcormack and Fermoy. Admission is €3.50 for adults and children go free.

jwa.ie, sheppards.ie, dolansart.com, hegartyantiques.com