Best of 2025: Silver and Objects of Vertu Highlights at Chiswick Auctions

Reviewing standout results and collecting trends from a remarkable year in silver

Consistent and strong results for meticulously researched items continue to distinguish the Silver Department at Chiswick Auctions as one of the most respected and sought-after sales of its kind. Throughout 2025, the department presented three focused Silver and Objects of Vertu sales, a dedicated private collection, and four Affordable Silver auctions in collaboration with the Jewellery and Watches team.

It has been especially rewarding to place exceptional silver into the hands of collectors around the globe. Our department’s work rests on in-depth research and careful presentation, uniting sellers with buyers who recognise quality and scholarship. The following highlights illustrate both the breadth of material handled this year and the continuing strength of the silver market.

Objet de Luxe: Record-Setting Lighters and Luxury Silver

The year’s highest result came from a rare early twentieth-century silver and enamel lighter retailed by Dunhill. Fancy shape models have become increasingly desirable among collectors and represent one of the most competitive subcategories in the silver market.

Pforzheim with import marks for London 1927 by Alfred Dunhill An early 20th century German sterling silver and enamel 'fancy shape' pocket lighter and watch

Lot 85 – 20 Oct 2025
An early twentieth-century German sterling silver and enamel fancy shape pocket lighter and watch
Pforzheim with import marks for London 1927 by Alfred Dunhill
Sold for £23,940 incl. prem

Further notable results included an early French Art Deco silver gilt and lacquer lighter retailed by Cartier, and a George V gold cigarette case of vexillological interest.

Cartier lighter

Lot 72 – 11 June 2025
French Art Deco 950 silver gilt and lacquer lighter, Paris circa 1920, retailed by Cartier
Sold for £3,780 incl. prem

Lot 2 – 11 June 2025
A George V 9 carat gold cigarette case, Birmingham 1937 by William Neale
Sold for £4,095 incl. prem

The category was rounded out by imaginative twentieth-century novelty barware including a parcel gilt cocktail jug set by J. E. Caldwell and Co.

Lot 323 – 26 Feb 2025
American parcel gilt sterling silver novelty cocktail jug set, Philadelphia circa 1940
Sold for £4,032 incl. prem

A Private Collection of Regency and Early Nineteenth-Century Silver

In March, the department dispersed a private collection centred on the major makers of the George III to George IV period: William Burwash, Paul Storr, the firm of Rundell, Bridge and Rundell, and the Wakelin to Garrard partnerships. These works reflected aristocratic patronage at the close of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth.

A George III sterling silver tea urn, London 1817 by William Burwash

Lot 9 – 28 March 2025
George III sterling silver tea urn, London 1817 by William Burwash
Sold for £5,040 incl. prem

Countess of Listowel - A George IV sterling silver three-piece tea service, London 1826 by Robert Garrard II (reg. 16th April 1818)

Lot 18 – 28 March 2025
George IV three-piece tea service, London 1826 by Robert Garrard II (Countess of Listowel provenance)
Sold for £3,024 incl. prem

The Duke of Leeds' Doncaster Cup stand - A George IV sterling silver gilt plinth, London 1824 by John Bridge of Rundell, Bridge and Rundell (reg. 25th Nov 1823)

Lot 121 – 25 March 2025
The Duke of Leeds’s Doncaster Cup stand, sterling silver gilt plinth, London 1824 by John Bridge
Sold for £3,024 incl. prem

A pair of George III sterling silver covered vegetable or entrée dishes, London 1805 by William Burwash and Richard Sibley I (reg. 7th Oct 1805)

Lot 10 – 25 March 2025
Pair of George III covered dishes, London 1805 by William Burwash and Richard Sibley I
Sold for £2,520 incl. prem

The Allure of Great Age: Medieval to Seventeenth-Century Silver

Chiswick Auctions handles silver from the thirteenth century onwards, giving collectors access to a remarkable span of history. Particularly admired this year was an extremely rare example of early Newcastle provincial silver by William Ramsey I.

A Henry VIII silver spoon, London 1539, maker’s mark obscured, possibly William Simpson (active 1510-45)

Lot 487 – 26 Feb 2025
Henry VIII silver spoon, London 1539, maker’s mark possibly William Simpson
Sold for £4,536 incl. prem

Lot 479 – 11 June 2025
Unmarked silver mounted shagreen barber-surgeons instrument case, London circa 1670 to 1690
Sold for £6,048 incl. prem

An extremely rare Charles II provincial silver tankard, Newcastle circa 1670-80 by William Ramsey I (free. 1656, d.1698)

Lot 499 – 26 Feb 2025
Charles II provincial silver tankard, Newcastle circa 1670 to 1680 by William Ramsey I
Sold for £9,450 incl. prem

A late 16th / early 17th century unmarked parcel gilt silver pomander

Lot 234 – 20 Oct 2025
Late sixteenth to early seventeenth-century German parcel gilt silver pomander, circa 1600
Sold for £8,820 incl. prem

Non-European Silver: A Year of Exceptional Results

Non-European silver has become one of the defining strengths of the department. The early twentieth-century Cambodian pieces proved especially desirable, with two records broken in a single sale. Indian and Anglo-Indian silver also performed strongly, led by an outstanding example of Peter Orr’s Procession at Puri design and highly competitive bidding for Cutch silver by Oomersi Mawji.

A late 19th century Anglo – Indian silver three-piece tea service, Madras circa 1880 by Peter Orr and Sons

Lot 125 – 26 Feb 2025
Anglo-Indian three-piece tea service, Madras circa 1880 by Peter Orr and Sons
Sold for £11,970 incl. prem

An unusual and rare late 19th century Anglo – Indian unmarked silver betel box, Madras circa 1880

Lot 124 – 26 Feb 2025
Rare Anglo-Indian betel box, Madras circa 1880
Sold for £3,780 incl. prem

A late 19th century Anglo – Indian silver mug, Cutch, Bhuj circa 1890 by Oomersi Mawji (active circa 1860-90)

Lot 121 – 26 Feb 2025
Anglo-Indian silver mug, Bhuj circa 1890 by Oomersi Mawji
Sold for £3,780 incl. prem

A rare early 20th century Anglo – Indian silver teapot, Cutch, Bhuj circa 1910 by Oomersi Mawji jnr (active 1890-1930)

Lot 174 – 11 June 2025
Anglo-Indian silver teapot, Bhuj circa 1910 by Oomersi Mawji Jr
Sold for £5,796 incl. prem

Phnom Penh circa 1920-40, marked DAC A fine early to mid-20th century Cambodian silver dish on stand (tok)

Lot 134 – 20 Oct 2025
Cambodian silver dish on stand, Phnom Penh circa 1920 to 1940
Sold for £5,292 incl. prem

Phnom Penh circa 1940 by Minh Mol A fine mid-20th century Cambodian silver ewer or water pot

Lot 133 – 20 Oct 2025
Cambodian silver ewer or water pot, Phnom Penh circa 1940 by Minh Mol
Sold for £6,300 incl. prem

British Silver: Storr, Garrard and the Great Nineteenth-Century Names

Distinctive nineteenth-century works by Paul Storr and Robert Garrard II continued to attract interest from dedicated collectors. These makers remain central pillars of the British silver market.

London 1844 by Robert Garrard II (reg. 16th April 1818) A rare and unusual pair of Victorian sterling silver bowls or sauce tureens

Lot 397 – 20 Oct 2025
Pair of Victorian sterling silver bowls or sauce tureens, London 1844 by Robert Garrard II
Sold for £7,560 incl. prem

A William IV sterling silver dish or tray, London 1836 by Paul Storr (1771-1844, first reg. 12th Jan 1793)

Lot 414 – 26 Feb 2025
William IV sterling silver dish or tray, London 1836 by Paul Storr
Sold for £4,284 incl. prem

Continental Silver: Maltese and Swiss Highlights

Maltese silver continues to enjoy strong demand. The challenge of interpreting the diverse marks used across European regions adds an appealing layer of scholarship to the category.

Valetta circa 1798-1802 by PS, probably Paolo Schembri A late 18th / early 19th century Maltese silver small coffee pot

Lot 244 – 20 Oct 2025
Maltese silver small coffee pot, Valetta circa 1798 to 1802, probably by Paolo Schembri
Sold for £4,788 incl. prem

For the Ottoman Turkish market – Geneva circa 1860 A mid-19th century Swiss silver gilt and enamel confectionary covered bowl

Lot 164 – 20 Oct 2025
Swiss silver gilt and enamel confectionary bowl for the Ottoman Turkish market, Geneva circa 1860
Sold for £5,292 incl. prem

Interesting Stories: Collectors, Provenance and Full-Circle Moments

One particularly memorable result came from the sale of an American colonial silver porringer by Samuel Casey. With a life marked by fire, financial ruin and even a death sentence, Casey remains one of the most colourful figures in early American silversmithing. After several attempts involving interest from the United States, the piece was finally acquired by a direct descendant of the maker, bringing its journey full circle.

A mid-18th century American colonial silver side handled porringer, Kingston, Rhode Island circa 1750 by Samuel Casey (active c.1745-70)

Lot 320 – 11 June 2025
Colonial American silver porringer, Kingston, Rhode Island circa 1750 by Samuel Casey
Sold for £3,024 incl. prem

To explore upcoming Silver and Objects of Vertu sales, or to learn more about consigning, please contact the Silver Department or submit an online valuation form.