The Best of Silver at Chiswick Auctions: 2023 in Review

2023 marked a landmark year for the silver department at Chiswick Auctions, delivering the most diverse programme of silver sales in London. Demand for pieces over £1,000 remained strong, while interest in previously overlooked fields such as Indian and non-European silver saw a significant rise.

The year began with the first-ever auction dedicated entirely to Indian colonial silver. The Stewart Collection, offered in February, set several world records and confirmed Chiswick Auctions as the leading sale room for collectors of Indian silver from the British Raj period.

Top Lots of 2023

Two outstanding discoveries this year highlight the range and rarity of silver handled by the department:

_{An exceptional late 17^th / early 18^th century Chinese silver gilt tea bowl circa 1700, with Queen Anne Britannia standard handles, London 1705 by David Willaume I (1658-1741) £18,750 incl. premium}

^{A Nicholas II early 20th century Russian 875 standard silver gilt gem set icon case, Moscow circa 1910 possibly by Kuzma Ivanovich Konov for P.I. Olovyanishnikova and Sons (active until 1917) £32,500 incl. premium}

The Stewart Collection of Indian Silver

The Stewart Collection was the first ever auction to explore Indian silver by region. Beginning in Burma and ending in Bombay, the collection covered all major colonial centres of production, celebrating regional decorative traditions and handcraftsmanship.

_{A world record price for Peter Orr and Sons silver, a late 19th century Anglo – Indian silver three-piece bachelor tea service, Madras circa 1890, £33,750 incl. premium}

_{A fine late 19^th century Anglo – Indian silver teapot, Cutch, Bhuj circa 1880 by Oomersi Mawji (active 1860-90) £9375 incl. premium}

^{A late 19th century Anglo – Indian silver claret jug or ewer, Bangalore circa 1890 retailed by A. Bhicajee and Co of Bombay £5000 incl. premium}

^{A late 19th century Anglo – Indian unmarked silver claret jug or ewer, Cutch circa 1870 £10,625 incl. premium}

Non-European Silver Gaining Ground

Silver produced outside Europe from the late 19th to mid-20th century is the fastest growing category. With a developing global collector base and greater academic research, Chiswick Auctions is now the UK’s leading auction house in this field.

^{A rare early 20th century Iraqi silver and niello tray, probably Nasiriyah circa 1920 £2500 incl. premium}

^{A fine early 20th century Iraqi silver and niello four-piece coffee service, circa 1930 signed Onaisi (Onaisi Al Fayyadh) £3250 incl. premium}

_{A large fine late 19^th / early 20^th century Japanese silver fruit bowl, Yokohama circa 1900 by Yoshikatsu £6,250 incl. premium}

^{A very large early 20th century Anglo – Indian unmarked silver bowl, Lucknow circa 1910 £3,125 incl. premium}

Chinese Export Silver Mugs

Four standout examples of Cantonese export silver were sold this year, underscoring growing appreciation of this specialised area:

^{A large late 19th century Chinese Export silver lidded mug or tankard, Canton circa 1880 by Qiu Ji, retailed by Lee Ching of Canton and later Hong Kong £13,750 incl. premium} 

Penang interest – A rare mid-19th century Chinese export silver mug, Canton dated 1869 by Shan, mark of Khecheong £5,250 incl. premium

^{A mid-19th century Chinese Export silver mug, Canton circa 1850 mark of WE, WE, WC, possibly for Punqua Winchong of Hong Kong £4,750 incl. premium} 

^{A mid-19th century Chinese Export silver mug, Canton circa 1850 mark of Cutshing £5,250 incl. premium}

Provincial British Silver

Silver from smaller British towns continues to draw strong results. Irish provincial and early Yorkshire and Newcastle pieces remain in high demand.

^{A highly unusual and rare pair of George III provincial sterling silver milk jugs or sauce boats on stands, York 1802 by Hampston, Prince and Cattle £5,250 incl. premium}

^{A pair of George II provincial sterling silver beakers, Newcastle 1740 by Isaac Cookson £3,625 incl. premium}

^{A rare George II Channel Islands silver punch ladle, Guernsey circa 1740 by Guillaume Henry (active 1720-67) £3,250 incl. premium}

^{A very rare George II Irish provincial silver bowl, Clonmel circa 1750 by Hercules Morgan £4500 incl. premium}

British Silver: A Journey Through the Centuries

Highlights from every century of British silversmithing include:

^{An Elizabeth I sterling silver gilt sugar or spice box lid, London 1598 by a triangle intersected (unidentified) £5,750 incl. premium}

^{A James II sterling silver twin handled covered porringer, London 1688 by Benjamin Pyne £6,250 incl. premium}

^{A rare William III Irish silver tankard, Dublin 1701 by Thomas Bolton (active 1686-1736) £5,000 incl. premium}

 ^{A Victorian Scottish sterling silver six-piece tea, coffee and wine service, Glasgow 1873 by David Crichton Rait £5,750 incl. premium}

^{Polo interest – A fine early 20th century Art Deco sterling silver, gold, and lacquer cigarette box, Paris by Lacloche Frères, import marks for London 1929 by George Stockwell £7,500 incl. premium}

^{A set of eight Elizabeth II modernist parcel gilt sterling silver goblets, London 1969 by Stuart Devlin (1931-2018) £6,875 incl. premium}

Maltese Silver: Exceptional Rarity

Among the most collectable of all continental silver categories, Maltese silver continues to achieve strong results.

^{A late 18th century Maltese silver coffee pot, circa 1770 by Giuseppe Farrugia (reg. 19th Nov 1768) £8,750 incl. premium}

^{An extremely rare early 19th century Maltese silver teapot, Valetta circa 1800 by Vincenzo Said (reg. 1800) £5,500 incl. premium}

Colonial Silver: A Global Perspective

A small but significant number of colonial and export pieces crossed the rostrum in 2023, including American and Indian examples, along with silver made in London for overseas use.

^{A rare mid-18th century American Colonial silver salver, Boston circa 1750 by William Simpkins (1704-1780) £5,500 incl. premium}

^{A rare pair of mid-18th century American Colonial silver salts, Philadelphia circa 1742 by Elias Boudinot (1706 – 1770) £3,500 incl. premium}

 ^{A pair of early 19th century Indian colonial silver entrée dishes upon warming stands, Calcutta dated 1813 by Hamilton and Co £3,750 incl. premium}

^{Raja of Coorg – An extremely rare set of four George III sterling silver tea cups and saucers, London 1801 by Robert, David and Samuel Hennell (reg. 5th Jan 1802) £7,500 incl. premium}

2023 has firmly established Chiswick Auctions as the leading London auction house for silver, offering a broad, global and academically informed approach to collecting. Whether your interest lies in Indian silver, Chinese export, or British provincial rarities, the department continues to set the pace. 

Interested in receiving a complimentary silver valuation?

Contact our Head Silver & Objects of Vertu, John Rogers, at john.rogers@chiswickauctions.co.uk or submit an online valuation.