Purely Silver

Antique Chinese jade and silver snuff bottle

Snuff Bottles

Snuff Bottles. Tobacco was introduced by the Portuguese to the court at Beijing some time during the mid- to late-16th century. It was originally smoked in pipes before the establishment…

Bottles, Silver Information, Silver Items

Bottles Silver Information Silver Items

Bottle Coasters

Bottle Coasters. Coasters were in popular use by the 1750s. They were invented to enable guests to slide decanters or wine bottles across the table without scratching the surface. They also…

Bottles, Silver Information, Silver Items

A gilt key wind open face pocket watch, Rigaud, Geneva, circa 1790

Jewellery and Watches Silver Information Silver Items

Pocket Watches

A pocket watch (or pocketwatch) is a watch that is made to be carried in a pocket, as opposed to a wristwatch, which is strapped to the wrist. They were…

Jewellery and Watches, Silver Information, Silver Items

A Victorian silver and rose gold buckle bracelet

Jewellery and Watches Silver Information Silver Items

Bangles are traditionally rigid bracelets, originating from the Indian subcontinent, which are usually made of metal, wood, glass or plastic. They are traditional ornaments worn mostly by women from the…

Jewellery and Watches, Silver Information, Silver Items

Silver thimble with silver-gilt lining which is mounted with enamelled filigree

Sewing Implements and Accessories Silver Information Silver Items

Silver Thimbles

Silver Thimbles. Thimbles are usually made from metal, leather, rubber, and wood, and even glass or china. Early thimbles were sometimes made from whale bone, horn, or ivory. Natural sources…

Sewing Implements and Accessories, Silver Information, Silver Items

Sewing Implements and Accessories Silver Information Silver Items Vanity Items

Silver Buttons

Functional buttons with buttonholes for fastening or closing clothes appeared first in Germany in the 13th century. They soon became widespread with the rise of snug-fitting garments in 13th- and…

Sewing Implements and Accessories, Silver Information, Silver Items, Vanity Items

ilver, gold and sapphire vanity case, 1950s

Silver Information Silver Items Vanity Items

Compacts

Compacts date from the early 1900s, a time when make-up had not gained widespread social acceptance and the first powder cases were often concealed within accessories such as walking sticks,…

Silver Information, Silver Items, Vanity Items

Rectangular horse harness plaque with figure of lion, bounding right; abraded. Gilt Silver with bronze back-plate.

Animals Silver Information Subjects in Silver

Lions

Lions have a long history in Art and Design. They have been found depicted on coins as far back as 480BC, possibly earlier. They were an important part of Roman…

Animals, Silver Information, Subjects in Silver

A silver-gilt and cloisonné enamel swan-form kovsh, Ovchinnikov, Moscow, 1908-1917

Animals Silver Information Subjects in Silver

Swans

Swans feature strongly in mythology. In Greek mythology, the story of Leda and the Swan recounts that Helen of Troy was conceived in a union of Zeus disguised as a…

Animals, Silver Information, Subjects in Silver

Animals Elephants Silver Information Subjects in Silver

Elephants

Elephants are magnificent animals and have been depicted in silver as far back as the 1st century BC, on both Roman and Greek coins, possibly more. Below are some examples…

Animals, Elephants, Silver Information, Subjects in Silver