The Finer Things: Luxurious Silver to Suit All Tastes

Our inaugural Silver Auction of the year will take place later this week, this time with a more deliberate focus on items of luxury. This includes a varied selection of fine works crafted by purveyors of splendour spanning the centuries. With objects ranging from the functional and utilitarian to those of extravagance and excess, our sale has been tailored to suit a range of needs, no matter your taste or budget.

For the gentleman in your life, perhaps lot 8 is the standout. This good and extensive travelling vanity and accessory set is the perfect item for any high-flyer looking to journey in style. Finished in hammered silver and ivory, the group includes cosmetic accoutrements such as brushes and scent bottles, as well as pieces to bring out upon closing a deal, namely a hipflask and cigar case. All is housed in an elegant green leather case with fitted interior, and carries an attractive estimate of £400-600.

For the lady, lot 84 is a piece quite literally fit for royalty. This exceptional silver mounted evening purse is presented with impeccable provenance in that it was once the property of Lady Dorothy Cambridge, the late Marchioness of Cambridge. Crafted in 1937 by esteemed silversmith Alfred Ernest Neighbour, the purse is presented with an engine turned finish and Royal cipher in gilt. It is offered alongside a letter of correspondence from Kenneth Scott of Buckingham Palace, and will be sure to attract interest with an estimate of £600-1,000.

Perhaps you are more one for entertaining however, then what better way to serve your guests than from a caviar dish that would make Poseidon blush? Lots 161, 162, 170 and 171, represent some of the finest feats of contemporary silversmithing to be produced by historic London firm William Comyns. The first two, a life-sized lobster and crab, are wonderfully modelled in lifelike detail, with articulated claws and parcel gilt interiors. The second two, both a thematic continuation with their sturgeon fish finials, exude the quality and splendour one has come to expect from Comyns over the past one-hundred and fifty or so years. Carrying estimates of £10,000-15,000, £6,000-8,000, and £4,000-6,000 apiece, each must rank amongst the ultimate when it comes to making a statement at the dining table.

And to drink? What better than a vintage Châteauneuf-du-Pape served from one of the many quality decanters we have on offer. Included is a range, from contemporary silver collared pieces with modest estimates starting at £40, to a claret jug after Dr. Christopher Dresser with an upper estimate of £180, there truly is something for everyone. The standout, however, has got to be the first lot of the sale, an Aesthetic period silver and parcel gilt ewer. Featuring a wonderfully typical Japonesque decoration depicting a crane and further birds amongst trees and floral blooms, one could imagine the likes of Oscar Wilde pouring and quaffing from the vessel, most likely over some witty remark. Estimated at £400-600, this lot is sure to appeal to aesthetes and topers alike.

Click here to view the catalogue >>

James Bruce

For a complimentary, no-obligation valuation, visit our Glasgow Galleries or contact a specialist on 0141 810 2880 or auction@mctears.co.uk.