Cheffins will offer over 200 lots of silver spanning 400 years in the firm’s first Jewellery, Silver & Watches auction of 2025, taking place on 1st May. All fresh-to-market and consigned from private collectors, this is one of the largest silver consignments Cheffins has offered at auction to date, with estimates varying from £50 to £3,000.
The silver section of the sale sees examples from world-famous makers from the 18th century to the present day, including Paul Storr, Paul de Lamerie, Hester Bateman, Matthew Boulton, Thomas Whipham & Charles Wright, Garrard, Asprey, Liberty & Co, Tessier and David Bromilow.
Among the earlier pieces, highlights include a George II Britainnia silver caster, by Paul de Lamerie, who was described by the Victoria & Albert Museum as ‘the greatest silversmith working in England in the 18th century,’ and which has an estimate of £2,000 - £4,000. A George II silver coffee pot with the mark of Thomas Whipham and Charles Wright, dated 1759 has an estimate of £500 – £700, and in addition, a Charles I slip top pattern spoon, from circa 1630, is set to sell for between £600 and £800.
George II Britainnia silver caster, by Paul de Lamerie
From the more modern examples, by Gerald Benney, the first British craftsperson to ever hold four Royal Warrants at the same time, an Elizabeth II silver bottle coaster commemorating her silver jubilee in 1977 has an estimate of £200 - £400 and from Liberty & Company, a George VI silver rose bowl is set to sell for £500 - £700.
In addition, the continental section of the auction covers much of the globe, with examples from Burma, India, China and Japan to the east and through Switzerland, Hungary, Germany, Holland, France and Spain the West. A 19th century Burmese metalwares betel box and cover, dating from circa 1890, has an estimate of £800 to £1,200 and another overseas highlight is a set of 19th century French metalwares silver flatware with an estimate of £1,200 to £1,400.
A Burmese metalwares betel box
Steven Collins, Head of Jewellery, Silver & Watches at Cheffins comments: “We have a bumper catalogue for our first sale of the year, and it is the silver section which really stands out. With one of the largest consignments ever offered by Cheffins to date, we have some fantastic examples from the who’s who of world-famous makers, spanning an enormous 400 years. The joy is that all of these pieces have come from private collections from across the country, and all are fresh-to-the-market. This sale is a brilliant opportunity for both private collectors and the silver trade and is a fantastic way to kick off this year’s calendar of Jewellery, Silver & Watch sales here at Cheffins.”
The Jewellery, Silver, Watches Sale – 1st May 2025
Location: Cheffins, Clifton House, 1-2 Clifton Road, Cambridge, UK, CB1 7EA
For further information contact the Fine Art Department on 01223 213343, fine.art@cheffins.co.uk