Irish silver proves a goldmine

Original Published Date: 29 December 2001

By Conal Gregory

IRISH-made silver is a firm collecting market. Not only can lovely examples enhance your home but with good attention to quality and style can prove exciting investment choices.

Reflecting the prolonged boom in the Irish economy, “Irish silver is extremely strong, even more than Scottish silver,” says Mark Medcalf of Edinburgh auctioneers Thomson, Roddick & Medcalf. He says the demand is fuelled from Ireland. Prices regularly achieve 30-50 per cent above examples hallmarked in London.

Look particularly for silver made in Cork, Limerick or Yougel, tips Ronald Cowie of Bonhams auctioneers. In early December, they sold in Edinburgh, a pretty silver stilton cheese scoop with reeded ferrule and ivory handle which carried the makers mark of Carden Terry and Jane Williams from Cork around 1810. It realised ￡320 plus 15 per cent buyer’s premium.

18th-century silver produced in Ireland still looks undervalued. In the same sale at Bonhams, a pair of nine-ounce, George III silver waiters realised ￡460. In circular form on three hoof feet with scrolled borders and crested, the pair carried the Dublin makers mark of Richard Williams. The date letter of the year the silver was presented for marking – effectively a guarantee of silver authenticity – was missing but in style the pair was probably made around 1770.

Robert Calderwood is a key Dublin maker to look for, working in the mid-1730s. One of his sugar bowls, 12cm in diameter, sold for over ￡2,400 at Sotheby’s in February 1999. It weighed 153gms. At the same sale a far heavier silver bowl, weighing 713gms, by the same maker, circa 1735, measuring 22cm diameter, realised over ￡9,400.

A dedication in the silver can greatly boost the price. A rare George II punchbowl of wide circular form with wavy rim, the sides embossed with rococo scrolls and flowers flanking a cartouche, was sold at Phillips – now part of Bonhams – in July. It was inscribed: “The gift of Chas. Davys. Esq to the Corporation of Carrickfergus, Sept 29th 1754″ and weighed 62.5oz. The spreading foot was embossed with fruiting vines. Calderwood was the maker. The bowl was sold with a punch ladle with a turned baluster wood handle. Both were made around 1754 and together were expected to sell for ￡8,000-12,000 but achieved ￡17,250, including premium, reflecting the strength in the market.

Two silver salvers made by William Nowlan of Dublin, 1823, sold for ￡15,450

Small dish rings can be appealing gifts. One made by David Peter of Dublin, circa 1785, sold in the summer at Phillips for over ￡2,400. It was beautifully pierced with rococo “C” scrolls and depicted a swan, lamb, shepherd and shepherdess, dog, man with pipe and mug and flowers. The initials “FN” were beneath a duke’s coronet. The diameter varied from 14.9cm at the top to 17.7cm across the base.

Buy with care from specialist dealers and auctioneers as it can be difficult to correctly read marks as well as to know if there has been any restoration. The Irish date marks for 1761 and 1785, for example, can easily be confused since the swirling rococo style is possible for either date. This means a knowledgeable eye needs to also take into account the dates when particular silversmiths were known to be working. Ensure as full information as possible is recorded on any receipt for market valuation purposes and seek a condition report from a saleroom before bidding.

A good appraiser will record the true state of a piece. A recent auction house condition report on a 1786 Dublin marked, silver, two-handled cup stated: “Four solder repairs to interior, probably to reinforce thin silver; surface uneven, typical of a piece of this age.” This helps potential buyers to decide on their level of bidding as well as later to establish a replacement value in the event of loss for insurance purposes.

Attractive jugs can be used both for water and for ready-made cocktails. Expect to pay around ￡4,000 for a pair of Irish silver-gilt mid-19th century jugs where the maker has used a leaf decoration perhaps on a shell base. Typically such a jug is around 22cm in height.

Some collectors seek particular pieces. Silver soup ladles form a popular subject. One made by John Pittar of Dublin in 1749, 38cm long and weighing 253gms, sold for ￡1,440 (estimate ￡800-1,200) at Sotheby’s in May 2000. The bowl was designed to look like a shell and initialled “MB”. The hook end handle was engraved with a dove holding a branch.

Candlesticks appeal to others and can create a lovely homely atmosphere. A pair with moulded circular bases and strap-bounded turned stems with a 16cm height, made by William Sutton in 1729 and the nozzles by John Buckton around 1820, both Dublin, made ￡9,000 (estimate ￡4,000-6,000) at Sotheby’s two years ago.

Fine cups with their covers can look splendid on tables or sideboards. William Williamson of Dublin made lovely examples in the 1740s. One shaped as an inverted bell with an armourial engraving within a rococo cartouche and flowers realised over ￡3,100 including premium at Sotheby’s in mid-2000. The base had rocaille and leaf chased straps while the cover had a flower bud. It was 32cm high and almost 1,400gms in weight.

The complexity of different marks can make a collecting theme. A silver tankard with a makers mark of a cinquefoil below a device struck over another from Dublin 1699-1700 helped to increase the price from around ￡4,000 in 1993 to over ￡11,000 under two years ago at Sotheby’s. It was additionally struck with the mark of Jonathan Williamson. The cylindrical body had been later engraved with armourials in a floral rococo cartouche. The tankard had a domed cover and thumb piece, scroll handle with beaded rat-tail and an engraved underside. The specialists identified the particular family crest. With a 20.5cm height, the piece weighed 1,080gms.

Salvers that have been heavily decorated are much sought after. Two shaped, circular ones, each with armourial engraving within scenes of masks and hounds amid fruiting grape vines, made ￡13,000 under two years ago at auction. They bore the mark of William Nowlan of Dublin, 1823, and were 46cm diameter. Such a piece reflects not only the quality of workmanship but the provenance – from the ownership of the first Viscount Combermere – and the inscription.

It’s quite possible to start a collection at a more modest level. Expect to pay about ￡650-￡700 for six silver teaspoons from a maker like John and Nicolas Nicolson of Cork from circa 1800. They would probably be in the pointed Old English pattern. A pair of 1870 Dublin sugar tongs in fiddle pattern typically costs ￡120-150. A Dublin-made mid-18th century silver cream jug with some appealing scrolling might cost ￡500-600 depending on the maker and condition.

Contacts: Bonhams 0131 225 2266; Sotheby’s 0131 226 7201; Thomson, Roddick & Medcalf 0131 220 6680. For dealers: British Antique Dealers’ Association 020 7589 4128, LAPADA 020 7823 3511

Source: The Scotsman

Location: Edinburgh