Silver and utensils made from this precious metal were historically seen as indicators of affluence. Phrases such as “being born with a silver spoon” or “offloading the familial silver” subtly hint at prosperity or financial difficulties, respectively. Regardless of the enduring tradition of silversmithing and the significant value attributed to silver in religious and personal celebratory events, silverware has largely fallen out of favour in current times.
Damien Matthews, who operates Matthews Auction Rooms in Kells, County Meath, remarks that the present stagnation of silver is a sharp contrast to the Georgian period where silverware was exhibited on sideboards as a proclamation of wealth. However, he also differentiates between the handcrafted silver of the 18th century, which offers more finesse and weight, and the factory-produced Victorian silver of the 19th century.
Despite the decreased interest, it’s worth noting that Irish vintage silver is considered of higher value than its English counterpart because Ireland had fewer silversmiths in comparison to the UK. Notably, since the majority of these craftsmen were Dublin-based, silver produced in cities like Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Galway, and Kinsale was scarcer, hence more coveted by collectors.
These cities fostered their own silver hallmarking traditions in the 18th century despite the existence of the Company of Goldsmiths in Dublin since the 17th century. This assay office within Dublin Castle remains the sole official establishment in Ireland for testing and certifying gold, silver and platinum items.
Matthews suggests that buyers are currently drawn to unconventional, whimsical pieces of silver, as they provide an emotional connection. Items such as an Edwardian silver hip flask, estimated at €150-€250, and unique chicken wishbone-shaped sugar tongs, estimated at €50-€80, might be of particular interest in his upcoming gold and silver jewellery auction on Tuesday at 5.30pm.
Hegarty’s Antiques will also be hosting an online auction on October 30th at 11am, where there will be silver items for sale which could appeal to collectors. Key pieces include a pair of George II silver cast candlesticks from the 1750s by Isaac D’Olier, a Dublin silversmith known for his Huguenot lineage, with a price range of €3,000-€4,000, and George II silver salt containers from the same era by Dublin silversmith William Townsend, priced between €500 and €600.
As a preeminent silver expert in Ireland, Jimmy Weldon of Weldon Jewellers, located on Clarendon Street, Dublin, advises that given the current affordable prices of silver compared to 20 years ago, now is an ideal time to invest in high-quality Irish Georgian silver. He encourages investing in pieces that have distinct hallmarks and maker’s marks.
However, this could prove tricky as quality Irish silver from yesteryears seldomly pops up in the market due to most of these being safeguarded in private and public collections. Individuals interested in getting a broad understanding of antique silver are advised to visit the National Museum of Ireland: Decorative Arts in Collins Barracks, Dublin, or the Irish Silver Museum in the Waterford Treasures complex.
For enthusiasts of mid-century modern furniture, deVere’s Irish Art and Design online auction offers another opportunity to find exquisite chairs, elegant tables and streamlined side boards crafted from rosewood or burr walnut, closing on Tuesday, November 5th at 2pm.
A collection of furnishings highlighting the unique aesthetic of the mid-20th century will be showcased for public viewing at deVeres’ auction rooms situated at Kildare Street, Dublin, and the nearby Buswells Hotel on Molesworth Street. The exhibition starts Saturday, the 2nd of November, extending until Tuesday of the same week and comes to a close during the lunch hours.
The selection features glass, chrome, gilt, funky leather, as well as a plethora of enchanting wooden finishes. It is noteworthy to mention the Pratfall easy chairs, specially created by Paris-based designer Phillip Starck in 1984 for Café Costes, found in the Les Halles district of Paris. In their day, these chairs, priced at €2,000-€3,000, presented a stark contrast to the conventional cafes thus attracting patrons to this less posh area of Paris. Jean-Louis Costes, the proprietor of the cafe, later inaugurated the Hotel Costes on the more affluent Parisian street, Rue Saint-Honoré.
Other interesting exhibitions consist of a round tulip table, an exquisite piece by Eero Saarinen, a Finnish-American designer and architect, and a rosewood cabinet from the 60s era, hailing from Italy with distinctive features like floating drawers and shelves.
The exhibition also hosts a range of paintings, one of which is the Winter Knot, a work by the English artist Barrie Cooke, priced between €8,000-€12,000. Cooke spent a considerable portion of his life in Ireland and his painting Knot was once exhibited at the Hendricks Gallery in 1983.
Also, notable records made in the auction world were the sale of Rory Gallagher’s Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar from 1961 which sold for an astonishing €837,000 and his Charvel 625C guitar fetching a sum of €8,376, both at Bonham’s Auction House. Additionally, a Burl wood coffee table designed by Willy Rizzo was sold for €3,200 at Adam’s Auction House.
The Non-Conformist chair by Eileen Gray was given an estimated value of between €2,000 and €3,000. It was ultimately sold for €2,400 at Adam’s auction house.