Current Collections

Modern Silver

The Company's renowned collection of 20th and 21st century silver began in 1925. The purpose was to build an inspirational collection of well-crafted work in the modern style, commissioned or purchased from individual designer-craftsmen. As a result of the Company's pioneering patronage, it has a unique collection of Art Deco and Arts and Crafts work by leading craftsmen such as H.G. Murphy, Harold Stabler, R.M.Y.Gleadowe, Henry Wilson, J. Paul Cooper, Omar Ramsden and Edward Spencer.

The Company has continued, since the Second World War, to be the major patron of modern silver design, seeing the ascendancy of designer-silversmiths to the same status as fine artists, becoming collectable in their own right. Gerald Benney, Stuart Devlin, David Mellor and Robert Welch are now iconic. The next generation of artist-silversmiths such as Rod Kelly, Michael Lloyd, Kevin Coates, Jane Short, Hiroshi Suzuki and Alex Brogden inspire the younger generation of 21st century studio silversmiths, such as Angela Cork, Ane Christensen, Shannon O’Neill, Miriam Hanid, William Lee and Theresa Nguyen.

Modern Jewellery

The modern jewellery collection began in 1961 following the landmark ‘International Exhibition of Modern Jewellery 1890-1961’ at Goldsmiths' Hall. The continuing patronage of individual designer and artist jewellers has seen modern jewellery moving away from impersonal settings of magnificent stones to break new ground as a personalised creative medium of style. Leading iconic jewellers include Andrew Grima, John Donald, David Thomas, Wendy Ramshaw, Gerda Flöckinger and Jacqueline Mina with representation from rising star artist jewellers such as Kayo Saito, Will Evans and Kate Smith.

Modern Art Medals

The contemporary art medal collection began in 1973 following the acclaimed international exhibition ‘Medals Today’ at Goldsmiths' Hall. Its patronage of innovative medallic art, particularly portrait medals, has promoted the art medal form in England back to its Italian Renaissance status as hand-held sculpture in low relief. Leading art medallists represented include Jane McAdam-Freud, Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn, Ian Rank-Broadley, Philip Nathan, Jacqueline Stieger, Linda Crook and Nicola Moss.

Antique Silver

During its history the Company viewed its Collection primarily as a reserve fund in times of need, particularly with the exigencies of the Civil War and the Great Fire. Silver items were not valued for their antiquity then and only survived if they had a special association with the Company. For example, The Bowes Cup, a Prime Warden's gift in 1561, was believed to have been used by Queen Elizabeth I at her Coronation banquet in 1558. Most of the fine hallmarked antique silver dating from 1493 was acquired in the 20th century.