The State Silver forms one part of our silver holdings.

This set of items have an unusual and interesting origin. Until 1782, each Speaker of the House of Commons was not paid a wage but was instead given a silver service at the end of their time in the role. By 1834 this practice had long ended, but it was decided that the House should acquire a set of silver to keep as a permanent fixture of the Speaker’s office.

Historic Silver © Historic Furniture POW 03042

The state silver is in the Rococo style, which is highly ornamental. This is very different to the neo-Gothic style of the rest of the Palace, because the state silver had already been designed and supplied by the time the architecture of the new Palace was being planned.

This wine cooler was part of the original state silver commission. It was designed and manufactured by Robert Garrard II of Garrard & Co, and its hallmarks show it was made in London in 1835-6.

The object’s use is shown in the design, with vine leaves and grapes around each handle, framing the royal crest in the centre.

Historic Silver © Historic Furniture POW 03048

Most of what is now known as the state silver was designed and supplied by Garrard & Co.

The state silver comprises around 1,300 individual objects.

With a lot to design and manufacture and a tight deadline, Garrard & Co subcontracted some of the work to other makers, meaning there is a wide range of 19th century silversmiths represented in our collection.

Historic Silver © Historic Furniture POW 03045

This candlestick is an example of a piece of state silver which was subcontracted out by Garrard & Co. It was made by silversmiths TJ & N Creswick. The hallmarks show it was made in the same year as the rest of the state silver (marked with date letter ‘P’ for 1835-6) but the crown mark shows that it was made in Sheffield. Various marks exist to show where silver was manufactured. For example, silver made in London was stamped with a leopard’s head, and silver from Birmingham was marked with an anchor.

Historic Silver by T.J. & N. Creswick © Historic Furniture POW 08321

Designed by Paul Storr, this three branch candelabrum is the tallest object in the silver collection at 1.23 metres high. It is designed to sit in the centre of a dining table and is full of motifs showcasing British influence and power.

The two female figures in classical dress are the helmeted Marshall, who is carrying a spear with the shield of Achilles at her feet, and Justice with her sword. The figures around the main stem are Britannia with a shield and trident, Hibernia, her hair dressed with shamrocks and carrying a harp, and Scotia, carrying thistles. Stylised dolphins with intertwined tails sit beneath these figures, and above a shaped triangular pedestal. Its canted corners include panels of national emblems. On the front is the royal coat of arms (1816-37) of William IV, and each corner is set with a lion.

Historic Silver by Paul Storr, Garrard & Co. Limited and Robert Garrard II © Historic Furniture POW 03073

More items were added to the state silver collection in 1897-8. Designed by James Garrard of Garrard & Co, these mustard pots were part of that commission. You will find around 20 of these in our collection.

Historic Silver by Garrard & Co. Limited and James Garrard © Historic Furniture POW 03030

Moving on from the state silver, let’s look at the oldest object in the Historic Furniture and Decorative Arts collection.

Made by Henry Greenway in 1649, this silver tankard belonged to Chaloner Chute, who was elected MP for Middlesex in the Second Protectorate Parliament in 1656 (but was prevented from taking his seat). He was elected MP for Middlesex again to the Third Protectorate Parliament in 1659 and became its first Speaker. However, he had to stand down because of ill health and died in April 1659.

Historic Silver © Historic Furniture POW 03059

This covered dish is one of the few objects in the collection made from Sheffield plate, which was a technique pioneered by Thomas Boulsover in 1743. It involves alloying copper with small amounts of zinc and lead, overlaid with silver. At a glance it looks like solid silver, but costs a fraction of the price to produce.

Historic Silver by Unknown © Historic Furniture POW 03000

We have six of these candlesticks in our collection, which were made in 1779. Acquired after the state silver collection, they are in the Georgian neo-classical style.

They are engraved with ‘GR’ at the top, for George III, and were made by John Wakelin and William Taylor. They originally belonged to Fletcher Norton, 1st Baron Grantley, who served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1770-1780.

Candlesticks by Thomas Heming © Historic Furniture POW 09451

Other silver objects in the collection include those designed by A.W.N. Pugin. They were designed to match the new Palace, so are more gothic in style.

Made by his great friend John Hardman of Hardman & Co, they are silver plate, which is brass overlaid with silver, unlike the solid silver of the state silver collection.

While these objects look similar, silver plate was much cheaper to produce.

Historic Silver © Historic Furniture POW 00401

Pugin designed various stationery objects for the new Palace of Westminster, including this letter rack.

Another difference between Pugin’s objects and the state silver is that these objects feature the emblem of Parliament, the portcullis, rather than the royal coat of arms.

This particular object was made for the House of Commons library.

Letter Racks by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin and John Hardman & Co. © Historic Furniture POW 10231

This ewer is made from silver gilt, a technique where silver is overlaid with gold gilding. It is heavily cast with scrolling acanthus and hops, and cherubs on a matted ground. The elaborate scroll handle terminates in a ram head mask.

This unique object was made in Birmingham, which was the heartland of metalwork in the 19th century, and was presented to the House of Commons by Major Sir Richard Barnett in 1929.

Historic Silver by Elkington& Co © Historic Furniture POW 03072

Finally, this inkwell is one of a number of silver gilt objects given as Commonwealth gifts after the bombing of the House of Commons in World War 2. Silver gilt is a technique involving overlaying, or gilding, silver with gold. All were designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and made by the Goldsmiths Company of London in 1950.

This particular inkwell is inscribed ‘The gift of the Isle of Man’.

Inkstands by Giles Gilbert Scott © Historic Furniture POW 03180