Christ’s Hospital holds a significant collection of some forty fine examples of English silverware dating from as early as 1490. This selection highlights the most interesting and important pieces which are currently stored at Ironmonger’s Hall in London. The silverware is displayed from time to time during the year for special occasions but our intention in showcasing it here is to widen access to these beautiful treasures.
The following text provides an authoritative appraisal of this outstanding collection, with commentary on each of the examples shown. Clicking on each small image opens up to the text and allows zoom focus to appreciate the silverware details.
The images are courtesy of Toby Phillips Photography.
It is now just sixty years since Hubert Dynes Ellis, famous in later years for his collection of London and provincial spoons, read at a meeting of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, held at Christ’s Hospital a paper on their antique plate. Since that time, except for an occasional loan of certain pieces to exhibitions, nothing has been written on the subject.
The collection is of importance not only on account of the variety and rarity of many of the pieces but because of the exceedingly high standard of their condition. In the present articles I shall deal with the plate chronologically. As is the case with both Oxford and Cambridge, the earliest piece at Christ’s Hospital is a drinking horn.
N M Penzer, taken from “Apollo” July, August and September 1960 editions.