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STUNNING RARE PAIR GEORGIAN Joseph Willmore SOLID SILVER KNIFE RESTS London 1832
Joseph Willmore .....London 1832
This is a Stunning Rare Pair Fine Quality Georgian Solid Silver Knife Rests crafted by the world renowned and highly sought after Georgian Silversmith Joseph Willmore, they were Assayed in Birmingham in 1832 making them 184 years old, the design is stunning so very elegant and timeless, with its stunning fluted body that has a wonderful nipped in banded waist to the centre , each end is finished with a beautiful cross design with rounded edges, the quality of the craftsmanship is superb as you would expect being crafted by one of the finest Georgian silversmiths ( Joseph Willmore). they shout out elegance of the Georgian period, These beautiful Solid Silver Knife Rests would have once belonged to a wealthy Georgian Household and been used daily when dining was a very fine affair , this was in a time many years ago when things where so very different, they are so very tactile and have a lovely feel in your hand, once picked up you wont want to put them down. This will add something very special to any collection, my photos dont do it justice...they are both fully hallmarked to the body and also to both ends of the knife rests.
Maker.......Joseph Willmore Joseph Willmore was one of the most prolific and renowned silversmiths to have worked in the famous Birmingham silver industry Born in 1773, he was the grandson of another renowned Birmingham silversmith, Thomas Willmore, who had been active at least since the establishment of the Birmingham Assay Office in 1773. Thomas had entered his mark at the Assay Office between 1773 and 1801 in partnership with James Alston, though they were both in fact independent, with Willmore being a bucklemaker and Alston being a button maker.
Joseph followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and began trading as a silversmith in 1806, when he had registered his mark at the Birmingham Assay Office as a snuff-box maker – many of his snuff boxes in fact remain highly collectable today, and he is highly regarded especially for his snuff boxes with repoussé or ‘castle-top’ lids. He later also registered at the London Assay Office in 1814-15, opening a showroom in Bouverie Street where he could sell his wares to wealthy City businessmen.
Upon his grandfather’s death in 1816, he also took on his business, which further allowed him to expand the variety of silver wares that he made and sold. For example, at the Birmingham Assay Office, he registers as a maker of knife and fork handles in 1831, and a maker of silver-gilt knives, forks and spoons in 1832. He continued to register makers marks until 1843, and passed away in 1855, bringing an end to the Willmore tradition of silversmithing, though he had several good apprentices, including George Unite, who became a renowned silversmith in his own right.
Assay..... Birmingham Date.....1832
Measurements.....7 cm length Weight.....59.2 grams
Condition,.....lovely condition, with just the normal surface wear expected , just mentioned for accuracy,
Thanks for looking
All Antique silver items will show some signs of wear, which only adds to the history of the object, ..... study the photos before bidding , Thank you
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