Tips on collecting antique Irish silver

Collecting antique Irish silver is captivating and intriguing, useful and practical, fascinating and historic pastime. The development of a collection of Antiques in ireland can be a life long passion, whether your budget is large or small.

Before starting a collection, it is essential to learn about the hallmarks used in that country. I have dealt with that in another hub, http://hubpages.com/hub/Antique-Irish-silver-hallmarks

This will allow the collector to solve the mystery of where, when and by whom the piece was made.

By the 1600s, it was clear that sub-standard goods were being sold in Ireland. To combat this, Dublin City Council ordered that all pieces of silver would be stamped with the goldsmiths own mark, and be submitted to the assay office for testing. On being found to be sterling silver (92.5% pure) three additional marks, those of a harp, a lion and a castle would be struck onto the piece. As the marks were applied in the Goldsmith's Hall, they were called "hallmarks". Unfortunately, no pieces bearing these marks survive today.

The current version of hallmarking began in 1637, with the grating of a charter form Charles I to the Company of Goldsmiths , conveying the authority to regulate the hallmarking of sterling silver. This charter, and the Company of Goldsmiths of Dublin, survive to this day.

The Harp Crowned guarantees the quality of the silver; the symbolism of the Harp and the Crown reflects both Ireland and the Royal Charter of Charles I.The date letter allows us to identify the year of manufacture, the letter changing annually, and the style or font changing every 24 years.

Later in, in 1730, another mark was added, that of Hibernia. This is a duty mark. From 1807 until Victorian times, another mark, that of the monarch's head, was also applied.

It is important to check that the hallmarks are legible and in good condition. (For very rare pieces, exceptions can be made, but for a beginner it is best to stick to pieces with good quality hallmarks.

A good set of hallmarks can be seen below; from Dublin in 1920. The EJ intertwined is that maker's mark, E. Johnson. Next is Hibernia, then the Harp Crowned, then the lower case "e" in a four leafed surround, unique to 1920.

Goldsmiths were fined for not complying with the hallmarking regulations, and indeed many fell foul of the law in this regard.

Early Irish silver combines simplicity of form with a heavy gauge of silver. The teapot in the video below, from 1717, is a nice example of this.

Many changes occurred in the 1720s and 1730s, including the introduction of the cream jug, and tenancy towards more ornate styles. The caryatid candlesticks below from 1745 exhibit the distinctive freedom of design and spirit of independence that seems to bring Irish silver closer to American silver rather than English in style and design.

Dish rings, or potato rings as they are sometimes called, were manufactured in Dublin from circa 1730 until 1790, and later from 1890 to the present day. They are of circular or elliptical form, and are often elaborately pierced or chased. The wooden bowl was placed on top, into which potatoes were placed. This protected highly polished tables from damage. Sometimes a blue glass liner was inserted to highlight the decoration.Today, Georgian dish rings can command prices from 6,000euro up to 15,000euro. Originals carry great scarcity value, and are recommended as a solid investment in the heritage of Ireland.

Later pieces, from 1770 onwards, often feature Neoclassical designs, ornate but symmetrical, with swags and gracious repetitive ornamentation.

While we have focused on Dublin silver, it is worth mentioning centres of production in towns such as Cork, Galway, Limerick and Kinsale. These are much rarer, and consequently more expensive. However, one or two good pieces could form an excellent centerpiece to a collection. A different system was used to mark silver in these areas. As it was too dangerous to send the pieces to Dublin for hallmarking, the silversmiths would mark the pieces themselves, usually with the word "Sterling" and their maker's mark. I have another hub dealing with Limerick Silver, which can be found here: http://hubpages.com/hub/Antique-Limerick-Silver

To sum up, it is worth hunting through some shops, or viewing online, to see what grabs you attention. It may be early silver, it may be a particular maker, or may be a certain time period. Start small, perhaps a spoon or small piece of tableware, and only collect pieces with good marks and no repairs. As your collection develops, your taste may change and evolve, so it is worth working with a dealer who might be able to guide you in this journey. The most important thing is love; be sure to collect only what brings you pleasure!!