THE SCULPTOR’S ART IN SILVER

The models and figures displayed reflect English pursuits and passions from Queen Victoria’s day, when silver statues first became very popular, to the present. Riding, hunting, fast cars, beautiful women… and brave men, are all represented.

The human form has been replicated by silversmiths for many centuries, taking influences from classical ancient Greek and Roman statues to the balletic nymphs of the Art Deco 1930s. Two attractive examples, statues of the Roman god Mercury, messenger of the gods with his winged sandals and helmet and Venus, goddess of love and beauty, stand about 12 inches high on marble plinths. Imported in 1902 they were made in Germany The rococo and neo-classical styles featured cherubs, nymphs, caryatids, and other female figures frequently incorporated in to a table display or centrepiece.

There is an Austro-Hungarian silver centrepiece, circa 1870, consisting of a glass dish (to hold fruit, etc) charmingly held aloft by a cherub. Another centrepiece from Victorian England shows a palm tree sheltering a hand-cast silver ostrich. The base is a rocky outcrop complete with seaweed. Made around 1880 it is a good example of the Victorian Naturalistic movement.

The soldier is also honoured and the Silver Vaults exhibition will include two fine Scottish Highlanders in full highland dress complete with hand chased kilts, (you can tell which tartan), sporrans and dirks, made in London in 1988 and showing exquisite silversmithing in the minute detailing achieved.

Wildlife is a particularly popular subject for the sculptor’s art especially the sort with gastronomic interest. So we find farm animals such as cattle, pigs and chickens well represented as well as game birds. The latter were very popular in the 19th century and Victorian animal models are very collectable but increasingly rare.

An especially rare subject (as much in silver as in real life) is the capercaillie, a large member of the grouse family, and a splendid German example of one which will be for sale stands 32 inches high and measures 21 inches from beak to tail. In the display there are models of pheasants such as a pair by C J Vander,1976, a quail and a woodcock.

Other animals that were often captured in silver include deer, foxes, dogs and the big favourite for the Englishman, the horse: hunters, racehorses and ponies. There is a delightful tiny toy hobby horse from 1903 which doubles as a snuff or salt container, as well as traditional hunting and working horses. An example of a deer comes from Carrington & Co, dating from the 1960s.

In the 20th century, with the arrival of motorised transport, it became fashionable to create silver replicas of the most famous car marques. Interestingly, these also became a very popular christening present. The exhibition will display a Ferrari,
a Bugatti, a Mercedes and an Aston Martin and several motor bikes including a Harley Davidson.

The Silver Vaults, which is host to several interesting antique jewellery shops, is displaying a selection of jewellery incorporating aspects of sculpting. There is a tiny gold St Christopher figure bracelet charm and a Victorian cameo carved from a conch and set in a dazzling gold bracelet of layered leaves and gold beads.