The Magic and Science of Opals Opals have been regarded as talismans of good luck for centuries and have been imbued with connotations of magical properties across civilizations. It is understandable that, before the explanations provided by modern science, people were mystified by the mystical appearance of the opal to the point where they believed...

A Guide to Suffragette Jewellery In the broadest terms, Suffragette Jewellery encompasses a wide range of jewellery which was either commissioned for, or worn by, supporters of the Suffragette and Suffragist movements in the early 1900s. The distinctive feature of most of this jewellery was its colour scheme: Green, white and violet, which adhered to...

What Is a Peg Tankard? Peg tankards, sometimes called pegged tankards, are drinking vessels with small knobs or ‘pegs’ set vertically on the inside of the vessel. The pegs were used to keep a measure of how much alcohol the drinker had consumed. These were social vessels, allowing one person to drink a specified measure...

The First Argyll In the 18th Century, the argyle (also spelled ‘argyle’) was famously named after, and crafted in honour of, the fifth Duke of Argyll, John Campbell and his wife, Elizabeth Gunning, Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon. Throughout winter, the Duke lamented the fact that his gravy was served freezing cold due to the extended distance between...

When setting the perfect dining table the use of light is key, as harsh electric lighting can destroy any ambience. Candlesticks and candelabra are the perfect way to illuminate the table whilst keeping the light source elevated enough not to create a visual barrier, impeding asociable conversation. If drama is required an imposing candelabrum placed...

What is the pearl anniversary? If you’ve been married to your other half for a long time, the specific anniversaries can begin to blur together. Today, we’re putting all of our focus on that special 30-year anniversary; read on to learn about how the tradition came about as well as our recommendations for the best...

“If you were given the choice between love and money, which would you pick?” A question I feel you will have been asked before but one that came to light today as I started to upload more silverware to our website. Writing descriptions and discovering heraldic crests to research can be fascinating but also a...

Posies were carried in medieval times to ward off the plague. They were ineffective, but the sweet smell at least warded off the fouler smells of the time. In the 19th century, it was clear that posies were not effective at preventing disease. Fashion still dictated that carrying posies was en vogue, however. At its...

Armada Dish History The term ‘armada’ finds its origins in the Portuguese and Spanish terms for naval fleets. The backstory to the armada silver dishes that are so well-known to enthusiasts is that they got their name from the ships from which they were likely plundered. The ‘original’ armada dishes were seized from Spanish/Portuguese treasure...