Description
Book SynopsisA remarkable private collection formed over the last thirty years is the focus of this richly illustrated book that introduces the reader to English silver spanning a century and a half from a little before the Tudor age (1485-1603) to the threshold of the Civil War (1642-51). This was a period when England changed out of all recognition. At the beginning it was still essentially a medieval country dominated by an autocratic king and a rich and powerful Church; by the end of the period the Church had lost virtually all of its power and, with the execution of Charles I in 1649, the monarchy itself was abolished. To a degree, this changing world is mirrored in the styles represented by the silver featuring in the collection. Besides setting the silver against its social and historical background the book examines the wide range of techniques used by silversmiths at the time to shape and adorn silver objects.
Trade Review"With its accessible text, exemplary silver photography, elegant design and careful editing, this is a pleasure to read and should encourage a new generation of collectors to follow David Littles example." Tessa Murdoch, Art Newspaper; "'[A] fascinating new book that uses one man's collection to examine the social history of domestic silver from the Tudor and early Stuart eras." Roland Arkell, Antiques Trade Gazette; "The book is peppered with alluring historical illustrations that help readers understand the time period. In short, this captivating treatise is a connoisseur's delight." Steven Wayne Yvaska, San Jose Mercury News
Table of ContentsPreface; Foreword by David Little; 1 English Silver before the Civil War; 2 Conspicuous Consumption: the Ceremonies of Dining; 3 'Plate commonly used in the howse'; 4 Silver and Godliness; 5 The Workshop and the Trade; 6 The Afterlife of Early Silver; Catalogue of items in the Little collection; Bibliography; Index; Picture credits
