LONDON.- Christie’s announced two events celebrating British contemporary silver to be held between July and September 2013. The events begin with an important exhibition of The Silver Trust Collection which is on view at Christie’s King Street from 29 July – 5 September 2013. The Silver Trust is a registered charity formed in 1987 to promote a wider public knowledge of British silversmiths, who are renowned as the finest in the world. The Collection, which is on permanent loan to 10 Downing Street, gives silversmiths an outstanding platform for their skills and celebrates a great tradition of silver in England today. To coincide with this exhibition Christie's is the first auction house to offer a unique opportunity to acquire Contemporary British silver in an online selling exhibition featuring objects commissioned from over 60 contemporary British silversmiths with prices from £650 to £48,000.

THE SILVER TRUST COLLECTION
Presented in a dining setting, the exhibition includes over 300 pieces of silver from the Silver Trust Collection, which are normally housed in the dining and state rooms at 10 Downing Street. The exhibition provides an opportunity to see the silver used to entertain the world’s Royalty, Prime Ministers, Presidents and other important dignitaries.

The Silver Trust is a registered charity formed in 1987 to promote a wider public knowledge of British silversmiths, who are considered by many to be the finest in the world. The Founder Trustees were Mr Rupert Hambro, Lady Falkender, Lady Henderson and Miss Jean Muir. The Collection, which is on permanent loan to 10 Downing Street, gives silversmiths an outstanding platform for their skills and celebrates a great tradition of silver in England today.

Since the first ever commission made by the Silver Trust in 1987 the work of the Trust has resulted in an extraordinary collection, which offers all that is needed for Government Hospitality, with objects by some of the most inventive silversmiths of the 20th and 21st century. Among the silversmiths represented in the collection are Malcolm Appleby, Clive Burr, Richard Fox, Martyn Pugh, Jane Short and Rod Kelley (dish illustrated left).

Jeffrey Lassaline, Director and Senior Specialist, Silver Department: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with the Silver Trust for the third time, having most recently collaborated with them in 2003, to provide a space for the exhibition of the Silver Trust Collection. This group of contemporary British silver shows the diversity, ingenuity and quality of silversmiths working in the United Kingdom in the 20th and 21st century. The exciting online sale coinciding with this exhibition offers clients the chance to own pieces by some of the silversmiths who have already worked with the Silver Trust and some who may be used for future commissions.”

CONTEMPORARY SILVER: A SELLING EXHIBITION
An exciting online event, Contemporary Silver: A Selling Exhibition, features works commissioned from 61 members of the Contemporary British Silversmiths around the theme of dining and also includes other examples of their work to highlight the diverse items being made today. The group was launched in 1996 by a core group of makers determined to give a voice to a new generation of silversmiths, rich in talents with a wealth of exciting new ideas.

Now widely recognised as the leading independent body for contemporary silversmithing, the group has organised exhibitions internationally and is dedicated to promoting contemporary silver to a global audience. Their members create silver objects using a variety of processes, from the traditional methods of raising and hammering to modern computer aided techniques. Their skill has ensured that their members are represented in prestigious national and international collections such as the Silver Trust’s Collection, used at 10 Downing Street; The Goldsmiths’ Company and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Among the silversmiths participating are Martyn Pugh and Jane Short who has produced a silver cream jug specifically for the exhibition. With prices from £650 to £48,000 there is something for everyone. The exhibition and sale run from 29 July 2013 until 6 September 2013 and the pieces will be available to purchase online from Tuesday 6 August 2013.