The Cutlers - Heritage

Silver

The Company of Cutlers is proud of its collection of Sheffield hallmarked silver, having at least one piece for every year since the Sheffield Assay Office was opened in 1773.  It acquired most of its magnificent collection of silver as a result of the generosity of Sir Stuart and Lady Goodwin, who, during the 1940s, purchased Frederick Bradbury's collection which they then gave to the Company.

The oldest piece of silver is the Beadle's Badge which was made by Benjamin Pyne of London in 1714. It was purchased by the Company in 1718 for £4.14s.2d and is worn by the Beadle on all ceremonial occasions, when he also carries the magnificent Silver Mace. This was made by Roberts and Belk of Sheffield in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

The Company of Cutlers is also the proud owner of the only known surviving Sheffield Race Cups which were presented to the winners of the horse races held on Crookes Moor in 1777, 1779 and 1781 - the last year in which the races were held.

The Company's silver collection is displayed around the Hall, together with examples of Sheffield Plate, developed in Sheffield in the 1740s as a means of fusing a thin layer of silver on to a base metal. This process was superseded with the development in Birmingham of electro-plate in the 1840s.

Featured piece of silver - Wine Cooler, hallmarked Sheffield, 1901.

The large wine cistern/cooler is in the form of a Warwick Vase.  The circular foot has a raised border, richly decorated with vines and grapes.  The wavy edge of the bowl has a similar decoration soldered on to it and two double scrolled looped handles rise from this.  The bowl is lined with silver gilt and its base inside is repousse with vines and grapes.  The cooler weighs 97 troy ounces.

On one side, the cooler is inscribed ' Presented to the Ancient Company of Cutlers in hallamshire in the County of York by Arthur Rober Ellin To Mark his Year of Office as Master Cutler 1901-1902 and in honour of the Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra June 26th 1902' .

It was given to the Company in 1902 and is the only piece in the Company's collection hallmarked in the year 1901.