London Silver Vaults in Best 50 Antiques Shops List

The Independent newspaper's The Information section last weekend (Sat 20 March) chose
The London Silver Vaults as one of its Best 50 Antiques Shops. 'In this remarkable centre there are some 30 dealers in antique and contemporary silver of every kind from tableware to candelabra,' says John Andrews. 'It's a great place to shop for anything silver for gifts both large and small.'

On the panel of experts making the selection were Mark Dodgson, secretary general of the British Association of Antique Dealers (www.bada.org); John Ainsley, editor of ‘Antiques Info’ (www.antiques-info.co.uk); John Andrews, editor of ‘Antique Collecting’ magazine’ (www.antiquecollectorsclub.com)and Fiona Ford of Lapada, the UK’s largest association of professional art and antiques dealers (www.lapada.org)

You can take a look at silver ideas for the study in the Picture Gallery at the Silver Vaults website

A Fashionista's Silver Style

We learn from this month’s In Style magazine that Gela Nash-Taylor, co-creative director of Juicy Couture (and wife of Duran Duran’s John Taylor) is a huge fan of The London Silver Vaults in Chancery Lane. “I … adore the London Silver Vaults. I’m a massive collector” she says in an interview with the magazine about her favourite shopping haunts in London. Her house in the country, which was recently featured in World of Interiors magazine, does indeed display some fabulous silver candelabra on her dining table, which look very chic mixed with white porcelain and lots of lovely glass. There is a wide range of silver candelabra for sale at the 30 specialist shops located at the Vaults, from the highly ornate late Georgian ones shown here, to much simpler styles and more modernist, post-war designs by the likes of Stuart Devlin and Gerald Benney. www.thesilvervaults.com

SILVER IN THE STUDY

The study is a bolt-hole, for the writer, the loafer and the reader. The London Silver Vaults Spring 2010 selling exhibition runs until the end of May. It offers the smart study (or den or office) some fabulous Victorian, Edwardian and C20th desk accessories in silver such as inkstands (like this glass and silver owl), blotters, paper knives, pen trays, Victorian propelling pencils, tapersticks (small candlesticks for reading) and a late Victorian electric silver lamp. Bookmarks and bookends lend a library air. For after-dinner there are drinks trays, goblets, and decanters, as well as bridge sets or board games, even silver dice and sports trophies to reminisce over. There are over 70 exhibits and prices range from around £30 to £10,000. See the highlights in our new Picture Gallery.
www.thesilvervaults.com

This Christmas Buy Her Silver And Jewels

If she likes vintage jewellery or silver why not start your Christmas shopping at the London Silver Vaults? This yuletide the Vaults has come up with some stunning gift Ideas for the special woman in your life. Their Dressing Table gifts exhibition in the foyer displays a selection which makes the shopping easier. To give you a taster have a look on the website under Christmas Gifts. Dress rings are very popular at the moment and you can actually buy an original Art Deco amethyst ring or a Peridot necklace from the early 1900s. Or what about a fabulous gem studded gold bracelet from the 1950s. For the dressing table there is a tall, heart shaped mirror, gorgeous enamelled hand mirrors in jewel bright colours like the ones shown here and if she likes to entertain what about silver champagne goblets or silver salad servers. And why not pop a silver bracelet charm in her Christmas cracker - there are dozens to choose from, both new and old.
TheLondonSilverVaults

What can I buy him for Christmas?

Do you leave buying the most difficult present until last? That special gift for the man in your life? Well, help is at hand. If you want to find something that will be unique and most definitely not under any other Christmas tree, the London Silver Vaults is the place to go. There are over 25 shops to choose from in this treasure trove in Southampton Buildings at the north end of Chancery Lane. To get some ideas why not look on the website at the selection we have made from our Christmas Gifts exhibition at the Vaults. Did you know for instance that you can buy vintage Rolex watches or fabulous decorated silver goblets for wine or champagne. Or an elegant cutglass and silver decanter or claret jug. Or what about a chunky Dunhill table lighter…you don’t find many table lighters in the shops now. There are some great ideas here and prices to suit all pockets. Now what about giving him his very own Harley motorbike - in silver, of course. He will be very impressed.

thesilvervaults

Rituals, Magic and Vikings - New History of Silver

Silversmith Philippa Merriman has written a terrific and beautifully illustrated book on silver, called 'Silver', and its place and influence in our lives for the last six millennia. It's a fascinating story of wealth and power in different periods and cultures, from the Vikings of Scandinavia to the Bedouins of North Africa.

As silver can be melted and worked relatively easily, it is suitable for many purposes, such as jewellery, vessels and plates and for rituals and adornment. The Anglo-Saxon coin hoards and jewels from the Middle East, English college plate and spectacular finds from the graves of ancient Mesopotamia are featured and are among the 120 illustrations in the book. They can also be seen in the British Museum, whose publishing arm has produced this book.

Out now 'Silver' is a superb Christmas present, price £9.99 from quality book shops, the British Museum’s shops, and online at www.britishmuseumshoponline.org and if you are inspired to own some of the real thing there are 30 dealers in antique and vintage silver in London's Silver Vaults in Southampton Buildings off Chancery Lane, London WC2 with the world's largest collection of silver for sale. www.thesilvervaults.com

Save our Antique Shops

Dealers at the London Silver Vaults have teamed up with BBC Homes & Antiques magazine to offer H&A readers 10 per cent off throughout October and November

The offer comes as part of the magazine’s ‘Save our antiques shops’ campaign. ‘Experts estimate that 30 per cent of antiques shops have closed over the last 3-5 years and we wanted to do something to encourage people to realise how important they are,’ says deputy editor Natasha Goodfellow. ‘Not only are antiques green, the shops are vital in adding character and interest to the high street, keeping money in our local communities and in bringing in tourism.’

To obtain your discount, just present the November issue of Homes & Antiques, on sale now, when you make a purchase at a participating shop in the London Silver Vaults.

In a letter to the Sunday Times recently Iain Brunt and Henry Sandon pointed out that 'the UK antiques and art industry generated £4billion in 2007, ten per cent of the global total'. They added that antiques shops create jobs in tourism, shipping, transport and conservation and they are an important draw to country towns. 'Every closure leaves a gap in provincial streetscapes'

And there will be more events and offers in the antiques business during the UK's first National Antiques Week from 23 to 30 November 2009.

www.thesilvervaults.com