Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide
A E Housman 1859 – 1936
Born a hundred and fifty years ago he may have been, but A E Housman’s verse about Spring and Easter still captures the cheerfulness of the first Spring blossom. Another simple pleasure, the taking of tea, is celebrated at the moment at The London Silver Vaults, the place to buy antique and modern silver. The tasty silver treats for sale in the Time for Tea exhibition, would look well on the Easter tea table - silver cake stands, toast racks, a silver hen keeping the boiled eggs warm and a single egg warmer, complete with spoon, inspired by Lord Argyll’s idea of insulating food containers with boiling water. Sets of butter knives and tea spoons and lots of beautiful tea sets. In fact Easter presents galore or maybe just an investment in a lovely piece of silver to keep as a nest egg. www.thesilvervaults.com
Saturday 28 March 2009
Tuesday 10 March 2009
Collectable Cameos
Cameos are tiny carved pictures in relief usually mounted in precious metal frames such as gold or silver. You could hang a little group on on a wall, pin one to your lapel or turn one into a dress ring. That's what the Victorians did and according to How To Spend It, the FT's luxury weekend magazine, cameos in their various forms are making a comeback.
You may be surprised to learn that a good source of cameos is The London Silver Vaults. There are several jewellers down here alongside all the shops selling just silver. In a recent exhibition of silver sculpture, several cameos set in gold or silver were part of the show. There was a stunning head and shoulders of a goddess carved from a conch set in a heavy gold bracelet of layered leaves and tiny gold beads. This Victorian treasure was from Anthony Green in Vault 54. Another cameo this time of Athena with the customary vine leaves and grapes in her hair was set in Victorian gold also. This from Belmont in Vault 46. And more goddesses from Wolfe in Vault 41 could be worn as brooches or pendants.
That's my silver tip for today.
You may be surprised to learn that a good source of cameos is The London Silver Vaults. There are several jewellers down here alongside all the shops selling just silver. In a recent exhibition of silver sculpture, several cameos set in gold or silver were part of the show. There was a stunning head and shoulders of a goddess carved from a conch set in a heavy gold bracelet of layered leaves and tiny gold beads. This Victorian treasure was from Anthony Green in Vault 54. Another cameo this time of Athena with the customary vine leaves and grapes in her hair was set in Victorian gold also. This from Belmont in Vault 46. And more goddesses from Wolfe in Vault 41 could be worn as brooches or pendants.
That's my silver tip for today.
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