Thinking of a holiday?

The Victorians knew how to ‘souvenir with style’!

It’s that time of year, when Christmas (when was that?) and New Year are distant memories, and our thoughts turn to holidays and warmer climes.

For me, Scotland and/or the Lake District are my default destinations, but it doesn’t stop me considering the amazing ski slopes of Canada and North America, or dreaming about snorkelling in the Mediterranean – sigh!

The Victorians were renowned travellers and explorers; I think everyone has heard of Livingstone and Stanley’s forays into Africa, and perhaps the lesser known Speke, who in 1858 named the largest lake in Africa, Lake Victoria (how imaginative eh?).
Victorians lucky enough to travel beyond the shores of the British Isles , returned with souvenirs reflecting the North African and Western Asian influence.

This influence extended to jewellery design, artwork and architecture. Orientalism even made it as far as a functional cigarette case! Other cigarette cases, such as those crafted by the collectable silversmith Nathaniel Mills depicted scenes closer to home, such as famous buildings like St Pauls Cathedral.

Pietra dura pieces, intricate mosaic items and cameo brooches were often purchased as meaningful souvenirs of a Grand European Tour.

So although we have our modern technology, digital photography, Twitter and mobiles, via which we share our holiday experiences, I wonder, if our holiday ‘memorabilia’ will last the test of time in the same way as the souvenirs of our Victorian predecessors.

Which is your most treasured souvenir , and why – that’s something to think about?

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How the AC Silver world began

I always find it interesting finding out about businesses and people and often ask myself…

I wonder how they got where they are

Bet they had it easy in life

Could I be that successful?

Wonder how that business started!

So this got me wondering....

How much do people actually know about AC Silver!

So in case you are of the curious nature (which I am) here goes…

AC Silver… Getting Started

Andrew Campbell (our lovely boss) started trading in antique silver in 1977. Over the years, Andrew’s passion and interest in high quality items crafted in silver grew, and AC Silver flourished. As a result of providing customers with a wide range of items, along with a professional yet personal service, Andrew extended his business to a dedicated store in Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK, and to a worldwide audience via the AC Silver Website.

Andrew enjoyed his buying trips to the North of England and Scotland, making many new contacts on these rewarding forays. In 1983 Andrew returned to live in the North East, just outside Newcastle Upon Tyne, the city where he had been born. This move enabled Andrew to concentrate on sourcing quality items of silver from Northern England and Scotland.

In 1999 the retail outlet of AC Silver at Graham Smith Antiques was opened in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne. From here Andrew continued to build his private customer base, sharing his knowledge and experience whilst selling quality pieces of silver either as gifts, or objects of virtue, for both personal pleasure and investment purposes.

As a result of providing a professional service and dealing in quality items, Andrew saw his local private customer base grow. Building on this experience, Andrew set up his first web site in 2002, introducing his business to a worldwide audience via the Internet. This facility has enabled many new, international customers to view and purchase goods through the 'virtual' shop door, whilst still receiving individual, personal attention from Andrew.

Now with the latest version of the AC Silver web site, and unique shop premises in Jesmond, Newcastle, five dedicated and enthusiastic team members (that’s us) support Andrew achieve his ambition to expand and improve his business further. In addition to offering a wide range of quality silverware at fair prices, AC Silver now holds a variety of fine antique, vintage and contemporary diamond and gemstone jewellery pieces.

Thank you for taking the time to read this insight into AC Silver and I hope this has answered any questions you may have about AC Silver and how it all began. If you still wish to know more please feel free to contact us.

If you want a visual of Andrew and his Newcastle shop please have a look at our video below…

AC Silver Top Tips on Collecting Silver

The last couple of years have seen an increase in the number of people collecting silver, this is probably down to the stock market and its poor performance causing a reduction in pension value to almost nothing - and don’t even mention property investment to me ! I think the majority of the country (me included) are in negative equity due to the plummet in house prices.

On the plus side however, such problems in the economy have encouraged people to open their minds and consider other avenues for investment. So what would be the benefit of investing in silver you may ask?

Where to begin when considering collecting antique silver

We receive requests from customers who are looking for that single silver item which is going to not only hold its worth, but increase in value over time. At AC Silver, Andrew Campbell has been dealing in antique silver since the mid 1970’s and is certainly happy to share his expertise.

Here are a few considerations that should be taken take into account when contemplating collecting silver:-

Condition of the item

The most desirable items will be in good condition, which means they should be neither damaged nor repaired.

At AC Silver we will send out an item on request, to allow the customer to physically touch, feel and inspect the piece at leisure. If you come across dealers who won’t do this then be very careful. With such items as teapots for example, c the rims, joints, handles and spouts should be checked. Reputable dealers should identify any slight dings & scratches to the piece prior to purchase.

Silver identification marks

These marks should be easy to find and can provide specific information pertaining to each individual piece. Although like me you may struggle to see hallmarks on some highly chased items, a magnifying glass may prove useful!.

All British silver should display the following marks:

a – Maker's Mark
b – Assay Mark
c – Date Letter
d – The Sterling Mark
e – The Duty Mark

There are many people who come to us with silver items they believe to be made in sterling silver, and by a certain maker; often this is not the case. Gaining an understanding of these marks is crucial if you want to collect and invest in silver.

See our hallmarks page for further information on what these marks represent.

Collectable & famous silversmiths

If a piece of silver is made by a famous or desirable maker then there is a higher chance it will keep its worth. I myself get bamboozled by the number or British silversmiths there are to choose from so I thought I would provide you with details of a select few:-

Paul Storr (1771-1844)

His work ranged from simple table ware through to elaborate pieces made for members of the Royal family.

View all our items from Paul Storr

Hester Bateman (1761-1793)

London based Hester is best known for producing tea & coffee pots and other silver teaware items.

View our items from Hester Bateman

Ready to buy!

Most important element to consider is where to buy your silver!

Please buy only from reputable dealers and shops. The majority of such dealers will be registered with The British Antique Dealers’ Association (http://www.bada.org/) and The Association of Art and Antiques Dealers (http://www.lapada.org/), so keep your eyes peeled for these.

Please feel free to get in touch with any questions you may have about buying and collecting silver.

History of Silver: Tea Sets and Services

Introducing the Sterling Silver Tea Set / Service

Tea. Something I perhaps won't take so much for granted after writing this blog post. What could be more luxurious than sipping afternoon tea from a sterling silver tea set? Sitting down at the table to pour yourself a piping hot cup of morning brew. As I've said before in an earlier blog post, Mr Campbell always insists that if you drink ANY beverage from a silver drinking vessel you'll taste the difference (borrowing a phrase from a well-known supermarket there, perhaps!). Tea services normally consist of a teapot, cream jug and a sugar bowl, however there have been larger sets created.

Tea as a Luxury

It is difficult for me to comprehend the fact that a simple cup of tea was once an expensive luxury! I can't believe that tea leaves were once the subject of many illegal smuggling operations and even murders were committed to protect the organisations illegally importing the now so common beverage. The British East India Company, one of the most powerful commercial organisations ever, introduced the drink to Britain. They imposed high taxes on tea, which meant that it was not readily available to the less wealthy citizens, and of course this lead to smuggling or illegal importing, until William Pitt the Younger became Prime Minister in 1783 and greatly reduced the tax on tea so dramatically that smuggling of the item became virtually pointless. All this for what we think of now as a simple cuppa!

Tea Services in History

It is believed that the first sterling silver tea service was used in around 1790, 7 years after tea became more widely available in Britain. Early tea sets were miniature in comparison to the ones we use today, as the beverage was certainly a commodity and was drunk in small amounts. Teapots and tea sets grew in size during the era of King George II as the public's taste for tea blossomed.

Tea Sets and Art

As the public's demand for tea services grew, merchants designed extravagant pieces that one would be proud to display in their homes (not like the 'World's Number 1 Dad!' mugs we have now, then?) which of course incurred substantial costs. The trays on which sets were served on, were often made from a less precious metal, decorated with only a sterling silver border. It is widely known that Queen Victoria absolutely adored her afternoon teas, and merchants vied for the Queen's approval of their products. Many of the pieces created around her era are the most collectable ones out there today.

There's some food for thought next time you sit down for a nice cup of tea, the simple beverage that has a not-so-simple history!

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January Birthstone: Commit Your Resolutions!

"By her who is this month was born

No gem save garnets shall be worn

They will ensure her constancy

True friendship and fidelity."

Introducting the January Birthstone

Can you believe 2011 is over already? What are your New Year's resoultions? Mine is to stop saying 'yes' each time Rachel offers me a coffee, I'm becoming addicted to the stuff! Some of you may also be celebrating a birthday this month, or have friends and relatives who were born in January. The perfect present could be an item of their own birthstone, garnet. The garnet gemstone is said to be metaphysically linked to commitment, regeneration, insight and removing negativity, all of which are useful qualities to behold when starting afresh in the year of 2012.

The Colour of Garnet

Most of us associate the stone garnet with the colour red. There are many types of red garnet, 'anthil', a bright red colour, 'Malayan' garnet which is orange, 'rhodolite' which is bright pink, to name a few. However, garnet can also be found in many different shades. The stones that are bright green in colour are called 'demantoid' garnets, and are extremely rare and priceless. The gem can also be found in yellow, brown, purple, black and colourless. The meaning of the colour red can be rage, passion, or in China red is the symbol of fire, and carries a large positive connotation as it is associated with courage, success and happiness.

Garnet, or Pomegranite?

The name "garnet" comes from the Middle English word "gernet" which meant 'dark red', as well as from the Latin "granatus" which could be a reference to "pomum granatum" or 'pomegranite', a plant which bears vivid red fruit which are in fact a similar size and shape to garnet crystals. I hope this information is helpful in deciding on a gift, or even just as a small snippet of facts about garnet that may be useful sometime in the future. I'm off to the supermarket for lunch now, as I have a sudden craving for pomegranites.

Until next time!

Take a look at December's birthstone, turquoise.

Please contact us if you have any queries about the items shown on this page.