Press Room: 26 Jul 10
BIRMINGHAM’S CULTURE, HISTORY & HERITAGE ON DISPLAY
Twenty five year anniversaries are traditionally celebrated with silver and The Birmingham Assay Office, long established at the heart of Birmingham’s silver manufacturing, is delighted to participate in the twenty fifth Antiques for Everyone. The anniversary provides a perfect opportunity for The Birmingham Assay Office to give the public a rare glimpse of some appropriate ‘anniversary’ pieces from its spectacular Silver Collection in a feature entitled A Celebration of Silver.
The Silver Collection of The Birmingham Assay Office chronicles the development of silver manufacture in Birmingham since it was founded by Act of Parliament in 1773. The Collection is usually only accessible by pre-arranged visits to The Birmingham Assay Office. Visitors to Antiques for Everyone will have a unique opportunity to view and admire pieces significant to the history of the Birmingham silver industry, dating back over three centuries.
On display in A Celebration of Silver will be special commemorative pieces including a vase, commissioned for the Millennium and a fruit bowl, presented to The Birmingham Assay Office at its bicentenary in 1973.
Important trends which drove and shaped the local manufacturing activity will be illustrated by a fascinating collection of “toys” by silversmiths such as Nathaniel Mills and Samuel Pemberton and some perfect examples of Arts and Crafts Birmingham silver. And of course no exhibition of Birmingham Silver would be complete without at least one significant piece from Matthew Boulton. It was Boulton’s determined and vigorous lobbying which resulted in the founding of TheBirmingham Assay Office in 1773. Items from the collection demonstrate admirably the pioneering techniques he was employing at his Soho Manufactory during the same period.
The need for a hallmark remains as important now as it was in the eighteenth century as it continues to protect both the consumer and the trade. Precious metals are invariably mixed with base metals to create a workable alloy and the opportunity for fraud and dishonesty is ever present.
Visitors to Antiques For Everyone at the NEC from 22-25th July can – under the watchful supervision of an expert and highly experienced hand hallmarker from the staff team at The Birmingham Assay Office can try their hand at striking a mark. Don’t miss this unique opportunity.
YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT – IT IS NOT AS EASY AT IT LOOKS!
YOU’RE MOST WELCOME TO COME AND TRY…
The Birmingham Assay Office has continually invested in the latest technology to adapt its services to the changing needs of the UK Jewellery, Silverware and Watch Market. Laser technology enables hallmarks to be applied to finished, hollow items without bruising, and fly presses have been enhanced by hydraulics to ensure a consistent mark every time, in line with customers’ varying requirements.
However, the traditional hand marking skills are still very much in demand for large, high quality silver pieces and heavier gold articles, and The Birmingham Assay Office has some of the most experienced hand markers in the world.
The punches used to strike the hall marks are all made to the highest precision in the tool room at The Birmingham Assay Office, to ensure a clean, high quality mark. Samples of these punches and other tools such as hammers, grips and supports will be on display on the feature stand at Antiques For Everyone and visitors will be able to look more closely at them and see first hand the keen eye and skill involved in hand hallmarking.
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