Collectors Turn to Victorian Silver in Roseberys’ First Sale of the Year

Roseberys’ first silver sale of 2026 delivered a strong performance, achieving a sell-through rate of 93%. The auction saw notable demand for works by renowned makers such as Eliza Godfrey, John Bridge and Paul Storr alongside robust results for Scottish and Victorian silver.

Silver Results | 3 March

The top lot of the sale was a striking suite of pierced swing-handled baskets produced by C. J. Vander, a London firm known for its high-quality silverware, jewellery and civic plate. Scottish silver also performed well, with a George IV silver wine jug and a Victorian silver gilt mug both exceeding their estimates to realise £2,624 and £1,246, respectively.

International makers also performed strongly. A Tiffany coffee service achieved a high result, underlining the persistent demand for American silverware. The piece represents the work of the celebrated Tiffany silversmith John C. Moore II, whose designs continue to attract significant interest from collectors.

Victorian silver emerged as one of the defining themes of the sale, with multiple lots exceeding their pre-sale estimates and attracting strong bidding. Standout results included a realised price of £918 for a Victorian silver gilt dog whistle by Charles Rawlings and William Summers, and £5,510 for a pair of Victorian silver five-light candelabra, which realised close to twice their upper estimate.

Further strong prices were achieved for flatware dated 1861, a presentation salver from 1884 and a twin-handled cup from 1899. Collectors are increasingly drawn to the period for the quality and individuality of its silversmithing, as well as the romantic appeal of pieces with genuine historical provenance.