Two complementary October auctions bring together approximately 260 lots of historic and modern silverware, exploring Cape craftsmanship, collecting and the art of entertaining.
From a rare Cape silver snuff box engraved with Table Mountain to Georgian candlesticks and Italian coffee services, Strauss & Co’s October silver auctions celebrate objects that hold history while bringing a sense of occasion to everyday rituals.
The auction house presents two complementary sales: Celebrating Silver, a live virtual auction on 20 October 2026 at 2pm SAST, and Forms in Silver, a timed online auction running from 30 September to 21 October 2026, with bidding closing from 2pm SAST.
Together, the auctions offer approximately 260 lots of Cape, English and Continental silver, including Italian and Portuguese pieces. Spanning the Georgian period through the reign of Elizabeth II, the selection traces silverware’s enduring place in craftsmanship, collecting, dining and hospitality.
Cape Silver with a Story to Tell
Among the highlights are pieces from the prominent Mary Eleanor Hibbert Collection of Cape Silver. Assembled over decades, the collection offers a glimpse into silver craftsmanship in Cape Town during the 18th and 19th centuries, encompassing the craft’s golden period.
A particularly evocative example is a rare Cape silver snuff box by Thomas Stephenson, Lot 9, estimated at R20 000–R25 000. Engraved with Table Mountain, the box carries an inscription recording its presentation to Officer John King in 1853 in recognition of his service in the police force.
The selection also includes work by early 19th-century Cape silversmiths John Townsend and Johannes Casparus Lotter, alongside Georgian London silversmith Fuller White, whose work includes the historic Norfolk Mace in Virginia.
For collectors, silver’s appeal is twofold. As a precious metal, it holds intrinsic material worth; as historic silverware, it carries the additional interest of craftsmanship, rarity and provenance. Passed from one generation to the next, these objects invite each successive custodian to preserve a piece of history.
The Art of Setting the Table
Much domestic silverware was created for the rituals of dining and gathering, bringing artistry to the acts of pouring, serving and sharing a meal. Candlelight was integral to the evening table, with silver contributing its own reflective lustre.
A pair of Portuguese candelabra with ornate leaf decoration, dating to circa 1881–1887, combines practical illumination with the ceremony of dining. Offered as Lot 33, the pair carries an estimate of R80 000–R100 000.
Similarly striking are four George III silver candlesticks by Thomas Watson & Co, made in Sheffield in 1775. Featuring neoclassical garlands, beaded borders and trophy cartouches, the candlesticks are offered as Lot 42, estimated at R120 000–R160 000. A matching set of four from the same maker and year is an uncommon find.
A George II silver tankard by Richard Gurney & Co, made in London in 1744, brings Georgian drinking traditions into the selection. Offered as Lot 26, it carries an estimate of R15 000–R20 000.
Italian Silver and the Ceremony of Serving
The ritual of serving coffee finds an elegant expression in a five-piece Italian sterling silver coffee service, .925 standard, dating to circa 1944–1968.
Comprising a kettle, coffee pot, milk jug, sugar basin and tray, the service lends a sense of occasion to the table. It is offered as Lot 49, estimated at R140 000–R160 000.
The Italian offering also includes a large Empire-pattern silver flatware service by Clementi Buccellati, dating to circa 1934–1944. Offered as Lot 59, it carries an estimate of R140 000–R160 000.
Silver specialist Shirley Daniels notes that Italian silver appears infrequently at local auction, making these two services particular highlights.
“Silver has maintained a remarkably strong collecting culture across generations, something we see reflected in the steady growth of both our silver auctions and our collector base,” she notes.
Having worked with Strauss & Co for more than 17 years, Daniels has been an integral part of the department’s evolution and has witnessed its significant growth in recent years.
Across both auctions, silver emerges as an expression of craftsmanship and cultural memory: objects made to serve, gather people together and endure.
Browse the Auctions
Celebrating Silver
Live virtual auction
20 October 2026 at 2pm SAST
Forms in Silver
Timed online auction
30 September–21 October 2026
Bidding closes from 2pm SAST on 21 October.
