David Shure writes of Hester Bateman; 'It has been suggested that her style was influenced by Robert Adam, that it was his designs which led her to change from the highly ornamental rococo to the comparatively austere classical designs in which she excelled.  In so far as all design at this period was to some extent affected by Adam's work, which was based on the architecture of the newly unearthered cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, then Hester was influenced by Adam.  But it is necessary only to look at the silver designed by Adam, now in the Soane museum, with its plentiful festooning, and rams' head decoration, and then at the simple clean cut lines of Hester's silver, to see that the influence was neither very great, nor very direct.'.

So rather bizarrely silver is a medium in which historically women artists have been able to create design influence, and so far this has been reatively unnoticed outside the world of silver collectors.  This, some centuries before Coco Chanel and ceratinly before women were able to create an artistic force in so called "Fine Art" or even in literature.

An early piece reflecting a new or individual design style, or a tangent of it, is so often more interesting, even exciting, to us than a better executed later piece.  With a regard to function determining the parameters under which the piece can be varied.

It is interesting that the enjoyment of correct line and form is common.  We can all find pleasure in the same balance and proportion.  There is pleasure to be had from holding a lovely piece of old silver in the hand, so as artwork, silver is almost uniquely tactile.

The use of light plays a part in the design form and decoration.  It is little wonder that some collectors are fascinated by bright cut engraving with its alternate facets catching light and creating depth.  The Silversmith taking many, many hours of very small skilled meticulous work, along with an eye in creating balance between decorated and undecorated surface.  Old silver is ceratinly under priced and undervalued in today's art market.

Old silver has a place in our history and cartainly, here anyway, a place in our hearts.

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