About Us

Established around 80 years ago by my grandfather, Barnet Silverman, I am pleased to say that the old firm is still in the family. I manage the business today together with Bill Brackenbury, my business partner and husband to my cousin Gill, Barnet’s granddaughter. We both believe in old fashioned service and are eager to offer advice and a friendly welcome to anyone interested in the subject.

It is clear in our minds that our client’s best interests are also ours and a good after-sales service leading to long term relationships is important.

We strive to research our subject with a view to providing history and provenance where possible. An academic approach to the study of our subject increases the enjoyment that can be had from owning beautiful hand-made pieces from the past. We buy only very good quality pieces which I would personally love to own and display in my home.

Our specialities include good 18th Century silverware, Objects d’arts, early spoons, fine quality silver tableware, complete hand-forged silver cutlery sets and individual silver spoons and forks to make your depleted set complete again. Everyone with an interest in fine silverware is welcome to come and browse or chat. Looking forward to seeing you.

Some items we offer for sale incorporate or are made from antique elephant ivory. We deplore the illegal poaching of elephants, but it is important to understand that any antique items made from ivory that are offered for sale by Silverman Antiques Ltd were created at a time when ivory was a widely available material. African and Asian elephants then existed in such large numbers that their survival in the wild was not threatened. Since Roman times ivory has been used by craftsmen as a singularly responsive material with its subtle, glowing colour. It can be cut, carved or etched and has been used for hundreds of years to create historically and religiously significant works of art, as well as many objects of a more utilitarian nature. The value of all these objects lies in the craftsmanship applied to their creation and not in the ivory material itself.

“Genuine antiques containing worked ivory can be sold in the UK and transferred to most EU countries without a licence. Should you wish to take antiques containing ivory to a country outside the EU it will be necessary to obtain CITES permits for them in advance of shipment. This is a straightforward process with which we will be happy to assist.”

Regards,

ROBIN SILVERMAN