Strauss & Co celebrates silver’s place in Cape history and the rituals of dining 

7 Oct 2026

Cape Town – Strauss & Co is pleased to present two complementary silverware auctions this October: Celebrating Silver, a live virtual sale taking place on 20 October at 2pm, and Forms in Silver, a timed online sale running from 30 September to 21 October, with bidding closing from 2pm.  With approximately 260 lots collectively, the October silver auctions offer a selected assortment of Cape, English and Continental silver, including Italian and Portuguese pieces. The selection includes pieces from the prominent Mary Eleanor Hibbert Collection of Cape Silver. Assembled over decades, these items offer us a glimpse into the art of silver craftsmanship in Cape Town during the 18th and 19th centuries, encompassing the craft’s golden period. 

Among them is a rare Cape silver snuff box by Thomas Stephenson, (Lot 9, estimate R 20 000 - R25 000). Bearing an engraving of Table Mountain, it carries an inscription recording its presentation to Officer John King in 1853 recognising his service in the police force.  The selection spans the Georgian period through the reign of Elizabeth II, with notable makers including early nineteenth-century Cape silversmiths John Townsend and Johannes Casparus Lotter, as well as Georgian London silversmith Fuller White, whose work includes the historic Norfolk Mace in Virginia.  

For collectors, the value of silver is twofold. As a precious metal it holds intrinsic material worth, while historic silverware offers the additional appeal of craftsmanship, rarity and provenance. As these objects pass through generations, each custodian helps preserve a piece of history. Much domestic silverware was made for the rituals of dining and gathering, bringing craftsmanship to the acts of pouring and serving. Candlelight was integral to the evening table, with silver adding its own reflective lustre. A pair of Portuguese candelabra with ornate leaf decoration, c.1881–1887 (Lot 33, estimate R80 000–R100 000), and four George III silver candlesticks by Thomas Watson & Co, Sheffield, 1775 (Lot 42, estimate R120 000–R160 000), marry practical illumination with the ceremony of dining. The candlesticks feature neoclassical garlands, beaded borders and trophy cartouches, with the matching set of four from the same maker and year an uncommon find. 

A George II silver tankard by Richard Gurney & Co, London, 1744 (Lot 26, estimate R 15 000 - R20 000) brings Georgian drinking traditions into the selection, while the five-piece Italian sterling silver coffee service, .925 standard, c.1944 -1968 (Lot 49, estimate R 140 000 - R160 000) lends a sense of occasion to the ritual of serving coffee, bringing together a kettle, coffee pot, milk jug, sugar basin and tray. The Italian offering also includes a large Empire-pattern silver flatware service by Clementi Buccellati, c.1934–1944 (Lot 59, estimate R140 000–R160 000).

“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.”

Silver specialist Shirley Daniels notes that Italian silver appears infrequently at local auction, making these two services particular highlights. Having worked with Strauss & Co for more than 17 years, Shirley has been an integral part of the department’s evolution, noting its significant growth in recent years.