SILVER-LUG Blog

When you think of afternoon tea, you probably think of Britain. The custom of having afternoon tea became very popular during the reign of Queen Victoria in the 19th century, and many items were created for use during the occasion. The tableware used for tea and coffee, such as for afternoon tea, is called a "tea set." Here we will introduce some representative antique tea set items, focusing on silver products.

When you hear "British antiques," you probably think of something that is reserved for the aristocracy . The great British antiques developed greatly due to the demand and patronage of the British aristocracy, who flourished in the 19th century. In the early 20th century, the British aristocracy began to decline.

One of the decorative motifs commonly seen in Western antique crafts is called a "cartouche."
This is a general term for oval, shield-shaped, and other "border decorations," and is seen in a variety of European decorative arts, including architecture, painting, and crafts.

A "pocket watch holder" is a display stand for a pocket watch when you are not carrying the watch around with you but rather using it on a desk indoors.
The antique pocket watch holder not only allows you to use your pocket watch like a table clock, but also enhances its presence with its beautiful design.

I'm sure many of you have heard the news that the price of gold has been rising over the past few years, but the international price of silver has similarly skyrocketed. I will talk about the relationship between the gold and silver market and the antique market (mainly antique silver).

This time I will talk about our store.
We do not have a physical store and only sell online.
It's not that I don't aspire to run a brick-and-mortar store with a focus on interior design and display, but opening a brick-and-mortar store requires a large amount of capital, and it would be difficult to run one in the rural area of ​​Fukuoka Prefecture where I currently live.

One item that was popular among the British upper class in the early to mid-19th century was a small case called a "vinaigrette."
"Vinaigrette" means "vinegar" in French, and is the term used in the antiques industry to refer to smell-inducing bottles.

Birds have long been a popular motif in Western antiques. They have many meanings, such as mythology, religion, and reverence for nature, and have been depicted in a variety of ways throughout the ages.
In particular, many of the European antiques from around 1900 that we carry in our store feature birds as decorative motifs .

The custom of afternoon tea originally spread from upper-class social gatherings during the Victorian era, so it inevitably has an image of being something uplifting.

British afternoon tea began around 1840 when Anna Maria Russell, wife of Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford, treated female guests to tea and sweets while her male guests enjoyed hunting.

This time, I would like to talk about the precautions to take when caring for antique cutlery (forks, knives, etc.). After using antique cutlery for a meal or other occasion, wash it with a mild detergent and a soft sponge, and then wipe off any moisture thoroughly with a cloth.
When doing so, do not use a dishwasher, dryer, or boiling water.