Highlights of the February Silver & Objects of Vertu sale

27th January 2026

The late TV personality, silver dealer and consultant, Michael Baggott, had a rare ability to hunt down intriguing finds of historic interest and part III of his collection, included in the Silver & Objects of Vertu sale on 3^rd February, did not disappoint.

In the mid-19^th century, the area around Fowey and Par was a hive of Cornish industry, nurtured and developed by local landowner, engineer, mining adventurer and industrialist, Joseph Austen Treffry (1782 – 1850). The indefatigable Treffry first built a new quay in Fowey to take larger vessels for the export of tin. He later became partner, then took full control of Fowey Consols in 1822, which became the most productive copper mine in Cornwall, employing 1,680 workers. Still challenged by Fowey's less than adequate port facilities, Treffry went on to build a safe harbour at Par before also purchasing the port of Newquay. To connect the sites, Treffry developed a complex system of in-land infrastructure to include Treffry tramways, railways, and the dual purpose Treffry Viaduct, incorporating both rail and aqueduct.

A tangible relic of the heady days of Cornish mining at its peak is Lot 383, A silver ingot from Mr Treffry’s Smelting House at Par, which is accompanied by a handwritten note stating, ‘The first produce from Mr Treffry's Smelting House at Par, by which the silver is separated from the copper raised at Fowey Consol mine. Mr Treffry June 1840’. The ingot sold at the auction for £762 (with auction fees).

Leading the Michael Baggott collection was Lot 311, A Charles II provincial two-handled porringer by Thomas Mangy, York 1672 which sold for £3,810 (with fees). Baggot was an authority on York silver, publishing An Illustrated Guide to York Hallmarks 1776-1858, in 2010. Silver specialist, Rupert Slingsby, describes his holdings of York silver as, “probably the most comprehensive collection of silver assayed in York ever to come onto the open market”.

The full collection of York silver includes over five hundred and fifty pieces from the late 17th century to the closure of the assay office in 1858. The first two parts of Michael’s collection of silver sold for over £200,000 (with auction fees).

Next in the group was a rare James I West Country dish, Bristol circa 1620 (Lot 312) by Edward Harsell, born 1583 who was the son of silversmith Richard Harsell which sold for £5,334 (with auction fees).

Included elsewhere in the sale is a notable group of silver by Gerald Benney (1930-2008) (lots 233-236) including a modern silver pitcher, London 1972 which sold for £1,905 (with auction fees). The sale featured a number of wonderful collections from caddy spoons (Lots 43-55) to desk accessories (Lots 167- 222), pencils and dip pens (Lots 388-415).