Hardback
300 x 245 mm, 1,000 colour illustrations 
ISBN 978 1 909741 37 9

The Royal Collection holds one of the finest collections of pre-twentieth-century European silver in the world. This catalogue raisonné is the first for more than a hundred years to cover this important area of the Collection in comprehensive detail, describing more than 350 objects from France, Germany, the Netherlands and Russia and a smaller collection of pieces from Italy, Scandinavia, Portugal and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The introductory essay reviews the history of European silver collecting by the Royal Family over a period of 300 years. In addition to gifts exchanged between the royal families of Europe in the nineteenth century, the catalogue highlights the magnificent objects presented to Charles II on the Restoration of the English monarchy, opulent German Kunstkammer objects acquired by George IV and items of historical curiosity and family memorabilia purchased by Queen Mary.

The catalogue describes objects used for dining and drinking, tea, coffee and chocolate wares, toilet services, desk equipment and church plate. These spectacular objects are illustrated by more than 1,000 colour images, showing intricate decorative details and marks, as well as an appendix of coats of arms, crests and ciphers.

Kathryn Jones is Senior Curator of Decorative Arts, Royal Collection Trsut. Her other publications for Royal Collection Trust include George IV: Art and Spectacle and For the Royal Table.