The David Little Collection
by Timothy Schroder
Published by 160 pp. ISBN: 978-1-898565-15-4
Obtainable from any good bookseller or from: Agents in the United States and Canada:
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An introduction to English silver, both domestic and ecclesiastical, from a little before the Tudor age (1485–1603) to the threshold of the Civil War (1642–51), through one man’s exquisite collection.
A remarkable private collection formed over the last thirty years is the focus of this richly illustrated book and provides the reader with a
general introduction to English silver spanning a century and a half from a little before the Tudor age (1485–1603) to the threshold of the
Civil War (1642–51). This was a period when England changed out of all recognition. At the beginning it was still essentially a medieval
country dominated by an autocratic king and a rich and powerful Church; by the end of the period the Church had lost virtually all of its power
and, with the execution of Charles I in 1649, the monarchy itself was abolished.
To a degree, this changing world is mirrored in the styles represented by the silver in the collection. The book discusses issues such as
the impact of changing dining customs and changing liturgy on silver, as well as the evolving London silver trade and examines in depth the
factors that led to the destruction – and survival – of domestic and church silver.
Besides setting the silver against its social and historical background the book examines the wide range of techniques used by silversmiths
at the time to shape and adorn silver objects.
Preface
Foreword by David Little
Catalogue of items in the Little collection
Bibliography
Index
Picture credits
‘With its accessible text, exemplary silver photography, elegant design and careful editing, this is a pleasure to read and should encourage a new generation of collectors to follow David Littleˆs example.’
Tessa Murdoch, Art Newspaper
‘From the first glance, the book is a celebration of the period, as well as of specific objects, and this shines through in every aspect, from the visual delights of the supporting images and the thoughtful direction of
the object photography . . . to the discursive short essays.’
Philippa Glanville, Silver Studies, no. 33
‘Schroder’s clear, thoughtful account . . . marries object-based evidence with visual and documentary sources . . . The arguments of the text are supported by
superb photographs . . . a clear layout and a detailed index.’
Kirstin Kennedy, Burlington Magazine
‘[A] fascinating new book that uses one man’s collection to examine the social history of domestic silver from the Tudor and early Stuart eras.’
Roland Arkell, Antiques Trade Gazette
‘Focusing on a private collection of silver formed over the last 30 years, this book also examines the techniques of early English silversmiths, and provides a general introduction to the silver trade and to dining customs of the period.’
Off the shelf, Apollo
‘As with all books published by John Adamson, this volume has a very pleasing and elegant layout with gorgeous photography.’
Dorothea Burstyn, Silver Magazine
‘The book is peppered with alluring historical illustrations that help readers understand the time period. In short, this captivating treatise is a connoisseur's delight.’
Steven Wayne Yvaska, San Jose Mercury News (full article)
‘The author does not claim to have written a “full history” of the subject but has neatly put the collection “into an intelligible context.”’
Maine Antique Digest
‘A wonderful addition to the library of the silver scholar or enthusiast!’
‘At first sight, this is just a catalogue of 25 exquisite pieces of English silver . . . [with] excellent illustrations and painstakingly researched, but that is only a quarter of the book. What elevates this to a completely different level
is the same care and attention to detail that have been applied to place the items in their historical context . . . It is a compelling and fascinating read.’
Jonathan Ellis, Silver Society Newsletter, November 2017
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Timothy Schroder FSA joined the Silver Department at Christie’s in 1976 and became Curator of Decorative Arts at the
Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1984. Subsequent roles include founding curator of the Gilbert Collection at Somerset
House and consultant curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum. He has recently completed a term as President of the Silver
Society. Recent publications include
‘A Marvel to Behold’: Gold and Silver at the Court of Henry VIII (2020).
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Contact the
publishers or local agents for further information: Enquiries
Please print off the order form and
send it by mail to John Adamson, 90 Hertford Street, Cambridge CB4 3AQ, England.
with a foreword by David Little
John Adamson
19 November 2015
169 illustrations in colour,
1 in black and white
11 × 9 ¹/2 in.
(280 × 240 mm)
cloth
GBP 30
US$65.00; CDN$84.00
John Adamson:
90 Hertford Street
Cambridge CB4 3AQ, UK
e-mail: Book orders
Book order form
ACC Art Books, New York, NY 1011
e-mail: Book orders
Simon & Schuster, Jackson, TN 38305
Simon & Schuster
MHM Limited
1-1-13-4F Kanda Jimbocho
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051
Japan
+81 (0) 3 3518 9181
e-mail: Book orders
Summary
Full description
Contents
1
2
3
4
5
6
English Silver before the Civil War
Conspicuous Consumption: the Ceremonies of Dining
‘Plate commonly used in the howse’
Silver and Godliness
The Workshop and the Trade
The Afterlife of Early Silver
Reviews
The Author
Enquiries
How to order the book offline