Image 1: Hong Kong Race Meeting Cup, 1906 Governor’s Cup, during the office of Sir Matthew Nathan. Image 2: Rothchild family commissioned Elephant & Rhinoceros and Exotic Riders (18th century). Image 3: Paul Storr champagne bucket (early 1800s).
ARGENT is the first British antique silver boutique since the 1980s to launch in Hong Kong. Linking British and Hong Kong colonial history, ARGENT has a vast array of British antique
silver spanning the last 500 years from the Elizabethan era through to the 20th century, as well as a few treasures from Hong Kong’s past.
Unique to the city, ARGENT not only sells, but buys silver, providing anything a silver owner might need such as valuations, professional cleaning, maintenance, and repairs.
For those that are looking to host events, the company also provides short term rental services – where everyone can celebrate in style and delight guests with signature pieces previously owned by royalty or the aristocracy for weddings, anniversaries or special events.
Victorian Dining Etiquette
There is a silver item for every occasion and it is not just about champagne. Victorian English society prided itself on famously elaborate dinners with up to 24 pieces of cutlery in a single meal!
It was considered part of good social etiquette to be able to differentiate between these seemingly similar homeware devices. Grape scissors were a common sight at dinner, since it was considered unspeakable to use your hands to eat anything. Stilton spoons were used to neatly gather its delicious crumb texture. Caddy spoons were highly ornate and used for measuring out tea and Monteith bowls (which were not for food, but exclusively for punch).
Queen Victoria, Afternoon Tea & Dim Sum
Step back into age of Downton Abbey and the British Empire when it held sway over
23% of the world. As with every empire, certain customs were spread worldwide -
one of these being the traditional English afternoon tea with cake. It was said that
Queen Victoria was an avid tea drinker, mentioning it hundreds of times in her
journal, and she set the style for much of the world.
In fact, it was only after the 18th century that tea sets started to exist and before this tea was taken without cream or sugar so there was no need for additional serving pieces. Indeed, it was only after this that the multi-piece silver tea set became a cultural institution.
In Hong Kong, one can see similarities between English afternoon tea with cake and dim sum or ‘yum cha’ (the act of drinking tea), both of which are popular sweet and savory pastimes that bring together all generations of a family.
The origins, however, are much older, with Chinese tea dating back to 2737 B.C. with Chinese Emperor Shen Nung and dim sum going back at least 2,500 years (according to scripture and poems). Originally, it was an exclusive luxury made for the Emperor and his family, but it was also enjoyed by the wealthy. Eventually, it was served in tea houses, becoming popular in the busy tea houses with travellers along the Silk Road. It was found
that tea helped digestion as well as having smaller portions of food that allowed for sampling a wider variety of flavours and delicacies.
Silver Naturally Kills Bacteria
Since ancient times, silver has been used to restrict the spread of disease by utilising silver objects in everyday life. The earliest was during the Han Dynasty (circa 1500 B.C.). It was thought that silver chopsticks would turn black if they came into contact with poisonous food. In fact, silver has no reaction to arsenic or cyanide, but to garlic, onions or rotten eggs. Also, the Roman, Phoenician, Macedonian and Persian empires used silver vessels
and plates.
Owing to its scarcity, during the Middle Ages, families of higher social-economic class used silver for decorative purposes to showcase their wealth as well as recognising its versatility and effectiveness as a natural antibacterial mineral. Babies, for example, in the 18th century were fed with silver spoons since it was believed to be healthier than those fed with utensils made from other materials. This was also why royalty and the aristocracy only ate from silver utensils and cups since it was thought to be more hygienic.
Silver ions perform their deadly work by punching holes in bacterial membranes and wreaking havoc once inside.
Today, silver is being used as a therapeutic option due to its bacterial resistance to antimicrobials. Researchers are now looking into how to enhance this with products containing silver nanoparticles, as well as modern medicine that uses medical grade silver such as silver nitrate, silver sulfadiazine and colloidal silver.
The Royal Connection
ARGENT has many items that were previously owned by royalty and the aristocracy. For example, the Elephant & Rhinoceros with Exotic Riders statues were commissioned by the Rothschild family in the 18th century. The rhino is called Clara and based on the first white rhino to arrive in Europe in 1741 which created decades of ‘rhinomania’ since many believed that her horn was magical.
The elephant statue, as the armoured protector, represents power, wisdom, life fulfillment and fortune that is said to extend to protect the owner too. The late Queen of England for example, owns the only other Elephant in the world from this set and it is kept at Windsor castle, with a replica in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
‘Secrets of Silver’ Workshop
Learn about signature pieces from the most sought after silversmith Paul Storr, who revolutionised British antique silver and created a trend that was beloved by King George III, the aristocracy and set the stage for silver for hundreds of years to come.
Contact us at illiana@argent-silver.com to sign up.
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