Beschreibung:

MINIATURE SILVER FOR A BABY HOUSE, A rare cruet stand, London c.1720, mark of David Clayton the five-ring compartments on a stepped frame with three graduated baluster shaped castors and covers, and two original glass flasks and covers, stamped with lion passant and makers mark seven times. 10cm wide The 18th century marked an era of retail where children themselves were seen as valuable consumers and the idea of being born with a silver spoon in ones mouth appeared as a genuine possibility. The concept of dollhouses, which originated in Germany and Holland, took hold of Britain and skilled silversmiths created charming accessories for these miniature homes. Most English silver toys were made in London, but shops also imported items from Holland, a country that still maintains an expert level of craftsmanship in this delicate work. Although these houses offered entertainment for both children and ladies alike, they also played an important role in the education of young girls. They provided a visual display of how a lavish house should be kept, its accessories denoting the styles of the period and what was considered fashionable. This can be clearly seen in the differences between Georgian and Victorian silver toys. Whilst the first boasts a refined elegance through relatively plain designs, the fussy decoration of the latter indicates a stark change in taste. Unlike todays toys that are often beaten and bruised with affection, the care of these silver items mirrored that taken over the real thing. For this reason the silver toys that we find now, whilst quite rare, are often in excellent condition, despite being nearly three hundred years old. Helena Carlyle