Old London Silver. By Montague Howard. (B. T. Bataford. 3s.)—
r. Ho ward has in " Old London Silver" a most fascinating subject to deal with, and he does it in an interesting and workmanlike manner. Amateurs, for whom the work is especially designated, should feel very grateful to him for the simplicity and clearness
with which he has treated his theme. In the introduction a short history of the silversmith's art is given. It was at first practised chiefly in monasteries. St. Dunstan, the patron saint of the Goldsmiths' Company, was himself a practical silversmith. By the twelfth century, however, it had become a secular employ- ment. Curiously enough, the unsettled state of the country during the following century seems to have rather fostered the trade, nobles looking upon the collection of plate as one of the few safe investments for their money. Later times were not so propitious. During the Reformation much beautiful ecclesiastical silver was destroyed, and the seventeenth century proved almost as disastrous to secular plate. The next century, however, saw much beautiful work produced. A most interesting chapter is that dealing with frauds ; these are, in some cases, extraordinarily ingenious. Mr. Howard has given much thought to the subject of their detection, and his hints should be of the greatest use to the would-be collector. We do not think, all the same, that any amateur will be unduly encouraged to trust to his own powers,—the forgery on p. 209 will make him realise the task before him. One feels, after reading this chapter, thankful for our rigorous laws regarding hall-marks, America, where no such restrictions exist, being, as Mr. Howard points out, the chief market for forged goods. The illustrations, mostly reproduction! of beautiful pieces of plate, add greatly to the value of the book. Altogether, it is a most desirable volume.
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