Vintage Silver Christening Gift
These vintage silver christening gift pieces are traditional tokens of welcome for a newborn, combining utility and sentiment in solid metal.
Vintage Silver Christening Gift
A vintage silver christening gift encompasses traditional items presented to celebrate the birth or naming of a child, spanning periods from the eighteenth century through to the mid-twentieth century. The selection on this page centres predominantly upon christening mugs, tankards, and cups, alongside boxed cutlery sets and baby rattles.
Mugs and tankards appear frequently, often hallmarked in cities such as London, Birmingham, and Sheffield across the Victorian, Edwardian, and George V eras. Alongside these drinking vessels, collectors find specialised items like porcelain-handled rattles, porringers, and novelty napkin rings.
How they were made
Silversmiths utilised sterling silver and solid silver as the primary metals, sometimes applying silver gilt to the interior of vessels or incorporating mother of pearl and coral into rattles and teethers. Presentation sets also involved fitted containers lined with materials such as velvet, silk, and leather.
Techniques ranged from baluster form shaping and rococo scroll handle attachment to fine hand engraving and specialised hallmarks stamped by assay offices. Makers balanced structural weight with decorative detail, seen in heavy cast handles and chased body surfaces.
Materials paired with silver in these gifts include silk, velvet, leather, mother of pearl, and coral.
What varies in quality
Quality in these pieces rests upon the weight of the silver used and the crispness of the hand engraving or chased decoration. Mugs described as heavy or featuring distinct baluster forms demonstrate superior material substance compared to lighter, plain vessels.
The presence of original fitted boxes lined in silk or velvet elevates the standing of a christening set. Additionally, works attributed to known makers or bearing clear regional hallmarks from prominent assay offices command greater interest among collectors.
R E Stone·Tiffany and Co·William Bateman
The Vintage Silver Christening Gift Glossary
- Sterling silver
- An alloy consisting of ninety-two point five percent silver and seven point five percent other metals, typically copper, chosen for durability in functional items.
- Baluster form
- A architectural vase shape characterised by a wide lower portion tapering to a narrow neck, frequently seen in traditional mug silhouettes.
- Porringer
- A small, shallow bowl with one or two flat horizontal handles, often utilised as a child's cereal or porridge bowl.
- Silver gilt
- Silver that has been coated with a thin layer of gold on its surface, commonly applied to the inside bowls of christening cups.
- Hallmark
- A series of official marks stamped on items to indicate the metal standard, assay office, maker, and year of production.
Vintage Silver Christening Gift: Frequently Asked Questions
What items make a traditional christening gift?
Traditional gifts focus on durable items intended for a child's daily use or keeping as a keepsake. Common examples include silver mugs, tankards, porringers, and boxed knife and fork sets.
Baby rattles also appear frequently, combining precious metal with teething elements like mother of pearl or coral. These objects were designed to be both tactile playthings and lasting family mementos.
How do I identify the date of a silver mug?
Dating relies primarily on the set of hallmarks stamped into the metal by official assay offices such as those in London, Birmingham, and Sheffield. These marks typically include a date letter corresponding to the exact year of production.
Stylistic indicators, such as Victorian rococo scroll handles or George V baluster forms, provide a broader chronological context when hallmarks are rubbed or unclear.
Were christening mugs meant for actual use?
Many silver mugs and cups were manufactured as functional vessels for milk or water, constructed with solid walls and sturdy handles designed to withstand handling. Over time, however, many transitioned into purely decorative keepsakes displayed in nurseries or cabinets.
Sets featuring knives, forks, and spoons were similarly scaled for small hands, allowing the child to use them during early meals.
How should I care for vintage silver items?
Regular maintenance involves gentle cleaning with a specialised silver cloth to remove natural tarnish without abrading the metal surface. Harsh chemical dips should be avoided, particularly on items with fitted velvet or silk linings.
Storing pieces away from direct sunlight and damp environments helps preserve both the silver and any associated presentation box materials.