PREVIEW: BENNEY, DEVLIN AND THE PEARSON SILVER COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS 1952-2000

British designers had a field day with silver after the Second World War, producing some of the most inspired works of art since Georgian times. Foremost of today’s holdings of these works is The Pearson Silver Collection (TPSC) – the largest collection of its kind in private hands and of national importance.

This exhibition brings together highlights of that collection over three weeks at Noonans’ Mayfair, London HQ, with free entry for visitors.

It focuses on the two great names in Post-War British silver, Gerald Benney (1930-2008) and Stuart Devlin (1931-2018).

Noonans specialist Michael Welch sets their work in context: “In the late 1950s, there was a Renaissance in British silverware with a small group of silversmiths working towards an international image of British silver in modern terms. They worked independently to break away from the Scandinavian influence on British design.”

When Benney’s son Simon was asked what his father would best be remembered for, he replied, “his boxes and centrepieces”. This exhibition features a run of 66 boxes from Benney’s first, made in 1952, to one of his last in 2000. It took 30 years to form the collection, and the biggest challenge was securing one of the six boxes commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II to present to dignitaries. We believe this run of boxes is unrivalled internationally and this is the first time the complete run has been displayed.

Three of the surviving centrepieces will also be on show, including the only surviving enamel example. The exhibition also includes the first significant piece of silver Benney ever made – a goblet – at the Brighton College of Art.

“While Devlin’s 1960s lighting is magical, he will be remembered for his creativity,” says Michael Welch. “We are displaying 17 of his boxes, including the incredible ‘cobweb box’ that he not only designed but also made at the bench, plus a broad cross-section of his work.”

When Godfrey Winn, the writer, actor and newspaper columnist, visited Devlin’s Clerkenwell workshop in 1968, he described what he saw as “a veritable Aladdin’s cave”, adding that the objects, “were the work of a magician”.

The Exhibition is sponsored by Noonans Mayfair and to be held at 16 Bolton Street, London W1J 8BQ from 30 October – 10 November, open daily between 10.30am – 4pm. (Closed on Sunday, 5 November). Free entry. The catalogue is sponsored by The Goldsmiths' Company.