Hester Bateman

Perhaps more than any other, Hester Bateman is the silversmith who has managed to touch the hearts of successive generations of silver collectors. The considerable success she enjoyed in her lifetime can be attributed to keen business instincts, but her posthumous achievements are even greater and their reasons are more complicated, although, no doubt the most important of these is her unusual status as a superb lady silversmith in an industry dominated by men.

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	j1707 - Georgian Sterling Silver Marrow Scoop: Hallmarked in London, 1779 by Hester Bateman, this simple, handsome, George III, antique silver marrow scoop is very plain in style, and weighs 1.49 troy ounces. The marrow scoop measures 9 inches (23cm) in length.	£525
	b0283 - Georgian Sterling Silver Pair Of Salt Cellars: Hallmarked in London, 1783 by Hester Bateman, this handsome, George III, antique silver pair of salt cellars, stand on three hoof feet, and feature removable blue glass liners, and reed borders. Each salt cellar measures 1.25 inches (3.5cm) tall, by 2.75 inches (7cm) in diameter.	£695
	j8745 - Georgian Sterling Silver Cream Jug: Hallmarked in London, 1781 by Hester Bateman, this very attractive, George III, antique silver cream jug, stands on a square pedestal foot, and features delicate bright cut engraved decoration, a loop handle and a bead border. The cream jug measures 6.5 inches (16.5cm) tall, by 5.25 inches (13.5cm) from handle to lip, and weighs 4.5 troy ounces.	£975
	j8874 - Georgian Sterling Silver Pair Of Salt Cellars: Hallmarked in London, 1779 by Hester Bateman, this handsome, George III, antique silver pair of salt cellars, stand on three hoof style feet, and feature reed borders and removable glass liners. Each salt cellar measures 1.25 inches (3cm) tall, by 2.75 inches (7cm) in diameter.	£975
	j7503 - Georgian Sterling Silver Toddy Ladle: Hallmarked in London, 1784 by Hester Bateman, this delightful, George III, antique silver toddy ladle, features delicate bright cut engraved detailing to the bowl and silver mounts, and a twisted whale bone handle. The toddy ladle measures 14.5 inches (37cm) in length.	£975
	j1691 - Georgian Sterling Silver Pepper Pot: Hallmarked in London, 1781 by Hester Bateman, this very handsome, George III, antique silver pepper pot, features a pedestal foot, with engraved banding, and a pierced and engraved removable lid. The pepper pot measures 6 inches (15cm) tall.	£1,175
	d3117 - Georgian Sterling Silver Pepper Pot: Hallmarked in London, 1784 by Hester Bateman, this pretty, antique silver pepper pot, features bead borders, an acorn finial, and an engraved and pierced lid. The pepper pot measures 5.75 inches (14.5cm) tall.	£1,275
	j0444 - Georgian Sterling Silver Cream Jug: Hallmarked in London, 1784 by Hester Bateman (incuse duty mark), this stylish, George III, antique silver cream jug, is Helmet shaped, and features a square pedestal foot, bead borders around the lip and on the base, and reed detailing on the loop handle. The cream jug measures 6.5 inches (16.5cm) tall, by 5.25 inches (13.5cm) from handle to lip, and weighs 5.01 troy ounces.	£1,275
	j9281 - Georgian Sterling Silver Pepper Pot: Hallmarked in London, 1786 by Hester Bateman, this very handsome, George III, antique silver pepper pot, stands on a pedestal foot, and is plain in style, featuring reed and bead detailing, and a pierced lid. The pepper pot measures 5.75 inches (14.5cm) tall, by 2.25 inches (5.5cm) in diameter, and weighs 2.7 troy ounces.	£1,275
	j8975 - Georgian Sterling Silver Cream Jug: Hallmarked in London, 1783 by Hester Bateman, this handsome, George III, antique silver cream jug is 'helmet' shaped, standing on a pedestal foot and featuring a reed bordered loop handle and bead border around the rim. The cream jug measures 5.75 inches (14.5cm) tall, by 4.25 inches (11cm) from handle to lip, and weighs 3.5 troy ounces.	£1,275
	b0423 - Georgian Sterling Silver Toast Rack: Hallmarked in London, 1789 by Hester Bateman, this very handsome, George III, antique silver toast rack, stands on four neoclassical feet, and features nine bars. The toast rack measures 5.75 inches (14.5cm) tall, by 7 inches (18cm) wide, by 4.25 inches (11cm) deep, and weighs 4.34 troy ounces.	£1,295	sold! 2012-01-25
	j7632 - Georgian Sterling Silver Sugar Basket: Hallmarked in London in 1782 by Hester Bateman, this attractive, brightcut engraved, George III antique sterling silver sugar basket has bead borders typical of Hester Bateman's work. The basket is 4" (10cm) in diameter, 7.5" (19cm) tall to the top of the handle and weighs 7.2 troy oz.	£1,375
	j9142 - Georgian Sterling Silver Sugar Basket: Hallmarked in London, 1785 by Hester Bateman, this striking, antique silver sugar basket, features wonderfully engraved and pierced decoration to the body and foot, a blue glass liner, and delicate bead borders. The sugar basket measures 6 inches (15cm) tall (with the handle up, 4.25 inches (11cm) with the handle down), by 3.5 inches (9cm) in diameter.	£1,675
	j8596 - Georgian Sterling Silver Porringer: Hallmarked in London, 1780 by Hester Bateman, this very handsome, sterling silver porringer, is very plain in style, featuring reed bordered loop handles, and reed detailing around the foot and rim. The porringer measures 4.25 inches (11cm) tall, by 6.75 inches (17.5cm) from handle to handle, and weighs 8.5 troy ounces.	£1,675
	j9023 - Georgian Sterling Silver Basket: Hallmarked in London, 1785 by Hester Bateman, this very attractive, George III, antique silver basket, features delicate pierced and engraved decoration to the body, a swing handle and bead borders throughout. The basket measures 5.5 inches (14cm) tall with the handle up (2.25 inches (6cm) tall with the handle down), by 6.75 inches (17cm) wide, by 4.75 inches (12cm) deep, and weighs 4.5 troy ounces.	£1,875
	b0331 - Georgian Sterling Silver Pair Of Salt Cellars: Hallmarked in London, 1787 by Hester Bateman, this very handsome, George III, antique silver pair of salt cellars, are 'boat shaped' standing on pedestal feet, and featuring reed borders, loop handles, and a band of engraved detailing around the rim. Each salt cellar measures 3.25 inches (8.5cm) tall, by 6 inches (15cm) from handle to handle, and the pair together weigh 5.5 troy ounces.	£1,875
	j7352 - Georgian Sterling Silver Pint Mug: Hallmarked in London in 1789 by Hester Bateman, this attactive George III antique sterling silver pint tankard or mug is 5" (13cm) tall, the base has a diameter of 3.75" (9.5cm) and weighs 10 troy oz.	£1,975
	b0147 - Georgian Sterling Silver Mustard Pot: Hallmarked in London, 1787 by Hester Bateman, this attractive, George III, antique silver mustard pot, is oval in shape, and features pierced decoration to the sides, and a blue glass liner. The mustard pot measures 3.25 inches (8cm) tall, by 4.25 inches (11cm) from handle to side.	£1,975
	j9364 - Georgian Sterling Silver Chamberstick: Hallmarked in London, 1789 by Hester Bateman, this very handsome, George III, antique silver chamberstick, is plain in style, and features a delicate bead and reed double border, removable snuffer and removable sconce. The chamberstick measures 4 inches (10cm) tall, by 6.75 inches (17cm) from handle to side, and weighs 9.25 troy ounces.	£2,475
	j7574 - Georgian Sterling Silver Teapot: Hallmarked in London, 1781 by Hester Bateman, this wonderful, George III, antique silver teapot, features brightcut engraved decoration and an engraved crest, bead borders and a wooden handle and finial. The teapot measures 5.25 inches (13.5cm) tall, by 9.5 inches (24cm) from handle to spout.	£2,975
	j1686 - Georgian Sterling Silver Teapot: Hallmarked in London, 1781 by Hester Bateman, this simple, George III, antique silver teapot, features delicate bead borders around the base, foot and lid, an engraved crest, and a wooden handle and finial. The teapot measures 5.25 inches (13.5cm) tall, by 10 inches (25.5cm) from handle to spout.	£3,785
	j7874 - Georgian Sterling Silver Tea Caddy: Hallmarked in London, 1785 by Hester Bateman, this very handsome, George III, antique silver tea caddy, features plain sides, bead borders both to the base and lid, and a key. The tea caddy measures 5.5 inches (14cm) tall, by 5 inches (13cm) wide, by 3.5 inches (9cm) deep, and weighs 12.3 troy ounces.	£4,775
	d7222 - Georgian Sterling Silver Cruet Set: Hallmarked in London, 1780 by Hester Bateman, this pretty antique silver cruet set measures 9 inches (23cm) tall, by 8 inches (20cm) wide, and contains eight bottles. The cruet set features engraved and pierced decoration, and four cast and applied feet.	£4,795
	j5982 - Georgian Sterling Silver Tea Caddy: Hallmarked in London, 1784 by Hester Bateman, this fine quality, oval, antique George III, sterling silver tea caddy measures 5" (12.5cm) long, 3.5" (8.5cm) deep and is 5" (12.5cm) high. The tea caddy bears an incuse duty mark, is clearly hallmarked on the base and the lid and weighs 12 troy ounces.	£4,975
	j8736 - Georgian Sterling Silver Teapot And Stand: Hallmarked in London, 1786 by Hester Bateman, this very handsome, George III, antique silver teapot and matching stand, feature bead borders, and a wooden handle and finial to the teapot. The teapot on stand measures 6.25 inches (16cm) tall, by 10 inches (25.5cm) from handle to spout.	£4,975
	j0488 - Georgian Sterling Silver Salver: Hallmarked in London, 1786 by Hester Bateman, this striking, George III, antique silver salver, stands on four feet, and features bead borders throughout. The salver measures 1.5 inches (4cm) tall, by 14 inches (36cm) in diameter, and weighs 42 troy ounces.	£4,975
	j6297 - Georgian Sterling Silver Tankard: Hallmarked in London, 1790 by Hester Bateman, this handsome, George III, antique silver tankard, stands on a pedestal foot, and feartures a domed lid, cast and applied thumb piece, and engraved coat of arms. The tankard measures 8.5 inches (21.5cm) tall, by 6.5 inches (16.5cm) from handle to lip.	£5,475
	j9940 - Georgian Sterling Silver Pair Of Sauce Boats: Hallmarked in London, 1784 by Hester Bateman, this striking, George III, antique silver pair of sauce boats, stand on pedestal feet, and are oval in shape, and feature acanthus detailed scroll handles, and engraved bands around the rim and foot. Each sauce boat measures 5.25 inches (13.5cm) tall, by 7 inches (18cm) from handle to lip, and the pair together weigh 11.7 troy ounces.	£5,475
	d2728 - Georgian Sterling Silver Coffee Pot: Hallmarked in London, 1787 by Hester Bateman, this stunning, George III, antique silver coffee pot, features engraved decoration, bead borders around the foot, spout, and lid, a wooden handle, and an engraved crest. The coffee pot measures 12 inches (30.5cm) tall, by 8.5 inches (21.5cm) from handle to spout.	£6,475
	d8559 - Georgian Sterling Silver Tea Urn: Hallmarked in London, 1780 by Hester Bateman, this wonderful, George III, antique silver tea urn, stands at 14.25 inches (36cm) tall, by 6.75 inches (17cm) from handle to handle, by 7.25 inches (18cm) deep including the spout. The tea urn is neoclassical in style, featuring bead borders, four acanthus detailed feet, and a vacant cartouche.	£7,765
	j7359 - Georgian Sterling Silver Pierced Basket: Hallmarked in London in 1786 by Hester Bateman, this superb condition George III antique sterling silver pierced basket has beaded borders so typical of Hester Bateman's work and the most beautiful brightcut engraving and piercing. The basket is 13" (33cm) long, 9" (23cm) wide, 10" (25cm) high to the top of the handle and weighs 21 troy oz. It is without doubt one of the best examples of a Hester Bateman basket we have ever been fortunate enough to own.	£8,475

More Information On Silver Hester Bateman

Hester Bateman is without doubt the most popular and renowned of all women silversmiths. Yet Hester's career as a silversmith was never intended. Widowed at the age of 51, she inherited her husband's small workshop practice and for the next thirty years, this unlikely shrewd business woman, grew the workshop into a thriving silver manufacturing firm. Hester Bateman was born in 1704 in Clerkenwell, London (England), and married John Bateman (a goldsmith) in about 1725. They had six children; John, Letticia, Ann, Peter, William, and Jonathan. The family lived at 107 Bunhill Row in the Parish of St. Luke in North London for more than a century. John and Hester purchased the houses on both sides of theirs, and two of the children occupied those homes in later years. Although his sons Peter & Jonathan were both doing their silversmithing apprenticeships, when John Bateman died in 1760, he bequeathed all his tools to Hester suggesting that she was already an accomplished silversmith. However, even with the skills of the trade, Hester had no small task ahead of her to continue the business. In these times, women-owned businesses were generally not accepted, and the industry was highly competitive. Unperturbed, Hester registered her mark of a scroll HB at Goldsmiths Hall in 1761 and aided by her son's Peter and Jonathan along with Jonathan's wife, Ann, the business boomed. In 1790, Hester finally retired at the grand old age of 81. Sadly, the following year her son Jonathan died, leaving Peter without his two long term partners. He turned immediately to his sister in law Ann, making her a partner in the business and registering their joint mark in 1791. From then Ann became the driving force in the business until her retirement in 1805. In 1800, Jonathan and Ann's son, William, became a partner in the family business, completing possibly the most famous of all silversmithing dynasties. Unlike most silversmiths who specialised in just one area of production, the Batemans were masters of many, producing fine wares right across the board. The main reason for their success was due to Hester's attention to design, detail and quality. All the pieces that left the workshop would be inspected to the highest standard and with this attitude the business grew. Many pieces of Hester Bateman's silver show identifying characteristics such as bead detailed edges and fine designs of bright-cut engraving. They received many commissions from The City Guilds, various religious establishments, and private individuals.