Colman family's 17th century Norwich silver to be auctioned

A dozen silver pieces, from the estate of the late Sir Timothy Colman, will go under the hammer next month.

Sir Timothy Colman (Image: EDP©2003)

When Norwich was the country's largest city outside London, it was much admired for the quality of silver produced.

It had its own silver assay office - where the precious metal was tested - during three periods from 1565 to 1702.

Silver which belonged to the Colman family will be auctioned (Image: Sworders)

While some ecclesiastical wares such as communion cups, were preserved in Norfolk’s old churches, relatively few silver objects bearing the city’s mark survived.

But next month's auction, features a number of those objects, including five spoons and two beakers made by the remarkable Elizabeth Haselwood, who lived from 1644 to 1715.

A member of the Haselwood family of silversmiths, who prospered for three generations from around 1625 to 1740, she took over the workshop when her husband Arthur Haselwood II died in 1684.

Aged around 40, she ran the business until her death in 1715 and was the only woman silversmith registered in Norwich in the 17th century.

She and her husband are buried in the same tomb in St Andrew’s Church in Norwich.

St Andrew's Church in Norwich (Image: Archant)

On offer at the June 13/14 auction, by Stansted-based fine art auctioneers Sworders, are spoons with marks ranging from 1675 to 1697, estimated at £500 to £1,200 each.

There are also two plain beakers, with guide prices between £2,000 and £3,500.

In 2007, Sworders sold a cannon-handled basting spoon by Mrs Haselwood for £4,600.

Bixley Manor, near Norwich (Image: Sworders)

Sir Timothy, part of the Colman's Mustard dynasty, died at his home at Bixley Manor, near Norwich, in September 2021 at the age of 91, surrounded by his family.