Tea Service

A William IV three piece silver tea service

To see a piece of Paul Storr silverware in any collection really is a rarity! He is regarded as not only one of the great silversmiths of the Regency Period, but one of the finest craftsmen to have ever worked with silver. His brilliance is echoed in his pieces being exhibited and displayed in the world’s finest museums, galleries and private collections. Rest assured, whenever a piece of Paul Storr silverware becomes available to buy it is never short of interest!

Storr received his comprehensive grounding in every aspect of the silversmith’s art as an apprentice under Andrew Fogelberg of London in 1785. He then went on partner his colleague William Frisbee and in 1792 they together registered their Hallmark with the Assay Office, a year later he registered a Hallmark in his own right, the instantly recognizable ‘PS’

By 1796 Paul Storr had become so well known that he opened his own workshop in Air Street, London. At this time, Storr’s pieces pursued a neoclassical fashion and were often plainer than the work of his contemporaries. In 1800 the Goldsmiths, Rundell & Bridge, came to Storr asking him whether he would sell his silverware and ornate silver pieces through their exclusive London shop. On agreeing to the offer Storr altered his style to be in tone with the elaborate pieces preferred by Rundell & Bridge’s wealthy patrons.

In 1804 Rundell & Bridge were appointed Goldsmith in Ordinary to George III and Storr achieved international acclaim and an enviable reputation as a Royal silversmith. In 1911 Storr was made a partner in Rundell & Bridge for his contribution and success he brought to the business.

It was not until 1819 that Storr would relinquish his post at Rundell & Bridge, taking his work freelance and allowing him to once again alter his style to one of Rococo which, at the time, was experiencing a popular revival. Three years later, Storr began a partnership with John Mortimer, a retailer in London, and they opened their own shop, Storr & Mortimer, on London’s popular Bond Street. Their partnership would last until 1838 when Storr retired.

It is not only Paul Storr’s skill as a silversmith and his mastery of technique which have fashioned such a prestigious reputation. His understanding of the nature of silver and his ability to turn the idea of designers into pieces which perfectly matched the versatility and limitations of the metal, have placed some of Storr’s pieces in countless galleries, museums and private collections all over the World.