Presenting over 80 of the finest and most historic pieces of silver-gilt, silver and regalia in the Mansion House plate collection, this is the third in a series of books about the exceptional collections in the home, office and centre of entertainment for the Lord Mayor of the City of London and the Corporation of London. Starting with die unique medieval Crystal Sceptre of c. 1420, seen only at the inauguration of the Lord Mayor and at Coronations, the regalia includes several famous items, notably the sixteenth-century gold and enamel Chain of Esses, the great Mace of 1735-36 and the Pearl Sword of the 1570s, carried before the Sovereign on visits to the City. Used constantly throughout the year, the plate collection includes pieces by some of the greatest names of English silversmithing but also rare ones by more modern masters, including masterpieces previously completely unknown to silver historians.
