At the same time as the initial commissions began in earnest in 1991, Sir Jocelyn Stevens, Chairman of the Trustees and Rector of the Royal College of Art, suggested that a competition should be held for members of the public to design 72 individual silver under-plates. It was decided that each of these would have a different decorative motif and would be executed in a wide variety of techniques and styles. The intention was that they would act as perfect conversation pieces for the Prime Minister’s guests and would also draw the collection together when the table was set.
In October 1991, in conjunction with The Daily Telegraph, the competition was announced through the newspaper and college notice boards. There were no restrictions as to the theme or subject matter and the competition was open to anyone, amateur or professional. The winners, chosen from 500 entries, were selected for the novelty or inspiration of their designs by a panel of judges, comprising Drusilla Beyfus, Jean Muir, Lady Henderson, Dame Vivien Duffield, D.B.E., David Mellor, Sir Simon Hornby, Sir Jocelyn Stevens, with Rosemary Ransome Wallis, Curator of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, acting as advisor to the panel.
Read more...The cost of the competition and the plates was underwritten by Sir Jocelyn Stevens and Dame Vivien Duffield. The plates weigh 20 ounces each and the silver for the plates was donated to the Silver Trust by Paul Tear, Chief Executive of Thessco Limited and past Master Cutler. To mark his gift the Trustees of the Silver Trust agreed to strike his sponsor’s mark on each of the plates in addition to the normal assay marks. Each of the finalists was given a specially minted Silver Trust medal.