Welcome to the Silver Trust | The Plate Competition

The Plate Collection

At the same time of the intial commissions in 1991 the then Chairman of the Trustees, Sir Jocelyn Stevens, at the time Rector of the Royal College of Art, suggested that a competition should be held for students to design 72 individual silver underplates, each with a different decorative motif, executed in a wide variety of techniques - perfect conversation pieces for the Prime Minister's guests. It was also felt that they would '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. This freedom showed as much diversity as that of the electorate.

The competition was open to anyone amateur or professional and the winners were selected for the novelty or inspiration of their designs. The competition was a success as it drew over 500 entries from all parts of the country, although the entrants knew that only 72 designs would be selected. A panel of judges, comprising Drusilla Beyfus, Jean Muir, Lady Henderson, Mrs Vivien Duffield, David Mellor, Sir Simon Hornby, Sir Jocelyn Stevens with Miss Rosemary Ransome Wallis (Curator of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths) as advisor to the panel, convened at the Royal College of Art in February 1992 to select the final designs.

If it was felt that a winning designer was able to execute the decoration of the plate to the standard required by the Trust, the designer then did so. Otherwise the designs were transferred to the pre-made blanks by Stanley Reece, George Lukes and Ray Wilkins, a trio of very fine engravers. Where chasing was clearly the way of ensuring the best interpretation of the design, craftsmen from the workshops of William Comyns & Sons (who were responsible for the spinning of the blank plates), in particular Chris Hurley, were engaged. Additionally a number of the designs lent themselves to photo-etching and this was overseen by David Gunter of the Graphic Metal Company.

The cost of the competition and the plates was underwritten by Sir Jocelyn Stevens and Mrs Vivien Duffield. The plates weigh 20 ounces each and the silver for the plates was donated to the Trust by Paul Tear, Chief Executive of Thessco Limited (one of the world's leading silver and precious metal manufacturers, based in Sheffield) and past Master Cutler (1997-1998). To mark his gift the Trustees 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.