Michael Baggott silverware collection set for sale
The private silverware collection of the much-loved TV antiques expert Michael Baggott, who sadly died unexpectedly in January this year, will be offered by Salisbury auction house Woolley & Wallis.
Michael, star of BBC’s Flog It!, was a recognised authority on antique silver, specialising in early spoons, boxes, provincial and continental silver, but also did general valuations on a range of antiques on the popular TV show.
His extensive collection will be dispersed across four auctions, with the first section being offered in Woolley & Wallis’ Silver & Objects of Vertu sale on July 16. The entire collection comprises 450 lots of silver, including an extensive selection of York silver, as well as silver from Liverpool, Chester, Dundee, Newcastle, Bristol, Exeter and Aberdeen. It is expected to realise over £200,000.
Among the highlights is a George IV silver-gilt sideboard dish by the renowned Birmingham silversmith Edward Thomason (c.1769-1849). He was a prominent British silversmith, manufacturer, as well as an inventor based in Birmingham. Initially apprenticed to the revered silversmith Matthew Boulton (1728-1809), who was a key figure in the Industrial Revolution, Thomason established his own business in the early 1790s, producing gilt and silver-plated items, such as buttons, buckles and medals. His firm became renowned for high-quality craftsmanship and innovation in metalwork, moving on to more elaborate and high-quality pieces. This sideboard dish dates from 1826 and is a fine example of his work. It carries an estimate of £2,000-£3,000.
A rare George II provincial silver mug by the Liverpool silversmith Benjamin Brancker (c.1681-1734) is also on offer. Brancker’s career coincided with Liverpool’s emergence as a significant commercial hub and he played a pivotal role in establishing the city’s reputation for fine provincial silver. His work is rare and highly regarded among collectors of early English silver. Dating from c. 1730 the mug carries an estimate of £1,500-£2,000.
An impressive silver tankard by the celebrated silversmith Benjamin Cartwright (active until 1774), is another highlight. Cartwright began his career as a smallworker (creating small silver pieces) in 1732, registering his first mark that year. He later registered marks as a largeworker in 1739, 1748, and 1757. He operated from the Pearl and Crown in Bartholomew Close, West Smithfield, London until 1774. The tankard dates from 1754 and carries an estimate of £1,500-£2,000.
A Victorian novelty silver Jester pepper pot is a fun addition to the collection. It was produced by Robert Hennell, of the London silversmithing dynasty the Hennell family, which spanned four generations. This particular piece dates from 1868 and carries an estimate of £1,000-£1,500.
Silver spoons were a penchant of Baggott’s and one particular example in the sale is a rare George IV provincial silver ‘Gibson-type’ medicine spoon. It is named a ‘Gibson-type’ spoon after a 19th-century doctor who designed a spoon that would make it easier to administer liquid medications to children or bedridden patients. It had a clever dual-chamber feature, so that the liquid didn’t spill. This spoon was made by the esteemed silver firm Barber, Cattle and North, a partnership of silversmiths in York, who were active during the 19th century. It consisted of James Barber, George Cattle and William North. Barber was a prominent figure, serving as Lord Mayor of York in 1833. The spoon dates from 1829 and carries an estimate of £600-£800.
A George IV silver-mounted naval snuff box in the collection is inscribed: ‘Made of the wood from Northern Discover Ships by Michael Jones at Deptford, 5th May 1824’. This likely refers to the Northern Discovery Ships, 16th-century English vessels sent to find a northern sea route to Asia.
The snuff box was made by Charles Reily, a London-based silversmith active during the early to mid-19th century. He began his career in 1826, entering his first mark as a smallworker in partnership with his mother, Mary Reily, at 6 Carey Lane, London. In 1829, he partnered with George Storer, registering a new mark as plateworkers. Their workshop was situated near the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths’ Hall, a central location for London’s silversmiths and they crafted fine-quality small silver items, including snuff boxes, mustard pots, wine labels, and presentation salvers. Their pieces are characterized by intricate designs and exceptional craftsmanship. The snuff box dates from 1824 and is estimated to fetch £600-£800.
Commenting on this carefully curated collection Rupert Slingsby, silver specialist at Woolley and Wallis auctioneers, said: “The Baggott collection is probably the most comprehensive collection of silver assayed in York ever to come onto the open market. It includes over 550 pieces from the late 17th century to the closure of the assay office in 1858.”
Born in Birmingham, UK, Baggott’s passion for silver and antiques began at a young age, when he saved up £22 in school dinner money to purchase a Chester silver vesta case. This led to him taking a degree in fine arts valuation at the university of Reading, with summer holidays spent working at a large auction house. He would go on to run the silver department at one of them for four years. He then worked as a private antique silver consultant and his passion for antique silver spoons resulted in him penning a book titled An Illustrated Guide to York Hallmarks 1776-1858. He also regularly contributed to the specialised spoon magazine titled Finial, the journal of the Silver Spoon Club of Great Britain.
Known to millions for his sharp eye and larger than life character, Baggott joined the daytime show in 2004. He soon won over the public with his transparent, honest approach, which was always mixed with great humour and he became a firm favourite. The show ended in 2018, having run for 17 years and 1,000 episodes. One of his favourite memories of Flog It! was valuing a rare and spectacular silver trophy, which turned out to be by the famous jewellery firm Fabergé.
Rob Unsworth, Head of BBC daytime and early peak commissioning, said: “Baggott was one of Flog It’s most memorable characters” and “though the series hasn’t been in production for several years, we hope Michael’s family can take comfort from how much viewers have continued to enjoy his appearances on this ever-popular show.” The show’s format included inviting the public to bring along objects for a valuation. They would then have to decide whether they wished to take a cash payment to the valued amount, or to take a gamble by putting them into an auction, which the camera followed for the result.