| The Renaissance and Reformation covers the years | | | | other foreign monarchs, ministers, advisers and |
| 1525 - 1603. Henry VIII was king, starting in 1509. This | | | | courtiers. |
| was a period of religious turmoil. The period continues | | | | In spite of this most of the knowledge about silver |
| through until the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603. | | | | goods from this period is taken from catalogues and |
| The Renaissance started in northern Italy around 1397 | | | | inventories. Economic pressure, changes in fashion and |
| and slowly spread across Europe. The fall of the | | | | the turmoil of the Reformation saw much of the |
| Byzantine empire in 1453 led to many scholars | | | | silverware of the day destroyed and melted down for |
| migrating to Italy bringing with them many old | | | | reuse. |
| manuscripts. An interest in these and the classical | | | | The purity of the metals also became debased and |
| architecture of ancient Greece and Rome gathered | | | | this led to the introduction of the Lion Passant mark |
| force and by the 16th century the Renaissance was | | | | that indicated the quality of silver to be that of 92.5%, |
| at its height. The influence on the design of English | | | | this becoming known as the Sterling Mark. |
| silver cannot be distinctly separated from Gothic until | | | | The repoussé method of raising small and |
| about 1526. | | | | intricate designs on thin plate was introduced. The |
| The new ideas of the Renaissance led to challenges | | | | sides, cover and feet of various vessels were |
| to the teachings and authority of the Roman Catholic | | | | embossed with fruit and foliage and medallions with |
| Church. The way the leaders of the Church ran its | | | | the heads of classical warriors were introduced. |
| affairs was strongly criticized. People felt the Church | | | | Cups, bowls, mazers, two handed cups, wine cups, |
| needed to be reformed, hence the Reformation. It | | | | tankards and beakers have survived and can be |
| began in earnest in Germany in 1517 led by Martin | | | | found in various collections. |
| Luther, his followers know as Lutherans. After 1529 | | | | Ewers and basins were popular during this period, |
| they were renamed to Protestants when they | | | | being placed on the table for diners to wash their |
| protested against attempts to limit their teachings. | | | | hands during the meal. Forks had not yet been |
| During the reign of Henry VIII the price of silver and | | | | introduced in England and eating was a messy affair. |
| gold fell. European mines were producing in greater | | | | Spoons from this period had a flatter and wider stem. |
| quantities than previously and gold from Spanish | | | | Salts can be found and were popular items. |
| America was available. | | | | Many items from this period are highly decorated with |
| A large amount of silver and gold work was | | | | engravings and embossing, with cast figures added for |
| commissioned during this period, much of it for gifts to | | | | decoration. |