Although little information exists about London silversmith Charles Stuart Harris, his exquisite sterling silverware and serveware — the ornate and distinctive bowls encircled with chased scrolling leaf decoration, the platters featuring Vitruvian scrollwork, the centerpieces with their leaf-capped and scrolled arms he designed as well as those produced by the family firm C.S. Harris & Sons Ltd. — is a testament to an age of refinement and elegance.
Harris was from a family of silversmiths active in London in the mid-19th century. In 1817, the firm now known as C.S. Harris & Sons Ltd. was founded by John Mark Harris, a spoon maker. His son, John Robert Harris, took over the family company in 1843, listed as a silver spoon and fork manufacturer.
Neoclassical-style sterling-silver goods in Europe gained popularity in the late 18th century — a taste for sterling-silver tableware, as well as tea sets, had taken shape — while in the United States, beginning in the 19th century, preparing the dinner table with sterling-silver flatware had become somewhat of a standard practice.
Around 1852, the business passed to Charles Harris, who was registered as an electroplater and gilder, a maker of spoons and forks as well as a silversmith. At first, under Harris, the family firm continued as a manufacturer of spoons and forks; however, they later expanded into making cutlery and flatware.
By 1881, the company was formally registered under Harris’s name — Charles Stuart Harris — and it earned a reputation for its utilitarian flatware. In 1897, when the business became known as C.S. Harris & Sons Ltd., they were listed as manufacturers and dealers in gold and silverplate. By this time, the company produced additional furnishings and objects such as serveware, candle holders and tea caddies. They also retailed in wire and lace, silver and gold diamond jewelry and watches.
It is said that by 1900, C.S. Harris & Sons Ltd. sent more silver to London’s Assay Office to be hallmarked than any other silversmith company. Shortly after the turn of the 20th century, Harris retired. In 1933, C.S. Harris & Sons Ltd. merged with I. Freeman and Company.
Today, items produced by Harris remain highly coveted by collectors of Victorian and Edwardian sterling silverware and decorative objects.
Find antique Charles Stuart Harris silver serveware, decorative objects and more collectibles on 1stDibs.
Victorian Sterling Silver Goblet by Charles Stuart Harris, 1890
By Charles Stuart Harris
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver goblet has a circular bell shaped form onto a knopped pedestal and circular spreading foot, in the Classic pineapple style. The ...
Silver, Sterling Silver
$700Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.38 in Dm 3 in
Antique English Victorian Classical Sterling Silver Goblet, 1865
By George Unite
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Classical sterling silver goblet. Made by George Unite in Birmingham in 1865. Oval bowl on knopped cylindrical stem; double-domed foot. Acid-etched trefoil ornament: Leafin...
Sterling Silver
$920Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.88 in Dm 3.38 in
Antique English Georgian Neoclassical Sterling Silver Goblet, 1803
By Samuel Godbehere
Located in New York, NY
George III sterling silver goblet. Made by Samuel Godbehere, Edward Wigan, and James Boult in London in 1803. Ovoid bowl on cylindrical stem flowing into raised foot. Tooled bands to...
Sterling Silver
Set of 12 International Prelude Sterling Silver Goblets
By International Silver
Located in New York, NY
Set of 12 Prelude sterling silver goblets. Made by International in Connecticut. Each: Tapering bowl with flared mouth rim and gilt interior; cylindrical stem flowing into raised foo...
Sterling Silver
Antique Gorham Victorian Repousse Sterling Silver Flask, 1890
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Victorian sterling silver flask. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1890. Ovoid bowl with dense floral repousse. Plain, hinged, and cork-lined bayonet cover. Ladylike medicinal size. Fu...
Sterling Silver
$1,276Sale Price|20% Off
H 7.63 in Dm 3.38 in
Festive English Victorian Classical Sterling Silver Goblet, 1873
By Charles Boyton II
Located in New York, NY
Victorian sterling silver goblet. Made by Charles Boyton in London in 1873. Ovoid bowl on knopped cylindrical stem; raised foot. Engraved garland frames (vacant) and exuberant leafin...
Sterling Silver
$14,890
H 20.87 in W 13.98 in D 7.88 in
Large antique sterling silver trophy made in 1923 by Charles Stuart Harris
By Charles Stuart Harris
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1923 by Charles Stuart Harris, this attractive, George V period, Antique Sterling Silver Trophy, features sunken fluting, acanthus detailed loop handles, and ...
Sterling Silver
$2,500 / set
H 5.25 in Dm 4 in
Pair of Tiffany American Modern Classical Sterling Silver Chalice Goblets
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Modern Classical sterling silver chalice goblets. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1960. Deep and wide-hemispheric bowl on knopped upward tapering stem flowing into rais...
Sterling Silver
$2,299
H 7.09 in Dm 3.75 in
Very attractive Victorian antique sterling silver wine goblet made in 1869
By Fenton Brothers
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in Sheffield in 1869 by Fenton Brothers Ltd., this attractive, Victorian, Antique Sterling Silver Goblet, features wonderful bright cut engraved decoration throughout, a g...
Sterling Silver
English Victorian Sterling Silver Ferns & Flowers Goblet, 1879
By Holland, Aldwinckle, & Slater
Located in New York, NY
Victorian sterling silver goblet. Made by Holland, Aldwinckle & Slater in London in 1879. Oval bowl on knopped cylindrical stem on raised foot. Engraved arcade of which two inset wit...
Sterling Silver
Sold|$2,001
H 7.29 in Dm 3.55 in
Victorian Sterling Silver Engraved Goblet, Robert Harper, London 1859
By Robert Harper
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1859 by Robert Harper, this exquisite Victorian sterling silver goblet is of a classic ovoid form on a waisted stem. The bowl is decorated with finely engrave...
Sterling Silver
$3,840Sale Price|20% Off
H 8 in W 6.25 in D 5 in
Antique Tiffany Victorian Georgian Sterling Silver Tankard
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Georgian sterling silver tankard. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1884. Curved bowl Hinged double-domed cover with split scroll thumb rest; s-scroll handle, and s...
Sterling Silver
Elkington English Victorian Classical Sterling Silver Goblet, 1859
By Elkington & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Classical sterling silver goblet. Made by Elkington & Co. Ltd in Birmingham in 1859. Ovoid bowl on knopped cylindrical stem flowing into raised foot. Bowl has engraved ...
Sterling Silver
Fine Victorian Silver Gallery Tray
By Charles Stuart Harris
Located in London, GB
A fine quality antique sterling silver gallery tray of oval form, with a beautifully hand-pierced border. This elegant pattern incorporates a scrolling foliate design and is finished...
Sterling Silver
Edwardian English Sterling Silver Galleried Drinks Tray 1901
By Charles Stuart Harris
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Edwardian English sterling silver galleried drinks tray made by Charles Stuart Harris; an addition to our Edwardian teaware collection. This exceptional antique Edwardian sterling silver drinks tray has a rounded navette shaped form. The hallmarked base of the tray is plain and unembellished. The galleried border is embellished with pierced scrolling leaf ornamentation accented with quatrefoil floral motifs. The upper rim of the hallmarked galleried border is ornamented with a band of applied bead decoration. This impressive sterling silver drinks tray incorporates a plain oval inset handle to either end, accented with a portion of pierced pale decoration to the nadir. This galleried drinks tray was crafted by the renowned and collectable London silversmith Charles Stuart Harris. Condition: This antique drinks tray...
Silver, Sterling Silver