Seeing silver

No longer gold’s poor cousin, silver has come into its own today, finds Purnima Goswami Sharma

lthough silver has been used in India since centuries for jewellery, cutlery and antique furniture, its popularity has seen an upswing in recent times. Royalty collected silverware through the ages and now it makes great gifts and collectibles. A rising number of designers are increasingly using silver to create interesting artefacts and personalised trinkets. Value and versatility are also boosting silver's popularity among jewellery consumers. No international auction is complete without hallmarked silverware. Be it personal or corporate gifting, accessories for your home, your dining table, or your bar, silver has found its way into our lives.

The Numbers
“Sales of silver have jumped by at least 30 per cent over the last nine months, since gold prices started climbing. Typically, the price of 20 grams of gold can fetch a kilo of silver. Moreover, silver jewellery and silver products offer more options with new designs and better craftsmanship,” informs Samrat Zaveri, MD, Tribhovandas Zaveri (Nirmal Zaveri group), who own an exclusive silver brand—Shaze.

According to experts, if gold prices rise further—which incidentally is very likely as Securities and Exchange Board of India is advocating a gold traded fund—the demand for silver jewellery and products is slated to rise and account for 50 per cent of the total jewellery sales in India. At present, silver accounts for about 40 per cent of the total jewellery demand.

The annual domestic consumption of silver is around 6,000 tonnes compared to only 800 tonnes of gold. Approximately 30 to 35 per cent of the annual silver consumption is on account of jewellery while the rest is consumed in industrial applications.

Reviving Ancient Art

Delhi-based designer and entrepreneur Gunjan Gupta is fascinated by silver. She creates exclusive furniture in silver and has developed a line of products using the ancient silver leafing technique. The silver wrapping process has been given a modern incarnation in her designs. She reveals, “I was keen on working with a historical Indian craft technique, and silver wrapping of furniture is one of the oldest skills. Unfortunately, there are very few skilled artisans left within the tradition as silver has been substituted by white metal, which has resulted in low quality output, mainly for export. I love the moon-like quality of silver and use it in combination with gold leaf,” explains Gunjan whose company Wrap, works with leading interiors designers in India and Europe, having won the prestigious award for design excellence by the British Council India in 2007.

Ever since the silversmith workshop started in 1990, the Ravissant silver collection has become synonymous with excellence in design, execution, aesthetics and functionality. Each product, made from sterling silver, has been carefully crafted by trained jewellers renowned the world over. Not only are the designs unique, but Ravissant's silver objects also remain true to the real art of silversmiths.

“Every creation is painstakingly handcrafted under the critical eye of silversmiths from Holland and Germany as well as master jewellers from Switzerland. Some of the world's best-known silversmiths, including Paul Binder from Switzerland, Prof. Jan Van Nouhuys from Schonhoven University, along with Paul de Vries and Arjan Lucs from Holland, had travelled to India to set up the silversmith workshop in Delhi,” informs Poonam Gupta, Director, Ravissant. “The workshop today has over 150 Indian master silversmiths, which makes us, perhaps, the largest producer of handmade sterling silverware in the world,” she adds.

An Eclectic Blend
Frazer and Haws and Hennell of Bond Street, London are believed to have designed the most exquisite silver collectibles and precious jewellery for over 250 years. Their clientele dates back from Queen Victoria to, in more modern times, Cherie Blair. Over a decade ago, Frazer and Haws set up a manufacturing unit in India to offer the Bond Street range of sterling silverware and jewellery to discerning Indian customers. Furthermore, the silverware collections have been created around Indian traditions and ancient sciences, as homage to a mélange of religions, cultures and beliefs. Frazer and Haws, India, houses over 200 Indian craftsmen, all belonging to sixth and seventh generation silversmiths and goldsmiths.

Archana Singh, President, Frazer and Haws, India, elucidates, “While internationally it's the machine-made look that is in prominence, on Indian shores it's the craftsmanship that holds sway over everything else. The Indian craftsmen are constantly interacting with Hennell's designers in London to bring out the best exclusive silver collectibles for the Indian market. The result is an eclectic mix of classic English design, wildly contemporary prints and those inspired by Indian tradition. So, a Ganesha sits comfortably, adjacent to a contem-porary fruit bowl and a Laxmi, to an exquisite candelabra. Each festive season sees a flurry of activity at the workshop, which culminates in exquisite masterpieces, displayed in festive ambience, be it Diwali, Raksha Bandhan or Christmas.”

The Indian market is flooded with a wide array of stylish silver products for interiors, personal use, as well as collectibles. So splurge and add a hint of silver to your life.