Hester Bateman

Hester Bateman (1708-1794) known as ‘The Queen of British Silversmiths’ was an English silversmith based in London.

After the death of her silversmith husband she successfully ran the family business for thirty years before passing it on to her sons. They in turn passed it on to their sons and the business continued with Batemans at the helm until the mid 19th Century.

She married John Bateman in 1732 and had six children. When John died of tuberculosis in 1760 he left his tools to his wife and taking over the business she registered her first mark in 1761 as “HB” in script.

Not much appears with her mark up until the late 1770s as it is likely she was supplying other silversmiths who overstamped her mark with their own.

Around 1774 Hester was joined by her sons John and Peter and they worked to build up a business in Bunhill Row in London. Using the latest technology, they sought to produce silverware as cheaply as possible to compete with other firms who were producing Sheffield Plate. Using thin gauge sheet silver, they employed machines to pierce and punch it, reducing the amount of time needed to fashion items by hand.

They specialised in neo classical style household silverware, with Hester expanding their range to include many items popular in the 18th Century: tea caddies, wine labels, jugs, salvers, salt cellars, trays and ink wells. The Bateman style is known for its’ bright-cut engraving, piercing and beading around edges.

Hester retired in 1790 and her sons continued the business.