Six mid-century silver goblets

These stylish silver goblets were made by one of London's finest living silversmiths, Grant Macdonald, and have brightly polished bowls contrasting against the textured stems that are typical of Macdonald's work. The inside of each goblet is gold plated and they bear the special hallmark to commemorate the Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee in 1977.

With its flat base, thin stem and conical bowl, the basic goblet shape has remained almost entirely unchanged in its form for centuries. When made in silver the goblet is often called a wine cup.

In the mid-fifteenth century the gentry owned goblets crafted in silver. Superstitious drinkers in the seventeenth century believed that precious metals promoted better health, and so the demand for silver goblets increased. The arrival of silver plate in the mid 1800s meant that more people could afford to introduce a bit of luxury into their lifestyle.