Hester Bateman

HESTER (1709-1794), queen of the English silversmiths, couldn't read and couldn't write, but she could design beautiful silver and make it. Little is known about her before her marriage in 1732 to John Bateman, a "chain-maker" (a branch of the silversmiths' art). When he died in 1760, he left his workshop and tools to Hester, not his eldest son. Hester must have learned a lot working with her husband because in 1761 she registered her own mark which usually required a seven year apprenticeship. Silver-
smiths stamped their marks on each piece they made.

Under Hester's direction the workshop expanded and thrived. When her son's Jonathan and Peter finished their seven year apprenticeships, they joined Hester instead of setting up their own workshops. John's wife Ann joined the work, and their son William did. Each registered their own mark. When they worked together, they registered a mark with both their initials. It's estimated that the Batemans made more than 10,000 pieces of silver, each made by hand.

HOUSE OF BATEMAN

Lynn B. Connor - Adventures in History

Hester liked flowing lines and often added a row of beading and/or engraved a pattern. Which one do you think she made? Which one do you prefer?

Unlike many other forms of art, silversmiths had to sell their work before they could make more. They used expensive sheets of silver which they cut, hammered into shapes, smoothed, added decoration, and finally polished.