Silver

A Celebration of Silver

10 October 2025

Kier Alexander

Amassing a collection of nearly 1000 silver items seems quite incomprehensible, but was a feat accomplished by the late Helen Cargill-Thomson. Bequeathed to The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) following her death in 2020, the school hopes to use the collection as a pedagogical tool for all students.

Acquired through galleries, auctions and, most notably, The Glasgow School of Art graduate degree shows, the silver collection encompasses works that reflect Helen’s varied interests and experiences. From a 19th-century Burmese silver filigree horse and carriage originally awarded by the Indian Science Academy, to private commissions such as a cased set of twelve spoons by Rodger Drew and Keryn Evely, each featuring an enamel depiction of an apostle, the collection also includes graduate showcase pieces that represent the culmination of four years of study at the GSA.

Making a Mark exhibited in 2025, in both our London and Glasgow galleries, showcased around 40 items of the collection. Featuring makers who represent Glasgow in their design, Andrew Fleming Finnieston Crane, to important alumni, Jasleen Kaur, the collection also presents important makers such as Bryony Knox and Rebecca Joselyn.

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Making a Mark

The Importance of Teaching

The Helen Cargill Thompson Collection brings together makers who have been instrumental as tutors in art colleges, while also tracing the evolution of their careers beyond academia. For example, Karen Wallace has drawn great inspiration from Malcolm Appleby and their engraved pieces beautifully reflect this creative connection.

Ryan Maclean’s work demonstrates the same spirit of experimentation he brought to his role as tutor-in-residence at Marchmont in the Scottish Borders, where he continues to influence a new generation of emerging makers.

The guidance of a tutor or mentor is invaluable, yet it is the patronage of individuals such as Helen Cargill Thompson that truly enables makers to develop and flourish in their careers.

The Importance of Collecting

A focus on collecting silver is clear to see, but the collection spans, provincial wares from far-reaching centres such as Tain and Greenock to jade jewellery from the East, and items which reflect Helen’s love of nature and feature animal motifs. Although the collection is vast, it does reflect the passions that Helen shared. Most collections do begin from what is admired and can then encourage the narrative to be sewn within that.

Importance of Provenance

Without a plan, collections can become overwhelming. Provenance records get scattered, valuations become out of date, storage is overlooked, and future planning drifts. Professional valuation services bring clarity and structure. Helen, on some occasions, purchased items within the collection with the intention of bequeathing them, and were donated to GSA still in their boxes with the original receipt, which now proves invaluable to form connections and links within the collection.

Importance of Legacy

Helen’s true legacy lay in her clarity of purpose; she not only knew what she wanted for the collection but also had the foresight to establish endowment funds to support its future.

Our approach at Lyon & Turnbull is always collaborative. Whether guiding a family with a vast private collection, or advising on the sale of a single masterpiece, we see ourselves as long-term partners in stewardship. For many of our clients, art will remain both a passion and a responsibility and, increasingly, an important financial consideration. As collections grow in size and significance, so too does the need for careful planning.

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Helen was a daughter of the city of Glasgow, with neighbours such as Sir William Burrell who in 1944 gave his vast collection to the City of Glasgow which formed the Burrell Collection in Pollok Park, she knew the importance of her city on a global stage. 'Let Glasgow Flourish’, the motto of Glasgow, is particularly pertinent for Helen and is only feasible with such patrons who encourage the arts and Helen was a proponent and shining example of this.

About the Author

Specialist

Kier Alexander

Silver Specialist | Edinburgh

kier.alexander@lyonandturnbull.com

0131 557 8844